Midwest farmland values rose for the fourth consecutive quarter, posting the largest increase in two years, as high crop and livestock prices fueled a surge in agricultural income, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said.

Ted Dyer didnt want to keep guessing about the effectiveness of commonly used dewormers in his cattle herd. So last year, the University of Georgia animal scientist conducted a trial on the Northwest Georgia Research and Education Centers weaned calves.

Fillets selling for $75 a pound? Ribeyes going for $50 a pound? How about ground beef priced from $7.50 to $14 a pound? Go to the Internet and click Wagyu (or Kobe) beef and you might think producers of this specialty beef cattle have discovered the road to riches.

The number of veterinarians who work with cows, pigs, chickens and other farm animals is on the decline as many prepare to retire and fewer students opt for large animal practice, results from a recent study showed.

Most American beef travels a familiar, traditional trail from pasture to plate. Here and there, though, some producers have chosen a road less traveled to meet the more specific needs and wants of consumers.

The Red Angus Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) raised $28,000 through the auction of seven signed and numbered prints of Tim Coxs limited-edition Where Change Comes Slowly piece during the 2010 Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) national convention in Springfield, MO.

This year, for the first time, distillers grains will displace more than 1 billion bushels of corn in domestic feed rations, according to estimates from the ProExporter Network.

While some areas of the U.S. are experiencing drought conditions that have dried up pastures and forced livestock producers to feed hay weeks earlier than usual, the overall outlook for hay supplies does not seem to be quite as severe.

For Troy Ellis, winter feeding is all about holding the line on body condition and making sure cows and heifers are in good shape for a round of AI work by mid- November. But this year, it's looking to be a more expensive proposition.

Cow/calf producers and backgrounders who can hold onto animals a little longer and add forage-based pounds should be in a sweet spot to sell going into 2011. Corn prices, spurred ahead by lower-than-expected production and a drop in carryout, will now encourage feeders to opt for heavier animals than they may have wanted just a month ago.