Attendees of the R-CalfUSA National Convention had a surprise visit from Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota. Senator Rounds recently submitted a comment in opposition of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Center for Public Policy (NCBA) petition which called for the elimination of the “Product of USA” label and the creation of a new “Processed in USA” label.

I’m going to target a number of timely issues today. But the one in the headlines is the almost overnight collapse of the Afghan government. In the last 2 or 3 weeks the Taliban has taken control of the whole country. It is absolute chaos. I have for years hoped we could get out of Afghanistan. But not like this. After fighting a war for 20 years and spending more than $1 trillion, we have nothing. Think about our own fighters that died and their families. The Biden administration did not have a departure plan. It is humiliating. The whole world is watching.

What we are hearing from the industry elites, you know the economists, the lobbyists, those from academia who like to do the talking for those us stuck at home doing chores, putting up hay, and feeding cattle, “Everything is fine. Look away. It’s a cycle. Listen, The south is trying.”

We read and hear about a $3.5 trillion anti-poverty and climate bill the Democratic leadership wants to pass. But we can’t afford to spend that much money. They say, “no problem. We can just tax the rich.”

Big Breaking News out of Washington. The USDA has granted a 60 extension on the Beef Checkoff petition. Here’s the 60-day plan:

If you’re a cattle producer, please go to www.checkoffvote.com to sign the petition if you haven’t already.

Monte James interviews Brian Winter of Winter Livestock and CattleUSA.com

A quick roundup of this weeks offering at THEE BIGGEST sale barns across the Midwest!

Karina Jones, Field Director for R-Calf USA joins us each Friday from her ranch in the heart of Nebraska covering what's new and important to the family farm and ranch.

We have had a lot of hot days this summer. Heat can be even worse when it is accompanied by drought. Look at California – 95% of that state is in severe drought. Even here in the Midwest, North Dakota has 93% of the state under severe drought.

A quick roundup of this weeks offering at THEE BIGGEST sale barns across the Midwest!