The future of sustainable agriculture has never looked more promising or more challenging. Looking to education and funding is one way to meet this challenge.

Net returns for virtually all major crops are positive under a properly constructed cap-and-trade program, according to a University of Tennessee (UT) study released recently by 25x25.

The fed cattle trade came early again last week as feedlots took early bids from packing plants offering lower money in the northern Plains. Cash trade was $2-3 lower on 30,000 head sold in Nebraska and Iowa at $83-84 live and $131-132 dressed on Wednesday.

Active fed cattle trade started off early last week with live cattle trade in the southern Plains at prices $1-2 higher than the previous week on Wednesday. Texas cattle feeders managed to push live prices up to $88 while feedlots in Kansas sold live cattle at $87 and Nebraska live trade was reported at $86 late in the day.

Fed cattle trade was in progress early last week with northern Plains and Corn Belt feedlots seizing the opportunity to move cattle at prices $1-2 higher than the previous week. Dressed trade was done on Wednesday at $131- 132 while live trade in the north occurred at $84-85.

Fed cattle markets regained a little of the ground lost recently last week with early trade called at least steady to mostly higher in all areas. Early trade came at $82 in the south with dressed trade in the Corn Belt and Nebraska at $124-126.

Biomass gasification and the resulting production of biochar were among the topics addressed at the recent Texas Animal Manure Management Issues Conference in Round Rock, TX, north of Austin.

The fed cattle market softened a little more last week as early trade was hampered by heavy carcass weights, deliveries of heavy cattle against the October live cattle contract, and continued erosion in boxed beef prices.

Northern tier feedlots started moving cattle last Wednesday at prices which were steady to $1 lower than the previous week at $128-130 dressed and at $83-83.50 live. Several reports of heavy cattle being discounted added to the downward trend for feeders in the region.

Fed cattle trade started early last week with feedlots trading cattle Wednesday and Thursday at $129-131 dressed and at $82 live in Nebraska and the Corn Belt, mostly steady with the prior weeks trade. Southern trade came at $84.50 in Texas last Thursday and $84 in Kansas, 50 cents to $1 lower than the previous week.