Kansas Beef Genetics and Practices Showcased for Russian Delegation

Three generations of the Lyons family welcomed the Russian delegation to their ranch: Frank and Jan Lyons, Karl and Amy Langvardt and their sons, Tanner and Trey. Thad Geiger, business development coordinator for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, accompanied the group on their three-day visit to Kansas. Photos by Donna Sullivan Kansas Beef genetics and practices showcased for Russian delegation By Donna Sullivan, Editor For many years in Rus- maintain some of the look of From December 6-8, the sia, particularly during the their native cattle,” Geiger Kansas Department of Agri- Stalin era, the emphasis was explained. culture marketing team host- on dairy cattle, and most At Mill Creek Ranch ed a group of Russian farm beef production was a by- they saw how the Breiners managers and government product of the dairy indus- achieve good weaning officials, including the try. But now cattlemen have weights on grass in their Deputy Minister of Agricul- been charged by the central Hereford and Angus cattle ture, to give them a glimpse government with increasing without pushing a great deal of American production quantity and quality in their of extra grain. They also got practices and identify poten- beef program. to watch the process of tial genetics to enhance their While in Kansas, the flushing embryos. own beef production. The team visited Cow Camp “At New Haven Angus, group was made up largely Ranch, Lost Springs; Oleen they were able to see some of representatives from the Brothers, Dwight; Fink Beef really nice Angus genetics, Kalmykia region, which is Genetics, Randolph; Lyons so each stop was unique,” one of the main beef produc- Angus Ranch, Manhattan; Geiger said. ing regions in Russia and Mushrush Red Angus, “For many years that part home of the only true beef Strong City; Mill Creek of the world was only inter- breed. Kalmyk cattle origi- Ranch, Alma; and New ested in registered Hereford nated in Mongolia and Haven Angus, Leavenworth. or registered Angus cattle,” northwestern China and “It was a really good he continued. “Now they’re were taken to southeastern tour,” said Thad Geiger, looking at cross-breeding Russian by migrating business development coor- and looking at other types of After seeing the bulls out in the pasture, the group returned to the Lyons’ shop to Kalmyk tribes in the early dinator for the Kansas De- cattle, which really makes warm up from the frigid cold. Above, Jan gives further informaiton on Lyons Angus. 17th century. Their adapt- partment of Agriculture. some new opportunities for ability allows them to en- “They were very impressed our breeders. We’re also dure the harsh weather con- with the U.S. cattle.” looking at embryos and the ditions better than other beef Geiger said that at each opportunity to sell semen breeds in Russia. stop, they were able to see over there, as well as a lot of something a little different. our practices.” “At Cow Camp they saw Along with genetics, the American Simmental,” he delegation wanted to learn described. “At Oleen’s they more about American pro- were very impressed with duction practices and equip- their true range type of oper- ment. They currently oper- ation.” ate under the old European At Fink’s the group was model of housing cattle all able to see how Galen and winter, so to see cattle out Lori had started with just a on the range in December few cattle and grown their was unusual for them. They herd through embryos with were also fascinated with cooperating partners. At the livestock equipment. Lyons Angus, it was the uni- “They don’t have livestock formity and docility of the trailers over there,” Geiger bulls that impressed them, said. “They marveled at the as they left the bus and fact that one man could walked among them. move cattle like that so easi- The Red Angus at the ly.” Mushrush Ranch intrigued “The trip itself was very the Russians, because successful,” Geiger stated. Kalmyk cattle are red. “Tra- “The Deputy Minister of dition is huge in the old part Agriculture told me they The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, left, and another member of the delegation of Russia, and this way they will do business with wanted to ride the horses, which are larger than theirs back home. They are shown can crossbreed and still Kansas cattlemen.” above with Amy Langvardt, center. Page 2 Grass & Grain, December 17, 2013 By John Schlageck, issues of out-migration or For my husband and I, this time of year always brings Kansas Farm Bureau depopulation, removing the back memories of our first Christmas tree the year we For farm and ranch fam- real or perceived hurdles to got married. When I was growing up, we always had a ilies across Kansas, adding bringing new business ven- cedar tree that my dad cut down in the pasture. Some- flexibility to our agribusi- tures to Kansas will encour- times we kids and my mom would go along to help find ness laws represents a age growth and industry unique opportunity to ac- and in turn attract jobs and the perfect tree. In my husband’s family, they always cess new markets, to diver- residents to rural communi- used a small artificial tree, so he had never experienced sify operations and to at- ties. going to the pasture to cut one down, but he was willing tempt a new strategy to in- Revising restrictive laws to do it for his new bride. vigorate rural communities is one step in the right di- I was at work the day he embarked on the mission. I and offer young people a rection to diversify econo- rural alternative. mies, improve markets and wished him luck, then waited in eager anticipation to see Our current law has re- give a brighter future to his first masterpiece. stricted this state’s ability families who want to con- The first sign of trouble came when he called me at to attract and capitalize on tinue to live and thrive in work. “Um, I don’t want you to be disappointed,” he the potential in Kansas, rural Kansas. said. “But it’s really hard to judge how big a tree is out keep families on the farm Kansas is now one of just and rural communities nine states in the country in the pasture.” alive and well. For many that prohibit or restrict cer- My eager anticipation became mingled with slight years we’ve simply watched tain farms from doing busi- worry. But how big could it really be, right? as farm consolidation oc- ness in the state. Courts I should note here that our house was pretty small. curred and rural communi- have struck down these re- Even a tree of slight stature would have seemed big in ties ceased to exist. strictions in three of those While no single concept states. Current family- our tiny living room. is likely to address all of the owned farms in Kansas I spent the rest of the day at work telling myself that could be in violation of our no matter how bad that tree was, I would tell him it was existing law. wonderful and I appreciated him getting it for me. Agribusiness, swine, Five o’clock came and it was time to go home. I’ll dairy and poultry produc- ers have approached admit I was a tad reluctant to finally see the tree, and Kansas about the possibili- hoped my acting skills would be able to disguise my dis- ty of locating here. Updat- appointment if need be. It was my first Christmas away ing state law to reflect mod- from home and my emotions were already fairly near ern-day business structure the surface as it was. reality will allow efficient, environmentally sound cor- I opened the back door to our house and was imme- porate citizens to revitalize diately hit with the smell of cedar. “Don’t come in yet,” many of our rural communi- my husband called out. ties. Finally he was ready and I stepped into our living It was a scene right out of a Nor- One that would assure that you A crucial part of this room, but still didn’t see him anywhere. In fact, I could- story remains the privately man Rockwell painting; well, almost. wouldn’t have to chop ice or carry held farms in Kansas. When n’t really see much of anything in the living room… our Jennifer and I were sitting in the liv- water again, but I worry about you. comparing land values from couch, the television, my piano… all had somehow been ing room, Christmas tree in full You know you have put on quite a 15 states, both with and swallowed up by this green, prickly behemoth that was light, Christmas decorations strate- bit of weight and you really need to without restrictions, there our Christmas tree. It easily encompassed 75% of our gically displayed, outside Christmas be working out more. I tell you what, was no correlation between living room. I swallowed a lump in my throat the size of land values and restrictions lights on and the smell of sugar the kids and I will buy you two new on business structures. a pine cone. “Wow,” I said. “That’s a really… really… cookies wafting through the living water buckets and a new axe. How Some say a change in law nice… big tree.” room. I say almost like old Norm’s would that be?” will hurt small farms. Re- I looked it over from bottom to top and noticed that paintings because we were both on “Wow, do you guys really love search shows the opposite rather than coming to a point for a nice little angel tree- our laptops and the TV was on.

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