💻 Tech that Makes the Grade

Howdy, partner! This email is brought to you by Ranching.com, part of the CattleMax family. Get your weekly dose of trending news, seasonal tips, and community content put together by our team of ranchers.

If you'd prefer to only receive CattleMax updates, simply click here to unsubscribe from Ranching.com emails.

Also, let us know what you'd like to see more of in future Ranching.com newsletters and win one of three CattleMax RTIC cups! Share your thoughts here.

NEWS

💻 Tech that Makes the Grade

🥩 Grading From Afar - Remote Grading Pilot for Beef is a newly announced USDA pilot program that utilizes technology developed by the Agricultural Marketing Service to enable graders to assess beef carcass characteristics and assign quality grades remotely. The initiative aims to remove barriers, such as costs and location, allowing more cattle producers and meat processors, including smaller-scale operations, to benefit from the valuable USDA quality grading service, as well as address challenges in accessing markets, and enhance the utilization of quality grades, benefiting both consumers and stakeholders in the beef industry.

📡 Cultivating Connectivity - Deere & Company is teaming up with SpaceX to introduce a groundbreaking satellite communications solution for farmers, utilizing the Starlink network. Set to launch in 2024, this initiative will enhance precision agriculture technologies, connecting machines through satellite internet service and ruggedized terminals. The collaboration aims to boost efficiency and profitability for farmers by enabling autonomy, real-time data sharing and machine-to-machine communication. 

🌦 Weather Whirlwinds - El Nino-driven weather patterns brought a mild December to the Heartland but triggered storms, excessive rain and flooding in the East. Drought in Kansas improved, yet California's wet season has been disappointingly dry, with Sierra Nevada snowfall at less than half the normal amount. The long-term forecast includes above-average temperatures, with below-average moisture for the southern regions and above-average precipitation for the northern.

🐂 Winterizing Bulls - Bulls are vital to the continuation of a herd and require year-round maintenance to ensure optimal breeding performance. Karla Wilke, Nebraska Extension specialist, stresses the winter care of bulls in livestock management, emphasizing protection from frostbite, injury prevention, and proper nutrition. Maintaining body condition scores and conducting regular breeding soundness exams for both young and old bulls can avoid disruptions during the breeding season.

💧 Opportunity to Water Smarter - For Fiscal Year 2024, the NRCS has selected 9 new priority areas and is providing funding in 36 prior approved areas. The NRCS's EQIP WaterSMART Initiative collaborates with the Bureau of Reclamation to invest $29.7 million in water conservation and drought resilience. Ranchers across 16 states, the new and 36 prior approved areas can automatically access funding for soil moisture management and irrigation efficiency improvements.

RANCHING KNOW-HOW

Thriving in Winter Weather and Wet Drinking Conditions

Discover the essentials of a proper feeding program during winter:

• Re-learn the critical factors of feed and water access.

• Consider grass turnout and timing for supplementation needs.

• Gain insights into supplementation and forage quality testing.

Keep your cattle content and on solid ground while drinking this winter and in wet spells. Say goodbye to muddy watering areas with Greg Judy’s quick fix and create a cleaner, more comfortable watering environment for your livestock.

CATTLE COMMUNITY

theshilohfarm

View more on Instagram

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

READER POLL

GIVE FEEDBACK AND WIN!