Executive Summary
Foundation
Update
By Mark Anderson, NALF executive director
Seven days over the 4th of July week marked
with a drop in DNA testing as breeders have
a successful week for the NJLSC hosted by the
had to deal with current market conditions.
state of Missouri. Over 350 head from 23 states
Regardless, the business will move forward.
and 245 exhibitors participated throughout the
Changes in technology, including genomics and
week’s events, as juniors from across the country
updated single-step national cattle evaluations
participated in “A League of Their Own.” A sincere
have changed the toolbox for seedstock
thank you and debt of gratitude is owed to the
breeders and most breed associations across
Missouri Limousin Breeders Association, along
the U.S. Although these can be challenging for
with the whole Pinegar crew for their hard work
most to adapt to, there is a wave of seedstock
in hosting and obtaining sponsors for the well-
producers that are embracing the change in
attended annual event this summer. Another
an effort to stay in front of the curve in the
outstanding All-American Futurity Show concluded
competitive business of supplying high quality
the week that wouldn’t be possible without the
seedstock to the commercial cattlemen.
help from Ken Holloway and his crew throughout
the year in preparation to
The economy as a whole may
make the show possible.
Limousin
and
Lim-Flex
have gotten better through
Thank you also to the
cattle continue to improve the past two years but much
member volunteers and
junior board members who
genetically but still need to of the agricultural industry
is still waiting to see some
helped assist the NALF staff
gain
a
little
more
ground
improvement. Renegotiated
throughout the whole week.
in the marbling trait as we trade agreements such as
the U.S., Canada and Mexico
It has been a year that has
move forward.
trade agreement held up in
brought some adversity
congress
currently,
this can be of a major benefit
for breeders across the country, given the severe
to agriculture producers but has yet not passed
weather late winter and early spring. Flooding
through the U.S. Congress at the time of this
caused major difficulties in many regions and
writing. Exports, which are already adding $350 per
not only impacted calving season but delayed
head of value to fed cattle will need to continue
and impacted various bull sales into the spring.
to grow as beef production will continue to rise
Given weaker commercial cattle markets and
into 2020 even though it appears the U.S. cow
resulting impacts on the seedstock business,
herd rebuild is beginning to level off. Potential
it has been a challenging year for many of our
renegotiated trade agreements with China and
breeders. NALF is a mirror and reflection of that
other countries would be of major benefit to U.S.
with the 2018-2019 fiscal year experiencing
producers if eventually completed. Until that
declines in registrations and transfers along
happens, the agricultural industry as a whole
will continue to be challenged to a degree.
“
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10 | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2019