Your Ag Network

I was once again doing some traveling yesterday and my destination was another cattle market auction barn. Like, where else would I go? Once again, this sale barn is no doubt the economic driver of that area. I’m sure that on sale day the population of this community swells and there is more gas and diesel pumped and more groceries sold than any other day of the week.

I have had to do some traveling through a lot of small towns the last few weeks. I love slowing waaaaaay down as I cruise through these little town’s main streets. There are hidden gems all around us! If we want to keep these small businesses open in our communities, we have to support them.

In recent news and to no surprise the Brazilian bad actors have been lax and not really forth coming with informing their global market about their cases of BSE, also known as mad cow disease.

It is so exciting to watch men and women with roots in the ranching community go on and chase their dreams at the highest levels. No one is cheering louder than little wranglers sitting back here in the heartland watching their idols and heros on the big screen.

During this busy season I think it is important to remember that kids really do not need a lot. It reminds me of a few years back when our school principal stood in front of the audience at the little school Christmas program and said, “Your presence is the best gift you can give your child!”

I see the best of rural America every day, but it is right now during the holiday season where small town America shines the brightest! The people of our small towns truly extend themselves in effort and time to creating magic and spirit at every turn, if you look for it!

The beef supply chain is moving product at a healthy clip. Front end of feedlot supplies have tightened especially in the north giving feeders the leverage they have long needed to take back some control. Packers have hefty holiday orders to fill and for the first time in awhile they are having to get out and about to compete for some cattle. While $1.40 fat cattle is no doubt a move in the right...

I got to roll through some small towns that I have never visited in my state. Literally the types of little towns where the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker are still in business.

Today I want to take you on a little journey with me reliving a road trip I took earlier this week. Next to staying home on my own ranch this was as close to a perfect day as anything I need to make me happy.

BIG Thursday Price Discovery Edition of the Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

If you have young kids like we do, this month becomes a busy blurr! Christmas programs at church and at school. Christmas parties in classrooms and with various groups and clubs. Add in the usual chores around the ranch and the fact that we start kidding 4-H goats this month and it all piles up fast! But, as the song says, “Its the most wonderful time of the year!”

Today I’m sharing my Basic Buckaroo Donut recipe. This recipe is so simple anyone can whip it up. If you love baking, I totally recommend getting a donut pan. I like the metal, non-stick one. If you don’t have a donut pan, you can probably just use a muffin tin for this recipe instead. Try it, live on the edge.

A special interview with Chelsea Good, from the Livestock Marketing Association at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention in Kansas City, MO.

Was everyone ready to get back into the daily grind routine? I know I had some girls that weren’t exactly thrilled about getting on the school bus. If there is one thing that this long holiday weekend on the ranch created, it was an appetite! Are there any other big breakfast eating families out there? From the time my kids were babies, I swear they consume 75% of their calories before 11 a.m. Our...

My oldest daughter and I did take a short trip down the road for a cattle show. We will only be gone for the day. The only thing I plan on buying today on Black Friday is some cattle show supplies and some super nachos at the show. So, I guess our day should be more appropriately named “Hereford Friday” instead of Black Friday, get it?!?!

Karina Jones is a real-life ranch wife in the Nebraska Sandhills and one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the cattle industry nationwide!

Monte James caught up with Sarah Metzler Director of Organizational Communications for the Beef Board at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention in Kansas City, MO.

The House of Representatives last Friday passed a huge spending bill. It is a liberal spending bonanza. If we give enough money, that should buy votes. The bill passed 220-213. Not one Republican vote. You can argue that the infrastructure bill that President Biden signed into law was bipartisan. But this entitlement legislation is not. Here is where the money goes: enhanced child allowances, earn...

I think that it is natural for consumers to automatically think that they farmers and ranchers must be living “high on the hog”, no pun intended. But really that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Last week our kindergartener had a show and tell assignment where the kids were asked to bring something that they were thankful for and they must be ready to tell the class 3 things about that item. When I asked our kindergartener what she was going to take, without skipping a beat she said she was going to take her cowgirl hat. I thought, hmmm, that is interesting. So I asked her why choose her...

Last week our kindergartener had a show and tell assignment where the kids were asked to bring something that they were thankful for and they must be ready to tell the class 3 things about that item. When I asked our kindergartener what she was going to take, without skipping a beat she said she was going to take her cowgirl hat. I thought, hmmm, that is interesting. So I asked her why choose her...

Tonight our girls have their 4-H Achievement Night to wrap up their 4-H year. Then this weekend we have some fence that needs put up around cornstalks so we better take advantage of the decent weather while it is holding out. There are never enough hours of daylight and honestly, we know that we will just end up working in the dark this time of year.

When you are a rancher, you are married to this life, in sickness and in health. There are no “sick days” to call in. Just days where I may not move as swiftly as others.

Now that the cards are dealt and the new Fisher/Grassley bill has been put on the table, it is easy to see, we have been duped. This should be called the “compromised bill” because that is exactly what this bill does, it compromises our future in the cattle industry and sets a dangerous precedence to regionalize our country when regarding other future laws.

More trucks rolled in yesterday. The pairs that we had sent north for the summer returned to our home place. Maybe it’s just me but I swear as those trucks round the corner a mile from my yard, I can hear the ole girls belting out a little Ozzy, “Momma, Momma I’m coming home!”