Latest News From Wyatt Bechtel

Senators Reintroduce Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act
Senators Reintroduce Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act

The Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act has been reintroduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and could provide some fixes to hours of service requirements for livestock haulers.

Texas Dairy Picking Up the Pieces After Tornado Devastates Farm
Texas Dairy Picking Up the Pieces After Tornado Devastates Farm

After taking a direct hit from an EF-3 tornado a dairy farm in Texas doesn't plan to rebuild, but is thankful for all the help that people have provide in the family's time of need.

Parts of Michigan Designated "Potential High-Risk Area" for Bovine TB
Parts of Michigan Designated "Potential High-Risk Area" for Bovine TB

Parts of Iosco and Ogemaw counties in Michigan have been designated by officials as a “Potential High-Risk Area” for bovine tuberculosis after a white-tailed deer in Alcona County tested positive for the disease.

Bipartisan Bill Exempting Ag Haulers from ELD Regulation Reintroduced
Bipartisan Bill Exempting Ag Haulers from ELD Regulation Reintroduced

All agriculture haulers could be exempted from using electronic logging devices (ELD) if the latest version of the Agricultural Business Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act of 2018 advances through Congress.

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Butchering Calf Containing Non-Approved Drug
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Butchering Calf Containing Non-Approved Drug

A cattle buyer in Ohio could face one year in prison for selling a calf to slaughter that was treated with antibiotics, and may face another five years for lying to federal agents.

Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship is Coming to Michigan
Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship is Coming to Michigan

The Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship will finally be present in Michigan and will be offering a kick-off meeting at the W.K. Kellogg Farm in Hickory Corners.

<p>A semi trailer preparing to unload cattle at a feedlot.&nbsp;</p>
Livestock Haulers' Hours of Service Petition Submitted for Comment

A petition filed to the Department of Transportation (DOT) by livestock groups is seeking more flexibility to hours of service regulations.

Processor Debuts Ground Beef Sourced from One Steer at Supermarkets
Processor Debuts Ground Beef Sourced from One Steer at Supermarkets

A grass-fed beef processor is offering ground beef sourced from individual cattle.

Michigan State Awards 2019 Dairy Farmer of the Year
Michigan State Awards 2019 Dairy Farmer of the Year

Blaine and Kim Baker of Bakerlads Farms in Lenawee County are recognized for their accomplishments and passion for the dairy industry.

Texas Ranch with "Giant" History Hits Market for $30 Million
Texas Ranch with "Giant" History Hits Market for $30 Million

The Gearhart Ranch outside Fort Davis, Texas, is near the same area where Academy Award winning movie Giant was filmed.

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Hours of Service Fixes for Livestock Haulers Proposed Again in House

Transporting Livestock Across America Safely (TLAAS) reintroduced in Congress to help reform Electronic Logging Device (ELD) and hours of service rules for livestock haulers.

USRSB: The Sustainable Initiative to Watch in 2019
USRSB: The Sustainable Initiative to Watch in 2019

Consumers are asking questions about their food – where it was raised and its impact on the planet. Such questions fuel initiatives like the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, says rancher Debbie Lyons-Blythe.

<p>Livestock haulers waiting to load cattle.</p>
Livestock Haulers Still Exempt from ELD Rules During Shutdown

Transporters of livestock can still use paper logs while the government is shut down and a spending bill is waiting to be approved in Washington DC.

Stabilizing Jersey Calf Prices for Beef Markets with Crossbreeding
Stabilizing Jersey Calf Prices for Beef Markets with Crossbreeding

Jersey dairy uses an assortment of beef genetics, including Stabilizer, to increase value of bull calves.

Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to $2.4 Million Cattle Wire Fraud Scheme
Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to $2.4 Million Cattle Wire Fraud Scheme

More than $2.4 million worth of cattle were never bought in wire fraud scheme that spanned Missouri and Texas.

Texas Man Charged for Forged Checks from Cattle Sales
Texas Man Charged for Forged Checks from Cattle Sales

A man from Cameron, Texas, faces three counts of forgery after cashing in checks from the sale of someone else's cattle.

<p>Consumers gain knowledge and trust at the Michigan State University Beef Center Breakfast on the Farm event.</p>
Consumers Leave with Improved Impressions After Breakfast on the Farm

Consumers gain knowledge and trust at the Michigan State University Beef Center Breakfast on the Farm event.

Beef Production is Good for Mother Nature
Beef Production is Good for Mother Nature

Would the world be better off if livestock production was reduced or eliminated? Do we have any information to defend and support beef production?  Let’s look at a few of the issues.

<p>Semi trucks preparing to drop off cattle.</p>
Bipartisan Support from Congress Members on Livestock Hauling Petition

A petition from groups representing livestock haulers has the support of 59 members of Congress and could be a potential fix to hours of service regulations.

It is a good time to be thinking about the costs and returns of your cow-calf business. Look for ways to better maximize your resources and to minimize the losses that keep your payday check lower.
Drovers TV: Kane Beef Trouble; Wyoming Brucellosis; and Hauling Rules

In this week's Drovers TV Report there is a case of brucellosis in Wyoming; proposed regulation changes for livestock haulers; and a Texas beef packer is facing financial troubles. 

<p>Cattle being moved to safety following flooding from Hurricane Harvey in Texas during 2017.&nbsp;</p>
Central Texas Flooding Forcing Cattle to be Evacuated or Rescued

Flooding in Central Texas has forced cattle to be evacuated and in one case a pair of men who were trying to save cattle had to be recused themselves.

<p>The&nbsp;KC7 Ranch in West Texas has been listed for sale which includes a&nbsp;10,000 square foot&nbsp;home and more than&nbsp;37,000 acres of range land.&nbsp;</p>
Bankruptcy Forces 37,000 Acre Texas Ranch Sale; Worth $52 Million

The KC7 Ranch in West Texas has been listed for sale which includes a 10,000 square foot home and more than 37,000 acres of range land.

Hours of Service Petition Seeks Flexibility for Livestock Haulers
Hours of Service Petition Seeks Flexibility for Livestock Haulers

A petition filed to the Department of Transportation (DOT) by livestock groups is seeking more flexibility to hours of service regulations.

<p>Livestock haulers preparing to load cattle.</p>
Hours of Service Changes Considered by Department of Transportation

Regulators with the Department of Transportation are willing to listen to possible rule changes regarding hours of service.

<p>Livestock haulers waiting to load cattle.</p>
ELD, Hours of Service Fight Still Ongoing for Livestock Haulers

The Senate passed an extension to Electronic Logging Device (ELD) implementation for livestock haulers that would potentially give more time for regulators and Congress to fix hours of service rules.

<p>A Cattle Fever Tick spray box in action in South Texas.&nbsp;</p>
Temporary Resolution Reached in Texas on Cattle Fever Tick Spray Boxes

Officials in Texas have come to a temporary resolution that will allow the use of Cattle Fever Tick spray boxes for 45 days until a permanent solution is found.

<p>A herd of cows and calves in Florida assisted police in their efforts to apprehend a car jacker.</p>
Cattle Corral Criminal in Florida During Police Chase

A herd of cows and calves in Florida assisted police in their efforts to apprehend a car jacker.

<p>Semi trucks preparing to drop off cattle.</p>
Senate Passes One-Year ELD Extension for Livestock Haulers

Livestock haulers could get another year-long extension to implement Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) through an amendment to the Senate's spending bill.

<p>A pen rider checks cattle Green Plains Cattle Company's feedlot in Kismet, Kansas.&nbsp;Green Plains Cattle started feeding cattle in 2014 after buying the yard in Kismet and has grown to the fourth largest cattle feeder nationally buying feedlots from Cargill and Bartlett &amp; Co.</p>
Bartlett Exits Cattle Feeding; Green Plains Expands to 355,000 Head

Green Plains Cattle Co. continues to grow after buying Bartlett Cattle Company's two feedlots, leaving Bartlett & Co. with no feedlots and raising Green Plains capacity to 355,000 head.

<p>Semi trucks preparing to load stocker cattle in the the Kansas Flint Hills.</p>
House Bill Offers Livestock Haulers ELD, Hours of Service Resolutions

The House of Representatives has debuted their own Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act, which is similar to the Senate version and grants greater hours of service flexibility to livestock haulers.

<p>The farm bill and livestock transportation were top of mind as the Young Cattlemen’s Conference went to Capitol Hill.&nbsp;</p>
YCC on the Road: Cattlemen on Capitol Hill

The farm bill and livestock transportation were top of mind as the Young Cattlemen’s Conference went to Capitol Hill.

<p>A semi truck parked on the National Mall in front of the Capitol in Washington D.C.</p>
Bipartisan Bill Delays Hours of Service and ELD Enforcement for Reform

Two U.S. Senators proposed a bipartisan bill that would allow for reform of the hours of service and Electronic Logging Device regulations while also delaying enforcement.

<p>A cattle trailer preparing to be unloaded.&nbsp;</p>
Hours of Service Bill 'Game Changer' for Livestock Haulers

A new bill proposed by a group of Senators is gaining praise from cattlemen and truckers as a fix for the hours of service and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rules.

<p>Livestock haulers preparing to unload cattle.</p>
ELD, Hours of Service Fixes for Livestock Haulers Proposed by Senators

Livestock haulers may get some relief from transportation rules if a bill proposed by a bipartisan group of Senators moves forward in Congress.

<p>A raccoon in the wild.</p>
FFA Instructor Suspended Over Raccoon Euthanasia

A Florida agri-science teacher and the advisor of the school’s FFA club, was placed on administrative leave after school officials were told that he had students help him drown wild raccoons during class.

Two Florida Dairy Workers Sentenced for Animal Abuse
Two Florida Dairy Workers Sentenced for Animal Abuse

Two workers from a Florida dairy have been sentenced to 20 days in jail following an undercover video investigation by an animal rights group.

<p>A beef recall has been announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;</p>
Lack of Inspection at Texas Meat Packer Forces Beef Recall

Nine states are impacted by a 7,146 lb. raw beef recall.

<p>A semi trailer preparing to unload cattle at a feedlot.&nbsp;</p>
Livestock ELD Waiver Extended to Sept. 30 with Spending Bill

A spending bill not only passed $1.3 trillion in government funding, but also extended the timeline for livestock haulers to utilize electronic logging device (ELD).

<p>Cameron Conkle's Charolais steer took home Grand Champion honors at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Junior Market Steer Show.&nbsp;</p>
Top Two Houston Steers Sell for $776,000; Reserve Sets World Record

The top two steers at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo brought a combined

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Freight trucks are driven on the Fisher freeway in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 27, 2009.&nbsp;</p>
Corporation's Dilemma: Raising Prices to Cover Higher Transport Costs

The drive for cost cuts and higher margins at U.S. trucking and railroad operators is pinching their biggest customers.

<p>Livestock Trailers Semi Trucker Shipping</p>
Ag Commodity Transporters Get 90-day Waiver on ELD Implementation

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has placed a 90-day delay on the implementation of electronic logging devices (ELD) for agriculture commodities.

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Trump, Cruz Can't Avoid Ag Issues at CNN Town Hall

CNN&rsquo;s recent presidential town hall in Wisconsin offered a chance to hear Republican candidates&rsquo; thoughts on agricultural issues, in particular immigration, labor and trade.

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Study: Beef Consumption Must Be Cut Dramatically to Control Climate Change

Cattle are being blamed for 59% of agriculture&#39;s greenhouse gas emissions, and now European scientists want consumers to eat less beef and dairy.

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Cow Efficiency: Economic Considerations for Building a Better Cow

The economic component of efficiency is the most important consideration says a Wyoming ranch manager.

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Ag Groups File Suit on Rare Bats and Other Endangered Species

A lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Cattle Growers&rsquo; Association and the Texas Farm Bureau is asking for five species to be reassigned under the Endangered Species Act.&nbsp;

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The Mission to Hire Millennials

Tips for hiring dedicated 20- and 30-somethings.

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Animal Welfare at the Negotiating Table

Consumers and animal rights activists are changing the way livestock are handled in the country, but there are groups trying to be proactive in bridging the gap between producers and shoppers.

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Longevity From Grazing

Added cow longevity makes it pay to graze for a New Zealand family transplanted to Missouri.

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Operating Separate Parlors Improves Efficiency for Tennessee Dairy

A Tennessee dairy producer has found an additional satellite dairy to be resourceful and productive.

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#EarthDayEveryday On The Farm

Today is Earth Day. In agriculture Earth Day is every single day.