Access to high quality feed and water make for a good ranching location. They allow producers to raise productive livestock, setting up the ranch to turn a profit. Those same things are attractive to wildlife as well, and whether it is an ungulate, such as a deer or moose, or the predators that follow them,... Read More
Category: Cattle
Markets in the United States faltered this week. While prices hit a high two weeks ago, this week they settled $7–$8 lower than last week. Unsurprisingly for the time of year, packers have cut kills this week, but that wasn’t enough to support the choice cutout, which dropped $6.50. While the U.S. experienced reduced prices,... Read More
Manure has been used as fertilizer for a very long time; however, with the advent of fewer mixed farms and access to commercial fertilizer, which is easier to transport and often easier to apply, nearly all farmers have moved away from using manure as the primary source of fertilizer on their operations. That being said,... Read More
Kent Bacus, executive director, government affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, hasn't had a dull moment in the last few weeks. He's not had much sleep either. That's not surprising, as any time there is a change in government leadership, his department is going to be busy. Add in a change from a Democrat... Read More
A strong cattle market depends on many factors, all of which play a role in ensuring producers’ long-term success. While beef demand in the United States is the highest it has been in the last 40 years, and retail prices have risen 4.6 per cent annually over the last 25 years, producers still face a... Read More
Weather for the last half of this winter will likely be much different than what farmers and ranchers experienced in 2024. That's because the pattern has flipped from the El Nino-influenced conditions of 2024 to a La Nina influence for 2025, says Matt Makens of Makens Weather. In this report, he shares his take on... Read More
In the spring of 2024, H5N1, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, began to emerge as a disease that was impacting dairy cattle. Since that time, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) has been working to establish the safety of the food chain, specifically for meat and milk. While research is ongoing to answer questions... Read More
Members of the cattle industry from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. met Monday for a trilateral meeting while in San Antonio for the National Cattleman's Beef Association's annual CattleCon. Nathan Phinney, president of the Canadian Cattle Association, and Dennis Laycraft, executive vice president sat down with RealAgriculture's Lyndsey Smith on location following the meeting to... Read More
Coming off some near-month contract highs of $200-/+ it's no surprise to see futures falling as the week closes out, but cash cattle in the south ticked higher as they caught up to northern prices this past week (Check out the related story on cattle futures here). The cutout did show signs of weakening in... Read More
How often is it said that farming is a lifestyle? Sometimes it is a hard one, it's sometimes frustrating, but often also rewarding in more ways than just money. While it is a lifestyle, farms and ranches are also businesses with high-stakes financial decisions required on a regular basis. With cattle prices hitting record highs,... Read More