Representatives of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) question the affiliation of R-CALF with the animal rights and environmental activist group Food and Water Watch. According to separate news releases issued by the two groups, R-CALF and Food and Water Watch are joining forces on the campaign to support USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration’s (GIPSA) proposed rule on livestock marketing.

In response to a major rangelands fire, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) initiated an emergency gather of the Idaho Saylor Creek horse management area (HMA) Aug. 31 in a bid to temporarily relocate horses due to lack of available forage.

In Oklahoma City, OK, on a big run of cattle this week, feeder steers sold steady to $3 lower. Feeder heifers were called $1-2 lower. Steer and heifer calves sold $2-4 lower on moderate demand.

On Thursday, fed cattle trade in the southern Plains and Colorado was inactive, while trade in the western Corn Belt and Nebraska was limited to slow on light demand as packers have most of next week’s holiday-shortened needs met.

The joint USDA/Department of Justice workshop on competition in the agricultural markets drew an estimated 1,300 people to Fort Collins, CO, on Friday. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder heard testimony from agricultural producers and other industry representatives about how concentration in the industry is affecting the markets.

Interestingly, the largest volume consumer desired products would appear to be identified by USDA quality grades and programs. These include Prime, Choice and Certified Angus Beef. These high-volume products bring a premium in the marketplace that is available to any producer capable of supplying them.

Fed cattle traded early last week with the market mostly 50 cents to $1 lower in all feeding areas. Last Tuesday in the southern Plains, live cattle traded at mostly $99.50 with dressed sales in Kansas reported at $157. In the North, early fed cattle trade came at $155 dressed, steady with the

According to AccuWeather.com Agricultural Meteorologist Dale Mohler, an abnormally hot and dry summer throughout the Midwest has made the layer of topsoil that is necessary for the September winter wheat planting extremely dry..

The battle between Wayne Hage and the federal government has finally been settled by the court system. In a battle that has lasted for more than 20 years, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims recently entered a final settlement in favor of the estates of Wayne Hage and Jean Hage, for the amount of $14.

A double whammy of economic turmoil and a ban on horse slaughter has resulted in a steadily growing number of unwanted horses with owners who are unable to properly care for them.