Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith joins TSCRA Talk host Kristen Brown to discuss Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD. Smith shares the background on CWD being identified in the state of Texas and the monitoring taking place through both mandatory and voluntary testing. He says  early detection and containment are vital to prevent the disease from being spread. With the value hunting brings to rural land, Smith says that it is important that landowners know that their wildlife are healthy. 

Next, James Oliver, chair of Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s natural resources and wildlife committee, explains how the association has been involved in the Chronic Wasting Disease Taskforce with Texas Animal Health Commission and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He emphasizes the financial impact that hunting brings to cattle operations and the importance of minimizing the effects of the disease. 

Justin Sexten, farm boy turned ranch tech expert, joins TSCRA Talk host Kristen Brown to discuss utilizing technology at the ranch. 

Sexten says the best advancements provide the user with a simpler experience, saving them time. He says technology offers a lot of opportunity in converting data points into usable information to visualize in a valuable way, ultimately leading to making fact-based decisions no matter the size or scope of your operation. 

For cattlemen who are already collecting data and information digitally, Sexten encourages continued development of the data by evaluating what questions cannot be answered about the cattle and what data is needed to meet that need. Additionally, he shares insight into the latest and greatest technology that producers are currently using and what he anticipates will be the next advancements. 

In this episode, Radale Tiner joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss  buying and selling at seedstock cattle sales. 

For cattlemen in the market for bulls, Tiner recommends knowing what your end goal is with the calves that will be produced and make a game plan accordingly. 

Tiner also recommends communicating with the seedstock producer as they will want to help their customers be successful in finding the bull that is going to best fit the operation and the producer's goals. 

On the producer side of the sale, Tiner encourages good customer service by being available to answer questions but also proactively reaching out and staying in touch with buyers. 

Jeff Goodwin, conservation stewardship leader and senior pasture and range consultant with the Noble Research Institute, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss regenerative ranching. Goodwin explains it is the process of restoring the degraded grazing lands using practices based on ecological principles. He shares how both ecology and economics flourish jointly on the ranch. Additionally, Goodwin explains the importance of the right mindset —  seeing opportunities where a challenge once might have been perceived. 

Risk management analyst Casey Mabry joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss basics of risk management for cattlemen. On the episode he discusses tools for managing risk looking at both the downside and the upside of the market. A key factor he says is building a plan and then working through the plan with a long-term vision in place, which helps keep emotions from taking over. Mabry goes on to explain Livestock Risk Protection insurance, which is underwritten by USDA, protect downside risk but it doesn’t limit upside growth. 

Closing out the episode Kaleb McLaurin, TSCRA's executive director of government and public affairs, joins Brown with a brief update on the 87th Texas Legislative session. McLaurin shares that quite a few pieces of good legislation passed this session. “Anytime the legislature comes to town and doesn’t do harm that is a good thing,” McLaurin says. He touches specifically on the eminent domain reform bill says they are considering it a “net zero bill” because it didn’t change drastically but it does set minimum easement terms with the passage of the bill. Two special sessions called by Gov. Abbott are expected this year to address winter storm Uri legislation and redistricting. 

Texas Beef Council Executive Vice President Molly McAdams joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss consumer trends over the past 15 months (and share which ones are sticking around). 

McAdams shares that during the pandemic consumers were learning to cook at home and turned to their online platforms for information. She explains how the Texas Beef Council  team focuses on meeting consumers where they are with the information they are seeking. 

As sustainability continues to be top-of-mind for both producers and consumers, McAdams shares the importance of producers sharing their story to build trust and transparency. Have you ever heard of a flexitarian? Tune in to find out what it is. 

Thanks to LANDVisor by Corteva Agriscience for sponsoring this episode.
 

Links mentioned:

landvisor.corteva.com

beeflovingtexans.com

texasbeefcheckoff.com

tscra.org 

Texas AgriLife Extension Agricultural Law Specialist Tiffany Lashmet joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the importance of properly setting up a hunting lease. Lashmet shares a variety of topics that need to be included in the written hunting lease as well as who needs to sign the lease. Landowner liability protection is another important factor when it comes to having people on the land, according to Lashmet. 

"You never think it will happen to you.” Lashmet says, “And the odds are probably that it won’t. But if it does, taking the time to really prepare ahead of time ... is money really well spent." 

Later, Grace Dunham, TSCRA's executive director of events and partnerships, joins Brown to discuss Cattle Raisers Convention and Expo, which will be held July 23-25 in Fort Worth. The event will include 30 hours of educational opportunities, live cattle demonstrations, more than 250 trade show exhibitors, evening receptions and a dinner and dance featuring Jake Hooker and the Outsiders. Registration is open now with early bird pricing available until June 1. 

This episode of TSCRA Talk is sponsored by LANDVisor from Corteva Agriscience.     

Links:

tscra.org

cattleraisersconvention.com 

agrilife.org/texasaglaw

landvisor.corteva.com

More than 7,000 bills have been filed for the 87th legislative session in Texas this year. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Director of Government Relations Kaleb McLaurin joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss top priorities for TSCRA as well as how COVID-19 has shifted many aspects of the session. The conversation covers eminent domain, rural broadband, animal import/export facilities, truth in labeling, farm animal liability act as well as other legislation. 

Additionally, McLaurin shares about how producers can stay up-to-date and the importance of engaging with their local representative.

This episode of TSCRA Talk is sponsored by LANDVisor from Corteva Agriscience.

Dr. Richard Thorpe is an emergency room physician, rancher and past president of Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. He joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, this month to discuss the scientific data that proves beef does fit into a healthy diet. 

Thorpe gives insight into the history of inaccurate information surrounding beef and how it was perpetuated through dietary guidelines. A wealth of knowledge, he also shares how there has been great progress over the last decade showing that eating a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates can lower blood pressure, cholesterol and help with weight loss. 

Additionally, Thorpe shares a bit of wisdom for ranch work to prevent trips to the emergency room. Closing out the episode he shares some good news about COVID-19 and his thoughts on the vaccine.

Scott Williamson, TSCRA's executive director of law enforcement, brand and inspection services, joins host Kristen Brown to discuss the importance of a “neighborhood watch” mentality at the ranch. Williamson says all eyes and ears are required when it comes to preventing theft of livestock and equipment. A valuable component is knowing your neighbors and making a phone call to them when something appears out of the ordinary.  

Additionally, establishing a relationship with local authorities including the sheriff, game warden, fire department and judge can be important for landowners and cattlemen. Closing out the segment, Williamson shares theft prevent tips.