South Dakota hay prices have been at high levels throughout the 2012 marketing year. Based on numbers from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, March alfalfa prices were at $230 per ton and have remained steady for several months. The March price for other hay reached a record high of $170 per ton.

A Utah rancher last week testified before Congress on behalf of the Public Lands Council (PLC), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association (UCA) in support of legislation to bring transparency and local input to the national monuments designation process.

(Send calendar of events information to editorial@wlj.net.) May 13-16 – California Beef Cattle Improvement Association (CBCIA) Spring Tour. For more information contact CCA at 916/444-0845 or visit calcattlemen.org. May 16-17 – California & Arizona Cattle Feeders Annual Mee...

More than 16,000 licensed partners around the world made that possible by capitalizing on the consistent dining experience the premium brand brought to consumers as prices for all beef continued higher. Sales totaled 811 million pounds, surpassing last year’s record by 4 million pounds and up 49 percent from just six years ago.

GenVec has received conditional approval from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for its cattle vaccine for foot and mouth disease (FMD). This is the first FMD vaccine licensed by the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics.

An upcoming bus tour of Laramie and Centennial, WY, will showcase how Wyoming agriculture producers are using innovative ideas to add value to their operations from guest ranch services, hunting business, all-natural grass-fed beef and lamb to chemical-free produce.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 19, 2012, at First United Methodist Church with Jeff Taylor and Dr. Max Browning officiating. Interment followed at Parklawn Memorial Gardens under the personal care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview.

“Our goal with the Beef PEP program is to improve profitability and lower the cost of production,” said Dr. Tom Hairgrove, AgriLife Extension animal health specialist and program coordinator. “A producer in this program gets a complete examination of their operation and comes away with several methods to help improve their bottom line.

The weakened economy continues to take its toll at the meat case, according to results from this year’s annual Power of Meat study released Feb. 21 at the Annual Meat Conference.

USDA’ Cattle Inventory Report came in with few surprises since the industry has continued to liquidate throughout severely drought-stricken areas. The report did show some early signs of expansion interest, but ranchers continue to remain cautious on reports that the drought may not be over.