Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays is talking with the Vice President of the Livestock Marketing Association, Mike VanMaanen, about changes in the beef cattle business he and fellow cattle auction owners have seen. LMA represents around 800 auction facilities across the United States.
VanMaanen owns an auction barn, Eastern Missouri Commission, in Bowling Green, Missouri.
“I think it has changed in the fact that smaller producers are struggling to stay in business,” VanMaanen said.
In many cases, VanMaanen said it is hard to give the next generation enough incentive to come back and keep the ranch going, and he has noticed a lack of young people wanting to be involved in the cattle business.
“There are lots of job opportunities for young people that pay benefits and may not have to work as hard as ranching is these days,” VanMaanen said.
Through having the chance to be part of the LMA, VanMaanen said he has found it challenging, yet interesting to represent all regions of the U.S. and help producers voice their opinions and needs.
The 2024 LMA Convention and World Livestock Auctioneer Championship is set to take place in Oklahoma City June 12-14. The WLAC will be held at the Oklahoma National Stockyards.
“It will be a great way for us to showcase what we do as an organization, but also a great way for Oklahoma City to showcase how they like to run their commission-based company…,” VanMaanen said.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
