Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.9 million head on April 1, 2013.

Futures closed higher, up 97 to 130. Strong support developed in the live cattle futures market following triple-digit gains in the feeder cattle market as well sharp early losses in the corn market.

Thus far on Tuesday, negotiated cash trade is at a standstill in the Southern and Northern Plains. Trading in the Western Cornbelt is limited on very light demand.

Compared to last week, yearling feeder cattle sold mostly steady with some major markets wavering in either direction but rarely more than 2.00.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to illegally release information on cattle operations to activist groups

May 10 marked a milestone for Superior Livestock as the acquisition by National Livestock and a group of cattlemen from several states was announced. This transaction marks the next chapter for Superior, but more so, is a statement of business moving forward in a rebounding economy.

One hundred twenty-five years of beef leadership will be celebrated at the Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) Midyear meeting June 18-19 in Valentine, NE. 2013 is the 125th anniversary of NC and NC President Dale Spencer is excited to invite all to attend this historic event.

“Most of the shift will occur on irrigated wheat fields lost to late spring freezes in the Rolling Plains and Northern High Plains,” said Dr. Gaylon Morgan, AgriLife Extension state cotton specialist, College Station. “The optimum planting window for cotton has passed in South Texas and the Blacklands.

The proof, they say, is in the pudding—or in this case in the Twitter feed, Pinterest and Facebook postings. During the first week of May Beef Month, activity on the South Dakota Beef Industry Council’s (SD- BIC) social media sites more than doubled.

If you wait too long, perhaps until this fall, time will have mellowed most of the events and one soon has difficulty matching a calving season with particular problems. Now is perhaps the best time to make a few notes on what to change for next year..