There is a lot of legislation concerning agriculture circulating in Washington, D.C. I dont think I have ever seen so many issues that would have a direct effect on agriculture being worked on at one time: The Clean Water Restoration Act, which just passed out of the Senate committe on

Demand for beef is down. Can you blame the recession? Not entirely, but its a darned inconvenient coincidence. Its hard to argue that beef quality was too low, because production of every class of premium beef has been trending up for some time.

The beef business never has been short on opinions. Good opinions and the willingness to share those opinions are the core to any dynamic, independent business. For beef producers, independence is manifested in the concept, I need to get the work done.

Last week, the USDA supply demand report for grains suggested that the ethanol industry is estimated to consume another billion bushels, creating more pressure on the market and creating more pressure for cattle prices as well. In a report released last week by the Food Manufacturer Association and the National Turkey Federation, Implications for U.

For the second time in just over a year, the Western Watersheds Project (WWP) has filed a lawsuit against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to try and stop pilot grazing programs on WDFW land.

In a lengthy decision, the Tax Court recently underscored the difficulties taxpayers have in convincing the IRS that family-run farms are engaged in for profit. The case, Smith v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2007-368, ruled on two families limited partnerships, involving a cow and dairy farm, a cutting horse operation, and dog breeding.

This past week was a real lesson in the volatility of our cattle markets. Feeder cattle contracts took a beating, with the August contract taking nearly a $4 hit while chasing live cattle contracts down to new lows. I suppose there were some expectations that the mar.

The discussion on when to breed cows has to end eventually. Spring and breeding time is here at the Dickinson Research Extension Center.

Enforcement action by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has actually increased in recent months in the farming, horse and livestock fields, partly due to the need for the government to raise revenue, and partly due to an increase in taxpayers failing to file tax returns or failure to pay taxes owed.

Its time to start thinking about the summer cattle markets, or perhaps what to do this summer about the fall market, when most everyone delivers cattle. The big video sales are gearing up and well see what the first high-profile sale produces. These video sales seem to represent a peek into the fall calf and yearling markets.