New York State Fair 'One Thing' Series -- Today's Feature, Beef Cattle

Two Hereford beef cattle from Wayne County chow down at the NYS Fair

Today is Beef Day at the New York State Fair.

Be sure to check out the beef cattle in the beef cattle building at the back of the fair, not far from the FFA and 4-H sites.

You'll be able to see all types of beef cattle, including many of the most popular breeds such as Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Charolais, Simmental, Shorthorns and Red Angus.

I went out to the beef cattle building and found Lori Wheeler, of Newark, Wayne County, who was unloading her Herefords for the fair. I asked her what 'One Thing' she would like the public to know about beef cattle and beef farming:

"Beef is a growing industry but with the economy, it is getting harder and harder to raise beef cattle," she said. She also said when people go to the grocery store to buy beef, they should look at the grading system -- prime cuts are tops, followed by select and then choice.

There were 90,000 beef cattle in New York state as of Jan. 1. But beef replacement heifers were up 8 percent from 2012 at 41,000 head.    

Have a great Beef Day at the fair. And also be sure to stop into the New York Beef Industry Council exhibit in the Dairy Products Building to see demonstrations on how to prepare beef and veal and pick up handy brochures about beef cuts and what to do with them.