24 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN January 2024 SPECIAL TO THIS ISSUE UNLOCKING POTENTIAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 on creating value through strategic genetic decisions. She highlighted that embracing genetic tools and technologies can be a game changer for independent operations. Retallick-Riley emphasized the role of genomic information in providing a competitive edge. By strategically utilizing genetic data, producers can make informed decisions that align with market trends and consumer preferences. This, in turn, allows independent producers to optimize their resources and enhance the overall efficiency of their operations. “Genomic information is a powerful tool for independent producers,” she said. “It enables them to make decisions based on real-time data, ensuring that their breeding programs are aligned with market dynamics. This strategic use of genomics empowers producers to stay competitive and responsive to industry changes.” By focusing on value creation, strategic use of genomics, building a reputation for quality and embracing innovation, these producers can navigate the competitive landscape with confidence and resilience. ~NC~ Editor’s Note: Natalie Jones is the communications specialist for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This article reflects the personal views of the author and does not represent an official position of the University of NebraskaLincoln. “Genetic improvement is not a one-size-fits-all journey.” — Larry Kuehn NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN GETS A FACELIFT! LISA BARD | NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN EDITOR It was long overdue – but with this issue of Nebraska Cattleman, the magazine gets a facelift! Armed with input from the Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) Board and staff, and results from our 2023 reader survey, the magazine’s content, design and layout have been reimagined, redesigned and refreshed. Key highlights of the redesign are: • Feature focus on Production, Policy, Perspectives, People and the Past! Readers told us they wanted more stories about the people and past in Nebraska, but continued information on cattle industry production and policy, as well as perspectives from other people in and out of the industry who help us all. We’ve placed tabs above all the features, letting you know which category they fall into so you can look for things that interest you most. • More eye-appeal to features! We’ve opened up the layout and are creating features that spread across the magazine, allowing for more photos, more graphics, more color and more appeal. • Unique graphics and illustrations! With the addition of freelance graphic designers, we now can add unique and exclusive graphics and designs to each issue. • Fewer columns, more features! ‘Nuff said. • New contributors! Look for contributions from the Nebraska Beef Council, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and market/monetary analysts, in addition to contributions from Nebraska BQA, IANR and NCIG. • Check out the advertisers! The more the magazine is read, the more our readers will see the ads that fully support the magazine. Advertiser support allows us to publish a quality magazine and send it to almost 15,000 readers in and surrounding Nebraska, so be sure and take notice of the advertisers! • Contemporary, easy-to-read design! New fonts, new layout and more focus on white space that is easy on the eyes and easy to read. We’re striving for a cleaner, crisper design that gives the magazine a more contemporary look, but still pays homage to content. • Short, skimmable content! We know sometimes readers just want to hit the highlights, so we are making sure the content has short, skimmable portions that allow readers to get the main points early on and then come back for more when there is more time. Please take a minute to review this issue and then drop me a line at NCMag@necattlemen.org with your thoughts! We will continue to tweak and improve the magazine as we receive feedback from readers. ~NC~ NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN January 2024 Vol. 80 | Issue 1 THE ONLY PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO THE NEBRASKA CATTLE INDUSTRY.
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