Jon Angell

As for the feature this month, we have come across another story that I know many of our readers will be interested in. Private property rights and the use of eminent domain has been an ongoing issue. Specifically, many of our readers have been affected by The Grain Belt Express and the feature shares some details.

There is a lot going on this month. I’m being pushed on this issue as I am preparing to travel to Chattanooga to visit my daughter. We made plans that conflict with the press deadline. So, I worked some ahead, and the rest I’m leaving up to Chuck. Heck, maybe this issue will be better with me not getting in Chuck’s way at the last minute.

So, I read a book this past month that you may be interested in. The book proclaims to be a story of the price cycles in the US Cattle Industry, particularly the one we are currently dealing with now. But the book does far more. Abel’s Rally was written by Garth Gatson, he is one of our own friends and neighbor. Garth tells the bulk of the story from a personalized perspective, which gives the subject a lot of context. Yes the book explains the cattle cycle; the history, the mechanics, theory etc… all in a way that is very readable.

He also writes about how he and others have worked to use their understanding of the cattle cycle to their advantage and gain. He writes “what separates those cattle producers who successfully reach and keep great heights from those who don’t, is rarely the sheer effort with which they work in their business. Often the differentiator is instead the effort with which they work on their business.” Garth identifies using the cattle cycle as one of the ways to reach great heights in the cattle business. He is absolutely right! I’m gray enough to have lived through several cattle cycles. I have seen just what Garth speaks of play out for many cattlemen.

Some cattlemen are just plain lucky. The best operators anticipate and plan for and take advantage of the cattle cycle. Any cattleman would benefit from reading this book, but I would encourage new and younger folks wanting to participate in the cattle business; at any level understanding how the cattle cycles work is almost a basic requirement.

I found myself highlighting in my copy of the book some information or ideas I’d want to re-read or look back to. One thing Garth provided me, was the statistics to look for in the USDA Cattle on Feed Report that would indicate heifer retention to expand the herd. Well, you’ll find it on page 116. “It almost always takes a figure below 37 percent [heifers on feed] to expand the herd” according to Garth. So, let’s all look in upcoming reports to check Garth’s work and get in touch with where we are and more importantly where we are heading.

Overall, I like the way Garth decided to organize and write this book. It is engaging, easily readable and filled with a bunch of useful information. For a regular reader it is no problem. For those of us that are less inclined to conquer whole books I think many of you will be happy you did with this one.

I did call Garth to report to him that I did complete his book, and I appreciated his efforts and hard work in writing it. I asked about how book sales were going and how he was promoting the book. Surprisingly, I got the feeling that promoting the book or selling it wasn’t at all on his priority list. With a growing young family and a herd of cows the book was kind of on its own. So, if you are interested in reading Abel’s Rally, go to Amazon to order.

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