Tasty Tuesday: The Perfect New Year Appetizer

Let's bring in 2016 with beef! 

Are you planning a fun party to bring in the New Year? Make #BEEF the highlight of the night with this #TastyTuesday recipe! It's versatile, delicious and nutritious. Be careful, it may even become the life of the party!

Check out this recipe from Beef It's What's For Dinner

Picadillo-Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers    

Total Recipe Time: about 1-1/2 hours
Makes 24 appetizers

Ingredients

• 8 ounces Ground Beef
• 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup drained canned diced tomatoes
• 1/3 cup finely chopped carrots
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped toasted blanched almonds
• 1 cup shredded Chihuahua cheese
• 24 large jalapeño peppers (1 to 1-1/2 ounces each)
• Dairy sour cream (optional)
• Lime wedges (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef and onion; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking beef into small crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings; season with salt.
2. Stir in tomatoes, carrots, raisins and almonds. Cover and cook 8 to 10 minutes or until carrots are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Set aside.
3. Heat oven to 350°F. Cut slit lengthwise down 1 side of each jalapeño to create pocket, leaving stem and tip intact. Make another small crosswise cut just below the stem to form T-shaped opening. Remove and discard seeds and membranes, if desired, being careful to keep peppers intact. Spoon generous 1 tablespoon beef mixture into pocket of each jalapeño. Place on metal baking sheet. Top each evenly with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
4. Bake in 350°F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until peppers are tender and cheese begins to brown. Garnish with sour cream and lime wedges, if desired.

Movie Monday: COOL repealed

In the latest government action, Congress passed the omnibus appropriations bill, which included a provision to drop mandatory origin labeling. Find out why this is a good thing for the beef industry with today’s #MovieMonday from 

NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen. 

What's Going On Wednesday: So Long, 2015!

Who can believe that there's just over a week left in the 2015 year? The state staffers feel so blessed and honored to be working for the best cattlemen there are, Alabama cattlemen. This is the last #WhatsGoingOn blog post of 2015. As we reflect over the year, it's been an exciting one for sure, but one that wouldn't be possible without our outstanding state officers, executive committee, Board, county officers, members and partner organizations. Happy New Year- let's make 2016 the best yet!

AJCA Directors Visit the Capitol City

ACA Director of Industry Relations and Youth Activities Curt, with the help of the state staff team, hosted a successful  AJCA Director's December meeting and leadership training session. The directors planned events for 2016, received social media, issues management and "ag"vocate training and dined at the Capitol City Club. Not only did they get to enjoy one another's company, but they learned great leadership skills to be used in the future and prepared for an exciting 2016 year!

Membership Update and County Annual Meetings

ACA Membership Coordinator Selina Knight wants to encourage everyone to pay annual dues NOW at only $30 or pay for three years at only $90! This is a reminder that the dues increase will take effect on March 1, 2016!

Check out the dates below for your upcoming annual meeting:

• Friday, Jan. 8 - Limestone County at the  Limestone Co. Event Center at 6:30 pm
• Friday, Jan. 8- Morgan County at Hartselle High School at 6:00 pm 
• Saturday, Jan. 9- Marshall County at the Guntersville Recreation Center at 6:00 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 14- Crenshaw County at Tom Harbin Ag Center in Luverne at 7:00 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 14- Hale County at the Hale County Armory in Greensboro at 6:00 pm. 
• Friday, Jan. 15- Coffee County
• Friday, Jan. 15 – Lamar County at the Vernon Auditorium at 7:00 pm 
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Colbert County at 5:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Clarke County at Clarke Prep School 6:30 pm
• Sat. Jan. 16th - Cullman County at Cullman Civic Center at 6:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Madison County
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Walker County at Huckleberry Farms at 6:30 pm. 
• Tuesday, Jan. 19th- Talladega County
• Thursday, Jan. 21- Monroe County at the Monroeville Community House
• Thursday, Jan. 21- Houston County at Houston County Farm Center at 6:30 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 28- Lee County at Lazenby Farms 6:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 30- Franklin County at 6:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 30- Jackson County 
• Saturday, Jan. 30- Jefferson County at the Gardendale Civic Center. 
• Sunday, Jan. 31- Montgomery County Annual Meeting and Junior Cattlemen County Beef Expo Show at the Teague and Lewis Barns of the Garrett Coliseum. Show starts at 2:30 pm and meeting starts at 5:30 pm.

SLE Rodeo and ACA Convention

Save the dates for the 2016 ACA Convention to be held Feb. 26-27 at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Birmingham. The Iron City Beef Bash has an exciting lineup of speakers and industry representatives ready to educate you on today's cattle industry. The trade show will have a host of equipment, trinkets and information readily available for you to see! Don't miss the 2016 Convention!

Also, save the dates for the 2016 SLE Rodeo- March 17-19. Frontier Rodeo Company, PRCA's Stock Contractor of the Year, will be bringing their best including PRCA Saddle Bronc of the Year, Medicine Woman! In between the bucking, bulldoggin' and barrels, Pro Rodeo master comedian Lecile Harris will entertain the crowd while celebrating 60 years in the business! Don't forget your dancin' boots because following Friday and Saturday nights' performances, you'll get to go Dancin' in the Dirt to the Sweet Young'Uns (Friday) and the Wes Loper Band (Saturday). Visit SLERodeo.com to learn more about this year's show! Family fun and entertainment for all ages all while enjoying America's original sport, rodeo!

Christmas and New Year Office Closure

Today, after the checks are signed, the January magazine is sent to press and all systems are shut down, the ACA state office and The MOOseum will close from Dec. 24- Jan. 4 in observance of the Christmas and New Year season This will give the state staffers a chance to relax, catch their breath and enjoy family time just before the ACA Convention and SLE Rodeo come to town! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our members and partner organizations!

Tasty Tuesday: Smoky Round Roast with Garlic Kale

‘Tis the season for roasting #BEEF and this #TastyTuesday recipe is the perfect way to celebrate! Smoky round raost and garlic kale sounds like a nutritious and delicious meal for any family, any time

of the year...especially this time! Bring your family together around the table to celebrate this holiday season with your favorite protein, beef! Merry Christmas and Eat Beef! 

Smoky Round Roast and Garlic Kale

Total Recipe Time: 1-3/4 to 2 hours
Makes 8 to 12 servings

Ingredients

• 1 beef Eye of Round Roast (2 to 3 pounds)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1-1/2 pounds kale, cut lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1-inch pieces (about 24 cups)
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Additional salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Combine 1 tablespoon oil, paprika, sugar and chili powder in a small bowl. Press mixture evenly onto beef roast.
2. Place roast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of beef. Do not add water or cover. Roast in 325°F oven 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours for medium rare doneness.
3. Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add garlic and red pepper; cook 30 to 45 seconds or until garlic is fragrant, stirring frequently. Add kale in batches, if necessary; cook and stir about 2 minutes or until leaves are wilted. Add water; cover and cook 3 to 5 minutes or until stems are tender. Season with salt.
4. Remove roast when meat thermometer registers 135°F. Transfer to carving board; tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 10°F to reach 145°F for medium rare.)
5. Carve roast into thin slices; season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve with kale.

Movie Monday: Holiday Roasting Questions Answered

It's almost D-Day! All the roasting recipes, tips and tricks we've shared are just about ready to be put into practice for Christmas dinner. We've given you recipes from Beef It's What's For Dinner, offered you roasting temperature guidelines and showed you videos throughout December. Well, lucky for you we've got one more #MovieMonday that will give you an overview and answer some of those lingering questions. Impress your family this Christmas season and roast that beef like it's going out of style! Get those oven and pot roasting questions answered here: 

Beef Fact Friday: Raising Cattle is Good for the Earth

We always say that raising cattle is good for the Earth and those living on it, but would you believe it a little more if you heard from the Wall Street Journal? If you answered yes, then you’re in luck! Today’s #MeatyMonday WSJ writer says “cattle are key to the world’s most promising strategy to counter global warming: restoring carbon to the soil.”

The below article is contributed by the Wall Street Journal

By: Nicolette Hahn Niman

People who advocate eating less beef often argue that producing it hurts the environment. Cattle, we are told, have an outsize ecological footprint: They guzzle water, trample plants and soils, and consume precious grains that should be nourishing hungry

humans. Lately, critics have blamed bovine burps, flatulence and even breath for climate change.

As a longtime vegetarian and environmental lawyer, I once bought into these claims. But now, after more than a decade of living and working in the business—my husband, Bill, founded Niman Ranch but left the company in 2007, and we now have a grass-fed beef company—I’ve come to the opposite view. It isn’t just that the alarm over the environmental effects of beef are overstated. It’s that raising beef cattle, especially on grass, is an environmental gain for the planet.

Let’s start with climate change. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, all of U.S. agriculture accounts for just 8% of our greenhouse emissions, with by far the largest share owing to soil management—that is, crop farming. A Union of Concerned Scientists report concluded that about 2% of U.S. greenhouse gases can be linked to cattle and that good management would diminish it further. The primary concern is methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

But methane from cattle, now under vigorous study by agricultural colleges around the world, can be mitigated in several ways. Australian research shows that certain nutritional supplements can cut methane from cattle by half. Things as intuitive as good pasture management and as obscure as robust dung beetle populations have all been shown to reduce methane.

At the same time, cattle are key to the world’s most promising strategy to counter global warming: restoring carbon to the soil. One-tenth of all human-caused carbon emissions since 1850 have come from soil, according to ecologist Richard Houghton of the Woods Hole Research Center. This is due to tillage, which releases carbon and strips the earth of protective vegetation, and to farming practices that fail to return nutrients and organic matter to the earth. Plant-covered land that is never plowed is ideal for recapturing carbon through photosynthesis and for holding it in stable forms.

Throwback Thursday: 1992

The year 1992 was a big year for the checkoff! All kinds of cool beef promotions happened. For example, over 600,000 consumers were exposed to beef on the Alabama Radio and Television Network when ACA President Ned Ellis and 1992 Miss Rodeo Alabama Becky Perry represented Alabama’s beef industry on the Iron Bowl pre-game show. That’s impressive! #ThrowbackThursday

What's Going On Wednesday: December 16, 2015

Someone forgot to remind Mother Nature that it's December here in the great state of Alabama, but she finally got the memo. It's beginning to look (and feel!) a lot like Christmas! The state staff are busy finishing out year-end projects, reviewing the past year, planning for the new year and preparing to close up shop for the Christmas season. That involves a lot of miscellaneous work, but it will all be worth it on January 1 when we can look back over 2015 and be proud of another successful year at the ACA. While we are looking over the year, we want you to look over this week to stay in the know about #WhatsGoingOn...

Legislative Front

ACA Executive VP Dr. Billy Powell and Industry Relations staffer Curt Berry met with the Alabama Ag Coalition Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Alabama Wildlife Federation's Lanark Park in Millbrook. The group of ag representatives discussed the legislative session that will convene in February and forecasted for possible issues to watch out for. The coalition, with Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan presiding, discussed impending issues from feral hogs to drones. 

AJCA Directors Come to Town

Speaking of leadership, Curt has been busy working with other ACA staffers to prepare for next week's AJCA Director's December Meeting and leadership training session. This year's directors will be planning events for 2016, receiving social media, issues management and "ag"vocate training and dining at the Capitol City Club. This will be a great way for the group of old and new directors to network, learn and plan together. 

Holiday Roasting Social Media Contest

We're excited to announce that our Holiday Roasting beef promotion on the ACA Facebook page was a hit! The contest generated over 7,000 impressions on the social media front! The lucky winner of our holiday roasting package (Crockpot, meat thermometer and a $25 beef certificate) is Laraine Bradford Morrison! Congrats!

ACA & AFC

Dr. Powell and Curt were up bright and early Wednesday morning to speak to the Alabama Farmers Cooperative managers at their winter meeting. Dr. Powell gave an update on the beef cattle industry and an outlook for the future. After breakfast, the two visited the trade show going on at the Convention Center and its vendors. 

Membership Update

ACA Membership Coordinator Selina Knight is busy entering the Dec. 1 Early Bird paid members. The $200 drawing will take place this Friday, Dec. 18 and will be announced online, so be looking for a post! She also wants to encourage everyone to pay your annual dues NOW at only $30! The dues increase will take effect on March 1, 2016.

Check out the dates below for your upcoming annual meeting:

• Friday, Jan. 8 - Limestone County at the  Limestone Co. Event Center at 6:30 pm
• Friday, Jan. 8- Morgan County at Hartselle High School at 6:00 pm 
• Saturday, Jan. 9- Marshall County at the Guntersville Recreation Center at 6:00 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 14- Crenshaw County at Tom Harbin Ag Center in Luverne at 7:00 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 14- Hale County at the Hale County Armory in Greensboro at 6:00 pm. 
• Friday, Jan. 15- Coffee County
• Friday, Jan. 15 – Lamar County at the Vernon Auditorium at 7:00 pm 
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Colbert County at 5:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Clarke County at Clarke Prep School 6:30 pm
• Sat. Jan. 16th - Cullman County at Cullman Civic Center at 6:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Madison County
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Walker County at Huckleberry Farms at 6:30 pm. 
• Tuesday, Jan. 19th- Talladega County
• Thursday, Jan. 21- Monroe County at the Monroeville Community House
• Thursday, Jan. 21- Houston County at Houston County Farm Center at 6:30 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 28- Lee County at Lazenby Farms 6:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 30- Franklin County at 6:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 30- Jackson County 
• Saturday, Jan. 30- Jefferson County at the Gardendale Civic Center. 
• Sunday, Jan. 31- Montgomery County Annual Meeting and Junior Cattlemen County Beef Expo Show at the Teague and Lewis Barns of the Garrett Coliseum. Show starts at 2:30 pm and meeting starts at 5:30 pm.

ACA Holiday Observance

The staff is excited for the annual Christmas party taking place this Friday, Dec. 18. The group will munch on Christmas treats brought in by staffers, fellowship with one another and enjoy an exciting (to say the least) game of Dirty Santa! It's a great way to wrap up a successful year at the ACA and enjoy one another's company. We are all very blessed to work for such a wonderful association and its cattlemen. 

The office will be closed Dec. 24- Jan. 4 in observance of the Christmas season and to offer the staff a much-needed break before ACA Convention and SLE Rodeo come to town! 

Merry Christmas from the ACA staff!

Other Activities to Note:

The last speaker for the 2016 ACA Convention has been confirmed. Derrell Peel, Beef Cattle Economist from OKState, will be enlightening listeners at a Zoetis Cattlemen's College on what to expect with the market. Registration for convention will be in the January magazine as well as online! Don't miss out- the dates are Feb. 26-27 at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Birmingham. 

Save the dates for the 2016 SLE Rodeo- March 17-19. Staffers are working on an advertising schedule, so start looking and listening out for information coming soon! In the meantime, we'll fill you in! Frontier Rodeo Company, PRCA's Stock Contractor of the Year, will be bringing their best including PRCA Saddle Bronc of the Year, Medicine Woman! In between the bucking, bulldoggin' and barrels, Pro Rodeo master comedian Lecile Harris will entertain the crowd while celebrating 60 years in the business! Don't forget your dancin' boots because following Friday and Saturday nights' performances, you'll get to go Dancin' in the Dirt to the Sweet Young'Uns (Friday) and the Wes Loper Band (Saturday).  Visit SLERodeo.com to learn more about this year's show! Family fun and entertainment for all ages all while enjoying America's original sport, rodeo!

Each year, Dr. Powell sits down with each staffer for a one-on-one meeting to review the past year's work, achievements and lessons learned and create goals and objectives for the new year. This week has been full of reviewing and creating a 2016 Calendar of Events. 

Tasty Tuesday: Tenderloin and Garlic-Roasted Vegetables

While the weather has been what's roasting here lately in the great state of Alabama, December weather is finally poking its head out just in time for the Christmas season. Speaking of roasting, this week’s #TastyTuesday not only roasts tenderloin but the vegetables to go with it, too! Warm up in this cooler (finally!) weather and serve this for your family's Christmas meal. Get the additional information and nutritional facts at Beef, It's What's For Dinner. 

Tenderloin and Garlic-Roasted Vegetables

Total Recipe Time: 1-1/2 to 2 hours
Makes 15 to 20

Ingredients

• 1 beef Tenderloin Roast (4 to 5 pounds)
• 1 large head garlic
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2-1/4 pounds potatoes (such as fingerling, russet or red potatoes), quartered if large
• 4 small onions, halved
• 6 small plum tomatoes, halved
• 2 medium zucchini, sliced
• 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, divided
• 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper, divided
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• Salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Cut about 1/4 inch off top of garlic head, exposing cloves. Remove outer papery skin, leaving head intact. Place in center of 12-inch square heavy-duty aluminum foil; drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil. Bring two opposite sides of foil over garlic; seal with double fold. Fold in open ends to seal. Combine remaining vegetables, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in large bowl; toss to coat.
2. Combine remaining teaspoon Italian seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; press evenly onto all surfaces of beef roast. Place roast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of beef. Do not add water or cover. Place garlic, potatoes and onions on rimmed baking sheet. Roast tenderloin in 425°F oven 45 to 55 minutes for medium rare; 55 to 65 minutes for medium doneness. Roast garlic, potatoes and onions 30 minutes. Add tomatoes and zucchini to pan; continue to roast 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
3. Remove roast when meat thermometer registers 135°F for medium rare; 145°F for medium. Tent with foil. Let stand 20 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 10°-15°F to reach 145°F for medium rare; 160°F for medium.)
4. Squeeze garlic pulp over vegetables; stir to combine. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese and salt, as desired. Carve roast; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons cheese. Season with salt, as desired. Serve with vegetables.

Movie Monday: To Marinade or To Rub?

The next two weeks are bound to be full of preparing meals for Christmas! What, with family in town, feasts to be prepared and cooler weather keeping folks inside, tasty meals are important. They are also the perfect environment for catching up with family and reminiscing of years past and hoping for the year ahead.

 When it comes to preparing beef, do you know when to marinade versus when to rub? If not, then this #MovieMonday is just for you! Be sure to prepare a meal so good, your family will talk about it for years to come! Check it out: 

Beef Fact Friday: Heifer Replacement Considerations

As heifer replacement begins to weigh on producers’ minds, Dr. Bob Weaber, a Kansas State animal scientist, says that genetic components, birthdates, mature size and many other factors play into selecting heifers with the best likelihood of becoming productive and efficient cows. Learn more with today’s #BeefFactFriday.

Contributed, Drovers Cattle Network:

Producers focus on replacement heifer selection

By Connor Orrock, K-State Research and Extension

Picture by the ACA

As the air turns crisp and the leaves change color, replacement heifer selection begins to weigh on cattle producers’ minds. The process can be confusing and stressful for producers, as the decisions made can directly impact the future of their program. Kansas State University animal scientist, Bob Weaber, offers tips to aid producers in selecting heifers with the best likelihood of becoming productive and efficient cows for years to come.

Genetic components

Weaber encourages producers to make appropriate sire selection decisions for building quality replacements. If a producer plans to keep more replacement females, tactical selection of bulls to be sires of replacement heifers that emphasize maternal traits versus other traits is a must.

“If you’ve made an investment in genetics,” Weaber said, “either via bull purchasing or through an AI (artificial insemination) program over the last year, and these replacement candidates are a result of those decisions, certainly those females produced by bulls that have been selected for their maternal traits – maternal calving ease, appropriate mature weight, lactation, stability EPD (expected progeny difference) – should be given priority in your selection criteria.”

Weaber also points out that crossbred heifers typically have a more productive life and possess greater reproductive qualities than their straight-bred counterparts. Therefore, crossbred heifers should be given special consideration as replacements.

Birthdate

Figuring out where heifers were born, in terms of the calving distribution and their weights and performance measures, are key pieces of information, he said.

“We know heifers born early in the calving season have a higher likelihood of themselves calving earlier in the calving season and lasting longer in your management system,” said Weaber, a cow-calf specialist with K-State Research and Extension. “They have more opportunities to become pregnant within the breeding season, because they cycle earlier and calve earlier. When mated in a defined breeding season, they have more wiggle room in their reproductive performance than do females that were born at the end of the calving season.”

Weaber provided an example to further explain: “Say you have a

heifer calf that was born the last day of your calving season. When she enters your breeding herd, she’s going to be one of the last females to reach puberty, have the fewest opportunities to become pregnant in your structured breeding season, and if she misses by two or three days in the breeding season, she’s out as a 2-year-old.”

“If you’ve invested $1,000 or $1,500 on development costs above her market value as a calf to get that heifer to have her first calf,” he added, “you don’t want to lose her because she missed by two or three days. That’s why we skew our selection heavily toward females born in the first 21 or 30 days of the calving season.”

Mature size relative to resources

Picture by the ACA

Feed and other input costs, has some producers concerned about mature cow size and lactation potential. Weaber said it is important to choose replacement females that fit the mature size and maintenance requirements appropriate to forage constraints of the operation.

Over time, he said, many producers have selected heifers that have higher performance and growth traits to meet demands further down the beef value chain. While cattle that grow quickly are an important contribution to the beef production system, producers must be careful not to go too far. With today’s genetics, it is fairly easy to build cows whose nutrient requirements can substantially exceed the nutrients available in a grazed forage environment.

For this reason, he recommends producers keep an eye on maintaining, or in some cases slightly decreasing, the mature weights of their cows.

“Replacement female selection has accelerated our path of maybe making cows too big,” Weaber said. “Our usual practice of walking into the replacement heifer pen leads to selecting ‘the standout.’ The biggest, nicest fleshed, easiest conditioned heifers in the pen are the ones that we naturally want to select.”

“Certainly older heifers have a tendency to be that way because of age,” he continued. “But, we have to be careful that we don’t select heifers that are the extremes in that group, because they represent the highest growth genetics, and likely the highest mature weight out of our cow herd.”

Another factor linked to selecting these “standout” replacements is that they are likely from cows with the highest lactation potential in the cow herd, Weaber said, which leads to increased production and maintenance requirements for these cows.

To combat this trend, he recommends that producers select replacement heifers that reside in the middle of the group for adjusted 205-day weight or adjusted weaning weight. The adjusted weight takes into account differences in age of the heifers and age of their dam.

“To keep the weights of your cows pretty constant, pick the middle third of the heifers in terms of weaning performance,” Weaber said. “Skew that selection to include heifers born early in the calving season to have this optimization of born early in the calving season and from the middle group in weight and performance. That should put a downward pressure on the increase of mature weight.”

An Excel spreadsheet is available at www.ksubeef.org that calculates adjusted birth weights, weaning weights and yearling weights. The spreadsheet requires producers to enter information on their heifers, such as the birthdate or birth week and age of dam.

Other factors

Another item to consider when selecting replacements is biology. Look for replacements out of mature cows that “fit” the system.

“They ‘fit’ in the production environment, and because of that ‘fit’ they have the ability to reproduce every year,” Weaber said. “Those cows are likely on target in terms of weight, body condition, lactation potential and have obviously been fertile.”

So when choosing replacement heifers, one from a designated “fit” mature cow should be toward the top. If a producer has to choose between picking a replacement heifer out of a proven mature cow or one out of an unproven cow, consider picking the daughter of the proven cow.

“About three-quarters of the genetic flow of the cow herd is driven by sire selection,” Weaber said. “That doesn’t mean female selection is not important. It can be particularly important if you are trying to limit supplemental feed sources.”

“I encourage producers to sit down and figure out the trajectory that they want to go, understand the data they may need to make that informed decision, collect that data, and then make an informed and thoughtful replacement heifer selection.”

Throwback Thursday: Convention 1984

#ThrowbackThursday to the 1984 ACA Convention. Pictured are ACA’s Dr. Billy Powell, comedian Jerry Clower, Alabama’s lead singer Randy Owen, Dian Thomas from NBC’s Today Show and Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburg Steelers quarterback of the time. That’s a lot of personality in one picture! Who remembers these folks? 

What's Going On Wednesday: December 9, 2015

The year is winding down faster than we can prepare for it! There's lots to be done before the ACA closes its doors to celebrate the Christmas season, and your state staffers are staying busy accomplishing those tasks! Check out #WhatsGoingOn this week around the Cattlemen's. Receive updates and reminders to keep you in-the-know! Just keep reading...

Producer Relations Staffer Travels East

ACA staffer Curt Berry has spent most of the week out of the office! Just because he's not behind his desk doesn't mean he's not busy, though. Curt is spending his time this week visiting with producers in Chambers and Randolph counties and in the Wiregrass region. 


He will be visiting the Wiregrass Research Station in Headland to attend the Alabama Forage and Grassland Conference. ACA staff handled the registration for the conference, and the state checkoff is a major sponsor. ACA Vice President Richard Meadows along with Curt will be on hand to greet cattle producers from across the state. Be sure to stop by and visit with them!

Planning for Convention

Dr. Powell, Martha Davis and Erin Beasley spent Monday in Birmingham at the Sheraton Hotel where they toured the facilities with hotel staff and ironed out 2016 Convention and Trade Show details. 

Save the dates for Convention. The Iron City Beef Bash will be held February 26-27, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Birmingham. Get excited to hear our lineup of speakers and sessions. For example, USMEF Senior VP of marketing Dan Halstorm will serve as a  Convention speaker, and Sen. Richard Shelby is confirmed for the Legislative Luncheon!

Watch for a complete schedule and registration form in the January issue of the Alabama Cattleman and online at www.bamabeef.org.

Politicking

Longtime friend of the Cattlemen's Danny Crawford won the House of Representatives special election Republican run-off in District 5 yesterday by 54%. 

District 5 Representative
Danny Crawford.

Speaking of politics, your ACA lobbyist Dr. Billy Powell is reviewing potential legislation that may come up in the next Legislative Session. He is doing this in preparation of a meeting with the Ag Coalition next week.

 

2016 SLE Rodeo

Lots of exciting things happening on the rodeo front! First, tickets sales open up on ALL platforms TOMORROW...just in time to give them as Christmas gifts!

• Call 1-888-2RODEO2 and order over phone
• Visit www.SLERodeo.com and order online through Ticketmaster.
• Visit the Cattlemen's building in Downtown Montgomery or the Garrett Coliseum and buy your tickets in person
• Mail in a ticket order form, which can her found here. 

You're not going to want to miss this family fun event packed with entertainment! Frontier Rodeo Company, PRCA's Stock Contractor of the Year, will be bringing their best including PRCA Saddle Bronc of the Year, Medicine Woman! In between the bucking, bulldoggin' and barrels, Pro Rodeo master comedian Lecile Harris

will entertain the crowd while celebrating 60 years in the business! Don't forget your boogie boots because following Friday and Saturday nights' performances, you'll get to go Dancin' in the Dirt to the Sweet Young'Uns (Friday) and the Wes Loper Band (Saturday). Hey, and just in case that's not enough excitement, Thursday night is First Responders Night where FREE general admission is granted to anyone who can present a first responders identification. Friday night is Ladies Night where all ladies tickets will be submitted for some juicy door prizes drawn for throughout the show! Lastly, bring those battle cries to the rodeo Saturday

night for College Night, where college students can receiver 4 tickets for only $40 with the presentation of a valid college i.d. 

You're not going to want to miss this event! Family fun and entertainment for all ages all while enjoying America's original sport, rodeo! 

Lecile Harris Novel

In celebration of 60 years as a rodeo master comedian, Lecile Harris has released an autobiography title Lecile: This Ain't My First Rodeo. Go on adventures through Lecile's memories and experiences with this book! You can buy it today for $20 at the Cattlemen's building! Stop by today and give the gift of rodeo, clownin' around and good, old-fashioned memories for Christmas!

Tasty Tuesday: Walnut-Crusted Roast with Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Just like we promised, this month is all about holiday roasting! Here’s a great #TastyTuesday recipe for Walnut-Crusted Roast with Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes. Try this recipe to make your Christmas merry and New Year bright! Not to mention, it's a sure way to impress your family who have come home for the holidays! 

Share your favorite roast recipe with us on our Facebook page for a chance to win a holiday roasting package sure to prepare the perfect Christmas roast!

Get more information and nutritional content for this recipe at 

Beef, It's What's For Dinner. 

Walnut-Crusted Roast & Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Recipe Time: 1-3/4 to 2 hours
Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

• 1 beef Eye of Round Roast (2 to 3 pounds)
• 4 cups prepared mashed potatoes, warmed
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

Walnut Crust:

• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped green onion
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 325°F. Combine Walnut Crust ingredients; press evenly onto all surfaces of beef roast.
2. Place roast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of beef. Do not add water or cover. Roast in 325°F oven 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours for medium rare doneness. (Do not overcook.)
3. Remove roast when meat thermometer registers 135°F. Transfer roast to carving board; tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 10°F to reach 145°F for medium rare.)
4. Meanwhile combine mashed potatoes and cheese in large bowl; keep warm.
5. Carve beef roast into thin slices; season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve with mashed potatoes.

------Enjoy!------

Movie Monday- Antibiotic Free Labels

All beef is antibiotic free! 

American farmers and ranchers take the use of antibiotics very seriously. They are minimalists when it comes to antibiotic use in cattle, and they believe that using antibiotics should be done in a manner that harvests good animal husbandry and welfare. America is home to the world's safest, most wholesome and nutritious beef supply in the world! ALL meat you buy and eat in the U.S. is already antibiotic-free! Understand why with today’s #MovieMonday. 

"By strategically using these drugs, farmers ensure that only meat from healthy animals eventually makes it to your plate. In fact, there's no scientific evidence that the meat labeled 'antibiotic free' is any healthier." 

- Dr. Joseph Perrone

Beef Fact Friday: Myth Busting!

Did you know that despite different marketing tactics and misconceptions among consumers that grain- and grass-finished beef are NOT NUTRITIONALLY DIFFERENT than organically raised beef? Rather, they simply provide different niche markets that give consumers more options at the meat case.

DEBUNK the myths this #BeefFactFriday and SHARE positive messages about all beef nutrition, regardless of the production method. Here’s a great message to share: All beef is a nutrition powerhouse, providing 10 essential nutrients, including half a day’s protein requirements in each 3-oz serving!

Throwback Thursday: December 2007

Since December is officially on us, and we're beginning to feel the cooler temps that come with it, here's a #ThrowbackThursday to a snow day in December 2007. The ACA staffers were so excited they dressed up the yard decor and posed for a picture! L-R is Carla Hall, Ed Whatley, Debbie Vandiver, Lewis Wilson, Temekia Poole, Layne Lunn, Martha Davis, Nicky Bechard and Dr. Billy Powell! 

Who remembers this snow day?!

What's Going On Wednesday: December 2, 2015

It feels like yesterday that we were welcoming November in Montgomery, and now all of a sudden December is here! Christmas countdowns are on, the ACA Christmas decorations are up, hay is being fed to supplement fall grazing and our cattlemen are trading in sweat towels and water jugs for coats and coffee thermoses. It's December which means several things for the ACA. Find out with today's #WhatsGoingOnWednesday Bama Beef Blog post. 

Skip the Shopping Frenzies

Christmastime means shopping. It means finding the perfect gifts for your family and friends. Find the perfect gift for your cattlemen and western enthusiasts at The MOOseum gift shop and the ACA online store. You wouldn't believe all we offer- Montana Silversmith jewelry, Arthur Court serveware, ACA and SLE apparel, books and belt buckles! That's right, and all in-store purchases are 20% off for ACA members. Online purchases come with free shipping for our members- call us for the promo code! SHOP NOW

Pull Out the Recipe Cards

Now through December 15, visit the ACA Facebook page and post your favorite holiday roast recipe for a chance to win a roasting package sure to cook the perfect Christmas roast! The package includes a Crock Pot, meat thermometer and a $25 beef certificate! All you have to do to enter is post your favorite recipe for roast to our page...it's that easy! 

AISA Football All-Stars

The ACA is hosting the Alabama Independent School Association All-Star Football players to a steak dinner this evening at the Cattlemen's Building. The group will also have a discussion about the importance of beef in the diet. Congrats to all the AISA All-Star Football Players and welcome to the ACA.

Tackling Obesity at the ACA

Tomorrow, the ACA will host the Obesity Task Force quarterly meeting in the building. This group is comprised of dietitians and health professionals who aim to improve the obesity epidemic in Alabama. ACA's Erin Beasley will speak to them about beef nutrition resources and give an update on the “Protein + Exercise=Success” challenge we did in October/November with the Family and Consumer Science teachers in Alabama.

Branding Education for Food Service

ACA's Erin Beasley will participate in the sales meeting at Sysco Central AL by providing an educational program on branded beef specifications on Friday. Salesmen will have their questions

answered about marbling scores, carcass maturity, breed programs, etc. It's all in a day's work for the Beef Girl.

SLE Rodeo Tickets 

Speaking of gifts, give the gift of family fun for Christmas this year! Buy SLE Rodeo tickets for your friends or family...or yourself! The 59th Annual SLE Rodeo will come to town March 17-19, 2016 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. Ticket sales open on all platforms December 10, and there's FIVE easy ways to buy tickets:

1. Print the 2016 Rodeo Ticket Order Form and mail to us at 201 South Bainbridge Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
2. Call 1-888-2RODEO2
3. Purchase at the Alabama Cattlemen’s building or the Garrett Coliseum
4. Purchase online at Ticket Master
5. Purchase at your local Publix stores

You can beat the rush by calling Jessica at 1-888-2RODEO2 today with you order. Call us with questions, and visit www.SLERodeo.com for more information on the 2016 rodeo! Watch out for contests and entertainment announcements on our Facebook page. We're working hard this week on advertising and pursuing sponsorship opportunities. 

In case you didn't know, Pro Rodeo master comedian Lecile Harris is taking the SLE Rodeo stage for our upcoming rodeo to celebrate his 60th anniversary in the business! In celebration of this milestone, Lecile has released an autobiography of his adventures titled Lecile: This Ain't My First Rodeo. Lucky for you, we have them for sale in our gift shop today for $20 (plus shipping, if applicable). Give the gift of laughter and adventure this Christmas and go on a trip through Lecile's memories! 

ACA Convention and Trade Show

Save the dates for the 2016 ACA Convention and Trade Show! Cattlemen will join from across the state on February 26-27, 2016 at the Sheraton in Downtown Birmingham for education, updates, fellowship and a trade show that alone is worth the trip! Senator Richard Shelby and NCBA's Dr. Kim Stackhouse are just two of the speakers to look forward to at this year's convention! ACA staffers are also working with the Sheraton staff to plan menus, room arrangements and prices. The completed schedule along with Convention registration will be released online by December 20. Complete info will be in the January issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

Tidbits, Updates and Announcements:

• The final proof for 2016 State Checkoff Marketing Plan has been sent to press! Copies will be sent to Board of Directors and auction markets statewide. It will also be available online for viewing. 
• The deadline for receiving Foundation scholarship applications has passed. Those applications are now being sorted through and are getting ready for presentation to the selection committee. 
• AU Animal Science scientists will be excited to find out if their funding requests were approved by Board for beef cattle research projects. Be on the lookout for those notifications. 
• Dr. Billy Powell and Curt Berry will be attending the Black and White Bull Sale Friday and Next Step Cattle Company sale on Saturday. They're also stopping by the AGR Christmas Classic steer show in Auburn to support the ACA's sponsorship of the show. While in Auburn, they'll also be presenting the sponsorship check for FFA Steer show the following day.