Montana Department of Agriculture looking for two beef genetics representatives

Dec 29, 2014

Could be part of trade mission with Australia

In an attempt to aid Australia’s beef herd, which is expected to fall to 27.6 million head because of drought, Montana’s Department of Agriculture is looking for two representatives within the beef genetics community to join a trade mission to Australia.

Australia is currently Montana’s second largest consumer for beef semen purchases, but representatives from Montana have never visited Australia.

“This is an exciting opportunity to grow in an important market and build on existing relationships,” said Marty Earnheart, Meats and Livestock Marketing Officer.

The dates aren’t final as of yet, but they would more than likely coincide with the 2015 Beef Australia exposition, currently set for May 4 – 9, 2015. The expo is only held once every three years and features more than 4,500 cattle from over 30 breeds and brings together industry professionals to facilitate trade and export conversation.

“Although Australia’s herd size is only about a quarter of the United States, they are expanding their international beef trade. By showcasing Montana’s high-quality beef genetics, we see significate market potential,” explained Earnheart.

Any beef genetics industry professionals interested in being part of the trade mission to Australia can contact Marty Earnheart.

Applicants must have a valid passport and must be prepared to pay for half of the expenses.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.