Beef. Its What's For Dinner
Beef cattle provide more to the modern world than most people seem to realize. They not only provide the tasty steaks and hamburger, but a variety of other products, including marshmallows, gelatin, shampoo, crayons, ceramics, dish soap, and fertilizer. In these difficult times, beef producers are struggling to sell even just the hamburger. It is disappointing that the market is poor, and packers are taking advantage and turning away farmers and ranchers. May just so happens to be National Beef Month. While many people think that their beef products simply come from the grocery store, there are many more behind the scene factors.
As a multi-generation cattle producer, I have been around beef cattle since I was born. My dad and I currently run a Shorthorn cow-calf operation just north of Manhattan, KS. In the late fall, we haul cattle several miles to get pre-breeding shots. We work hard through the winter and early spring to feed our cows as they are breeding and gestating. Some years, it is expensive to feed cattle through the frigid months. It as also crucial to keep cattle safe and warm as winter weather takes place. In the spring, we work calves and eventually wean them from their mothers. Pasture burning, is also an important aspect of cattle ownership in the Midwest. In order to clear pastures of the dead and dying grass, we strategically burn our grazing ground to put valuable nitrogen back into the soil and make room for green grass to grow. As the pastures grow, we turn cows out on to the grass to maintain healthy weights as they grow their calf. In the early fall, they give us beautiful babies to look after all over again. Another thing that takes place in the all is the selling of the prior year’s calves. For some farmers and ranchers, this is the only payday that they see throughout the year. The time of year, the weight of the calves, and the cost of feed can all play an impact on the money they make. In states across this magnificent country, cattle outnumber people. With the current situation in the United States, it is imperative that consumers understand that farmers and ranchers are a crucial part of the economy. Without the American farmer and rancher, food would be imported. Inspection standards, sad to say, are lacking in other countries, and the risk of foodborne illnesses increase greatly. With this in mind, I encourage you to sign the petition at this link:https://r-calf.jotform.com/201124604377044?fbclid=IwAR2j-KXysf4h9Gp4fUNhfm6vhaDBukQijRQer1TbM6gINzLEnMiQRVfOhSg . If you want to know more about the packing situation across the U.S. please visit this link https://www.kla.org/ . If you have any other questions, please consult your local farmer or rancher instead of looking to the media.
Above all please support the American cattle producer by purchasing American grown beef and buying local. Happy National Beef Month
In sisterhood,
Rachael Peterson
Sigma Alpha Social Chair
