The importance of maintaining agricultural markets
During my years in agriculture (basically all my life) I have seen agricultural related industries adapting to market changes. During my years in Veterinary School, I held an externship chair in a well-known pharmaceutical medical company with headquarters in Germany. It was a great opportunity and I enjoyed the multi-cultural atmosphere maintained by the company and the team work interaction. This particular company produced most of the basic chemical components that made the most important pharmaceutical products today. The company was so important that it held many international patents; many of those were basic colors! (Many of the antibiotics used today are biological dyes that bind to the outer structures of the bugs they are trying to kill). It was a great experience and I learned a lot. The pharmaceutical market is a very competitive one, and just as I was finishing my externship (that lasted five years) the company was sold to another international pharmaceutical company eventually changing names but maintaining the same structure (these companies I learned later on, never completely disappear but change ownership to remain in business). The change of ownership was a no-brainer and employees got used to this. Maintaining markets in agriculture requires change to stay relevant. This is true for multi-national companies and to small producers. To remain in business the beef industry has to become adapted to market changes. A good example in our county is the cattle industry. We have seen significant changes in the way businesses are conducted, cattle are produced and products are sold. A great example is how beef producers have accomplished the maintaining of specialty cattle sales, generally known as pre-conditioning sales. The preconditioning of cattle is not a new principle, but maintaining a market as NETBIO (North East Texas Beef Improvement Association) preconditioned sales are the corner stone to maintain a locally grown product with consumer demand. It is important for NETBIO to remain connected with beef consumers to maintain market trust and transparency. Today consumers want to purchase good products raised in the best possible way. As new US agricultural partners join the lion share of beef sales, it is critical for local markets to remain honest and genuine. Together with cattle preconditioning sales, NETBIO has taken the role of partnering to promote beef consumption and provide technical training to beef producers with the goal of maintaining a strong beef market. Beef production is a complex industry. Many industries (just as the pharmaceutical industry I referred before) rely on proper use of the products and proper know-how of farmers and ranchers of modern agricultural methods to stay in business. The beef industry is a community-based industry and we are linked to it and with each other, one way or another. Recently, a task committee from NETBIO has taken the responsibility of promoting beef and local community development as it organizes the Hopkins County Beef Day, October 7, 2016. Beef Day is a combined educational, competitive experience for our community. The first event will be the Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court Declaration of Hopkins County Beef Day at the Court House main door (10:00 AM), followed by the cattleman’s classic which is the NETBIO members annual meeting, with a 4 hr (BQA) educational program in animal health (PI-BVD) and low stress handling by Dr. Ron Gill (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension) at the Regional Civic Center Arena. The event will then move to Celebration Plaza in downtown Sulphur Springs where the Ribeye Round Up will be held. More than 35 cooking teams will be cooking-competing to provide the best grilled dinner possible. Musical entertainment will be ongoing with performances by Matt Dunn, Sarah Hobbs, Jack Phillips and Jay Hooker and the Outsiders. The concert is free. Dinner tickets are $25 dollars each and are currently available at local banks and the Hopkins County Extension Office. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please call The Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Upcoming events for September
Hopkins County Bee Club: Meeting every third Thursday of the month at the Hopkins County Extension Office at 6:30 PM. Variety of bee related topics directed to bee keepers. Next meeting 8/15/2016.
Hopkins County Master Gardeners: Meeting every fourth Thursday of the month at the Hopkins County Extension Office at 10:00 AM. Variety of topics related to gardening, planning of educational events, etc. Next meeting 8/22/2016.
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
