Let's Geux to New Orleans | Photo highlights from the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention

<p>Nearly 8,000 cattle producers and beef industry advocates will gather in New Orleans this week for the annual Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. There will be plenty of cajun food and cattle talk sprinkled in between this week's meetings and educational events.</p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">Don Scheifelbein with Scheifelbein Farms, Kimball, Minn., (left) and Tom Brink, CEO of the Red Angus Association of America share a laugh at the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame reception during the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">James Herring (left), Dallas, Texas., was inducted into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame during award ceremonies in conjunction with the Cattle Industry Convention. Herring took Friona Industries, a small and struggling company in the Texas Panhandle, and shaped it into the third largest cattle feeding entity in the U.S. while pioneering a successful branded beef product now sold in 3,000 grocery stores. Presenting the award is Ross Wilson, president and CEO of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. </span></p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">Ross Wilson (left), CEO of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and Bill Hammerich, CEO of the Colorado Livestock Association, discuss policy matters during the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">Jesse Ramirez with Brookover Feedyard, Garden City, Kan., was awarded the Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes the hardworking feedyard employees who keep the yard humming no matter the weather. &nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">Jim Odle (left), founder of Superior Livestock Auction, was the recipient of the Industry Leadership Award presented during the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame ceremonies. The award banquet was held in conjunction with the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans. Presenting the award is Betty Jo Gigot, editor and publisher of CALF Cattle Feeder.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">Bill Foxley (left), Saratoga, Wyo., was inducted into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame during the group’s annual banquet and award ceremonies, held in conjunction with the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans. Presenting the award is Dan May with LaVaca Cattle Company, a past employee.</span></p>

<p>Bill Cordingley, Rabobank, kicked off Wednesday morning’s Cattlemen’s College. He warned producers that sustained success can lead to complacency. We need to ask ourselves will this be enough for the future? And what role will you play?</p>

<p>What do consumers want? <a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link js-nav" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/Cargill"><strong>Cargill</strong></a> research shows appearance matters. 9/10 said appearance/color is important. 8/10 said price and grade of product was an important factor when choosing meat.</p>

<p>Here's the good news -- the industry is doing well at hitting quality grades. The caveat, according to Bill Thoni at Cargill during the 2019 Cattlemen's College, is that at some point, we are going to need to start addressing that extra fat.</p>

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<p>Thinking of making grazing changes? According to John Jennings at the University of Arkansas, data shows stockpiling and strip grazing bermudagrass and bahiagrass lets producers graze to Christmas or beyond and saves $58 per animal unit. Jennings spoke during Wednesday morning's Cattlemen's College sponosred by Zoetis.</p>
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<p>Sandy Johnson, professor and Extension specialist at Kansas State University, shared insights about current and emerging advanced reproductive technology, including the editing of gene-edited animals, during Wednesday morning's Cattlemen's College in New Orleans.</p>

<p>There were packed rooms during Wednesday's Cattlemen's College. Besides ranchers in attendance, the 2019 Block &amp; Bridle Convention students from agriculture colleges around the country attended the morning's educational events.</p>

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<p>The rumen is the most complex ecosystem we know of, capable of sythesizing ALL the necessary amino acids the ruminant needs explains Tim McCallister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, during Wednesday's Cattlemen's College. Case in point: This cotton t-shirt spent 24 hours in a bovine rumen.</p>
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<p>We talk a lot about nutrition and animal health needs before getting cows bred, but what else? George Perry, South Dakota State University, says dystocia from the prior calving season can have as big of an impact as anything else on getting cows rebred. Pay attention, give proper assistance.<strong> </strong>Perry was one of the speakers during this year's Cattlemen's College sponsored by Zoetis.</p>
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<p>Dr. Dusty Abney from Cargill reminds students at Wednesday's Cattlemen's College that it doesn’t matter how much a cow eats, it matters how many calories a cow eats. And lower-quality feeds result in lower intake, making it hard to get those calories.</p>

<p>He also led a thought-provoking discussion on the time of day that you supplement your cows. While he stressed that no one solution was correct for every rancher, changing your feeding time might provide some payback on your ranch.</p>

<p>Even though Wednesday was jam-packed with sessions, there still was a few minutes of down-time to enjoy some relaxing music in the lobby. It seems like there is something new to see around every corner.</p>

<p>There will be thousands of cattle producers&nbsp;from all over the world in attendance over the four day convention.</p>

<p>Where are you from? This Florida Cattle Industry Convention attendee was one of the first people to mark her home on the map, but she won't be the last. By the end of the week, the U.S. map will be filled will pins marking ranches and beef industry advocates from across the country.</p>

<p>Sometimes it is fun to leave your mark and you can do just that on the "Brand the Big Easy" poster in the NCBA Trade Show lobby. Maybe we'll provide an update of that blank canvas filled with color at the end of the week.</p>

<p>Rest easy at one of the many #selfiestations speckled across the convention center. If you are in attendance at NCBA, make sure to use the #cattlecon19 hashtag when you snap your photo. We'd love to see it!</p>

<p>The retiring cattle industry leaders took the stage during Wednesday afternoon's opening session and shared highlights from their year in leadership. From left to right is Joan Ruskamp, Cattlemen's Beef Board Chair, Kevin Kester, NCBA President and Gwen Geis, American National CattleWomen's President.</p>

<p>Cowboy Ninja Lance Pekus joined the group for Wednesday's opening session. Lance has competed for five seasons on American Ninja Warrior. As a rancher, he uses his platform to help promote the beef industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Terry Bradshaw had the crowd rolling at Wednesday's opening session at the Cattle Industry Convetion and NCBA trade show in New Orleans. He was talking prolapsed uteruses and AI’ing, all things he admitted he is not allowed to talk about on the FOX pre-game show. Lucky for him, Wednesday's crowd could talk cattle and he was in for it, complete with a little twinkle in his eye the entire time.</p>

<p>Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Terry Bradshaw proclaimed his love of beef during the opening session. Did you know Bradshaw is a beef producer himself? He actually borrowed money off his first NFL contract to get started in the business. He kept the crowd entertained and laughing during his keynote speech that was filled with real ranching talk and life lessons.</p>

<p>Let's hope we never have to deal with flies like these. The folks at Central Life Sciences are serious about pest management.</p>

<p>Senior Editor Burt Rutherford talks with a representative from New Holland during the trade show on Wednesday. BEEF editors are running back and forth all week between educational sessions, industry meetings and sit downs with industry experts.</p>

<p>Stop by booth #233 to say hi to the BEEF team and grab a few free magazines for the trip home!</p>

<p>The New Orleans Mounted Police were in the Stockmanship and Stewardship Arena on Wednesday afternoon. The Mounted Police play a huge role in keeping New Orleans safe; in fact, you might see them in action if you stop by Bourbon Streeet during your trip. They demonstrated how officers work with their equine partners during tense scenarios.</p>

<p>As you can see, there are plenty of places worthy of a picture on the NCBA trade show floor. And there were plenty of photos being snapped.</p>

<p>The #cattletales wall is back at the NCBA trade show! When you are sharing on social, make sure to use the #cattlecon19 and #cattletales hashtag to find your post on the big screen.</p>

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<p>What's #CattleTales you ask? <a href="https://www.beefmagazine.com/ranching/readers-get-social-online-cattleta... out this post here for more information.</strong></a></p>

<p>The trade show floor is 7.5 acres. When they say there is something for everyone, they mean it.</p>

<p>Dale Smith of Amarillo, TX, CattleFax president, welcomed a large crowd to the CattleFax Global Protein and Grain Outlook Seminar. The CattleFax seminar was Thursday morning during the Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans.</p>

<p>The January issue of BEEF <strong><a href="https://www.beefmagazine.com/agenda/propelled-passion-meet-jennifer-hous... incoming NCBA president, Jennifer Houston</a></strong>. She stopped by the BEEF booth (#233) to snap a quick picture with her cover on Wednesday during the NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans.</p>

<p>It’s probably hard to imagine, for all those caught in the incredibly cold weather gripping much of the nation, that there is warmer weather coming. But keep the faith—it will.</p>

<p>That’s part of the prediction that Art Douglas, the long-time CattleFax weather man, gave at the CattleFax outlook session during the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans. This was his 47th year giving a weather outlook at CattleFax session. In general, this year's outlook included positive weather ahead.</p>

<p>Mike Murphy with CattleFax provided an outlook on the global and economic factors impacting the cattle markets. According to Murphy, it all comes down to China and what happens with trade between these two economic powerhouses. It is in the best interest of both countries to come to an agreement, not only are we feeling the effects, but China is facing back-to-back month of contractions in it's Purchasing Managers index.</p>

<p>CattleFax analyst Kevin Good dusted off the crystal ball for the markets outlook at the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans. As always, there are a number of factors that will affect cattle prices in 2019. On the plus side is continued good beef demand both domestically and in export markets. But exports are an area of concern and need to be watched. And we’ll have a larger total supply of cattle and beef.</p>

<p>Turning to a more broader view of the markets, Randy Blach, CattleFax CEO, shared some historical perspective on demand and prices to emphasize the vital role beef demand has played during this glut of supply in the market.</p>

<p>According to his numbers, if demand hadn’t grown in the last 20 years, fed cattle prices would be $20/cwt. less and calf prices would be $50/cwt. less. Instead, you'll likely see fed cattle prices range from $100-130/cwt. in 2019 with an average of $117.</p>

<p>Wes Ishmael, Contributing Editor at BEEF Magazine, stops to check his schedule before meeting with exhibitors at the NCBA Trade Show. The BEEF editorial team will be in and out at the booth (#233) all week. Stop by and say hello.</p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">Corteva, the combined company from the Dow and Dupont merger, introduced a new broadleaf pasture herbicide called DuraCor at the Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans.</span></p>

<p>You can stop by the Learning Lounge on the NCBA Trade Show floor all week to get more quick educational sessions ranging from market outlooks, nutrition news and even cuts of beef from Certified Angus Beef.</p>

<p>The live music is a fun addition to the trade show floor. This was from Wednesday evening and the Thursday morning entertainment included a marching band.</p>

<p>Luis Gomez of Boehringer Ingelheim sat down with BEEF's Sarah <span style="color:#000000">Muirhead to chat about livestock photography. He</span> shared insight on what he finds helps improve the composition and overall quality of the pictures he takes. Boehringer Ingelheim sponsors <a href="https://www.beefmagazine.com/2018-beef-seedstock-100">BEEF's Seedstock 100 program</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BEEF.Magazine/videos/558900141262269/"><strong>You can watch the archived Facebook LIVE here. </strong></a></p>

<p>BEEF's Facebook page has been busy on Friday.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BEEF.Magazine/videos/2296237983981123/"><strong> Listen to our Facebook Live with John Deere as we discuss their new CommandPRO and the BalerWear Parts Box.</strong></a></p>

<p>The closing general session at the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans kicked off with amazing music from a talented local gospel choir.</p>

<p>As the choir sang during Friday's closing session, cattle ranchers proudly stood to honor the great country we are blessed to call home.</p>

<p>According to Sonny Perdue, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary, he regularly tells President Trump the most important three things to the American farmer is 1. Trade; 2. Trade; and 3. Trade ... with a very close fourth being trade.</p>

<p>Secretary Perdue was very open with his respect for the American beef business. When talking about alternative protien options, he remarked that he was "betting on you guys."</p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">David Williams, vice president of IEG Vantage (Informa Economics), told beef producers attending the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans that the 2019 beef market outlook was generally good. Profitability, while not as high as in years past, is still in the cards.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">The National BEEF Stocker Award, sponsored by Zoetis, was presented to Ted Parker and family from Seminary, Miss. On hand to accept the award were Gent Parker; Carl Parker; Janet Parker; and Ted Parker.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:#000000">The BEEF Trailblazer Award, sponsored by John Deere, was presented to the Integrity Beef Alliance during the Best of Beef breakfast at the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans. Accepting the AWARD ARE, FROM LEFT, Hugh Aljoe with the Noble Research Institute; Travis Campsey, Integrity Beef board member; Calvin Farr; Integrity Beef board member; Robert Wells, Integrity Beef Alliance executive director and Noble Research Institute livestock consultant; and&nbsp;<span style="background-color:#ffee94 !important">Burt</span>&nbsp;Rutherford, BEEF senior editor.</span></p>

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