From the Publisher …
Jon Angell


As we were working on the paper this week, the news started breaking about fires raging in the West, in the panhandle of both Texas and Oklahoma, as well as in parts of Kansas. The million-acre Smokehouse Creek fire in Texas is already being reported as the state’s largest-ever wildfire, and at the time of these comments, Texas A&M Forest Service reported the fire only three percent contained. Property damage and livestock losses will no doubt be significant when the smoke clears.

When I hear natural disaster stories of not only wildfires, but hurricanes, blizzards, mudslides and such; I inevitably count my blessing to live here in the Midwest. Yes, we do have to put up with the occasional twister, but I’ve never heard of a twister affecting a million plus acres.

Also on the front page, cattle inventory is at an historic low. I was talking to my new nutritionist this week when this topic came up. Ted said something in affect that an average cow at one time might have weighed 900 pounds, where as today it’s likely near 1400 pounds. We are doing a lot more with a lot less numbers. I took away from the conversation that yes numbers are really down and it will definitely affect pricing, but we need to stay grounded because our business is more often measured in pounds than by head!

Lastly on the front, it sounds like the Missouri Prime packing plant may be forced to pack up and leave. The issue seams to be revolving around a waste water issue.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources didn’t find the wastewater treatment plan Missouri Prime intended to utilize was adequate. Evidently there has been an outcry from local residents and recreational users of the watershed that the treated water would eventually at least utilize, if not impact eventually, in an allegedly adverse way.

It is unfortunate that Missouri Prime is having this issue. With Missouri being the number three state in terms of cow numbers, a cull cow processing plant in Missouri makes a lot of sense. I know locally, several cows were going down there to harvest. In a time of short cow numbers, the impact to cattle producers will be muted some, but had this happened when cows were abundant, the price impact losing a key regional packer would harm producers’ cull cow price immediately.

If cow numbers return to normal, we will sure want regional competition, and Missouri Prime is an important market participant.

Packing plants by their nature are a huge user of water, they always have been. The reality is that the water has to be processed and discharged eventually. In this day and age, nobody wants to cause meaningful adverse harm. It is likely a question of degree, probabilities, and assuming possibilities of harm.

I find some people’s expectations are unsustainable when it comes to cost/benefit analysis. It is a fact that mankind must live in and will undoubtable have some impacts in the environment around us. It comes down to a question of your world view.

In my world view, the Lord calls on mankind to practice good stewardship. I find it unrealistic that some folks’ world view finds them in demand for Zero. Zero impact and zero tolerance is a construction in the minds of men (and women), not of nature and God’s creation.

Elsewhere in these pages, some of you will notice some new advertisers. As promised, I am improving and growing the paper. Our long-time legacy advertisers and the new advertisers coming onboard make the foundation we build upon every month.

In discussions with Chuck, who is our newspaper production wizard, about what we want to do, he has more than once said, “Jon, you know that there isn’t a problem you have mentioned yet that can’t be fixed by selling more ads.”

Well, I’d like to report that after 20-some years of working together, Chuck’s advice – that comes from a real-world newspaper experience – is beginning to reach my thinking and more importantly my efforts.

With this admission, in my mind I can hear my loving bride of 32-plus years, “See what I am dealing with, Chuck!!” But I digress.

I am trying to give a good mix of news and opinions here. I have run several opinion editorials from Bill Bullard of R-CALF USA in past issues. I want point out that on page 17 we have been trying to run an AFF opinion in recent month’s that might be described as the other side of a similar coin when it comes to opinions.

On page 7, we have one of the most bizarre news stories I can remember reading in a long time, maybe ever!

I realize that insurance has evolved for me and most of us (excluding my Amish friends) to what seems like a modern-day necessity. We all hate the premiums and the deductibles … so much so, that unfortunately, and I have witnessed this many times, some of us see insurance fraud as sport and has reached an alarming amount of societal acceptance. I would point out that I do not share that view. The fraud factor is a major contributor to the premium problem.

For those of you fraudsters out there, I want to challenge you to up your game like the fraudster in the story. How committed to screwing the insurance company are you willing to be? Florida is widely known in insurance circles as a haven for insurance fraud. Evidently, the professional fraudsters in Florida now can advertise in our classifieds, “Have ax, will travel.”

Well, my brother took a partially unexpected turn in his column this month. I believe I will have to move him further back in the paper, maybe put him in a B section. My bride had a funny suggestion. She said, “If he keeps this up, you need to sell him an ad!”

I must be getting soft, because that idea is bouncing around in my thoughts… Be sure to look for Justin’s ad in next month’s issue.

Well, once again I have bungled my time management. I’m at the print deadline with more to say and no time. I have more in the works for the “new and improved” Cattleman’s Advocate. Thanks for reading, and your continued support.

Send questions, story ideas, criticism, encouragement to:
Jon Angell
Publisher CA
PO Box C
Centralia MO 65240