Topic
10 stories, newest first.
The national cattle herd sits at a multi-decade low and demand is the strongest in forty years. What's missing is heifer retention — which is why analysts keep pushing real expansion out another year.
1h ago
South Dakota pasture values rose nearly 16 percent even as the drought footprint doubled. Nebraska alfalfa is up $10 to $20, Wyoming baled hay up to $30. A state-by-state look at what feed is costing going into fall.
13h ago
A late-August rally built on falling crop ratings and Black Sea shipping trouble has the trade looking for USDA to cut the corn yield below 180 on September 11. Cattle feeders are watching the same report from the other side.
1d ago
USDA wants the herd rebuilt. The market is paying you not to. A worked example of what a retained heifer has to be worth in 2028 to beat selling her in October 2026, and the three things that decide it.
1d ago
The 90-day tariff pause on Brazilian and Argentine beef drew immediate fire from cattle groups and Republican lawmakers. The September 4 executive orders on labeling and direct sales were the response.
5d ago
Winter wheat that goes in early enough to graze has never been worth more. But planting ahead of the Hessian fly-free date, in a warm fall, trades grazing days for a stand you may lose. The dates by region and the math on gain.
5d ago
Bovine respiratory disease is still the biggest killer of weaned calves, and most of the cases trace back to timing. A practical fall processing plan for spring-born calves, with what to give, when, and why the order matters.
5d ago
August Class III came in at $16.64. With feed costs climbing on the grain rally, the September Dairy Margin Coverage margin is projected around $8.23, under the $8.50 Tier I trigger. Payments are expected through December.
Sep 3
Placements down 11 percent, marketings down 7 percent, both record lows for July. On-feed inventory is still 2 percent above last year because cattle are staying on feed longer. What the numbers say about the next six months.
Sep 2
Heifer-retention insurance, a guaranteed loan program for regional packers, and a federal buy-American-beef push headline the August 31 announcement. What is real money and what is still a proposal.
Sep 1