Environment
USDA declares disaster across ID counties
USDA designated 10 contiguous Idaho counties eligible for emergency disaster assistance following severe drought conditions during the growing season.
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Advertisement
News Archive
Latest News From Western Livestock Journal
A streamlined archive of the most recent reporting and updates from across the site.
Breeds
Balancing cow weight with industry demand
The industry’s push for larger carcass weights continues to put pressure on commercial producers…
Jan 23, 2026 · By Lilly Platts, ASA editor
Beef
Target to sell ButcherBox meats
Direct-to-consumer brand ButcherBox confirmed on Jan. 15 its first major retail launch, introducing beef products in more than 1,400…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Breeds
Unlocking your cattle’s full genetic potential
Nutrition during critical stages of fetal development has an important impact on beef cattle…
Jan 23, 2026 · By Dr. Jon DeClerck, American Simmental Association executive vice president
Breeds
Making the most of genetic potential through nutrition
Cow size is a constant topic of conversation in the beef industry, and the…
Jan 23, 2026 · By Lilly Platts, ASA editor
Environment
Greens oppose CA oil drilling plans
The Center for Biological Diversity is leading opposition after the Trump administration released plans to open…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Breeds
The impacts of heifer development on pregnancy
Developing heifers is one of the biggest investments in the beef business, and ensuring…
Jan 23, 2026 · By Lilly Platts, ASA editor
News
USDA launches rural lending dashboard
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden unveiled Lender Lens, a new dashboard on the Rural Data Gateway…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Breeds
Bull buying: What are your customers really thinking?
When asked about decisions, a producer may feel compelled to say they put more…
Jan 23, 2026 · By Lilly Platts, ASA editor
Environment
ID to cull bighorn sheep to prevent disease spread
Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials will lethally remove a small herd of California bighorn…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
New screwworm cases heighten vigilance
Texas agriculture officials are urging heightened vigilance after Mexico in mid-January confirmed eight new cases of New World…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
Greens sue USFWS over fisher protections
The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
R-CALF calls for SBA action on ag policies
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, USA (R-CALF) submitted recommendations to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
BLM sued for MT rangeland management project
A coalition of environmental groups launched a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management, challenging the agency’s decision…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
News
Farm and Family Relief Act introduced in House
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) on Jan. 15 introduced the Farm…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Beef
SD introduces bill banning lab meat
A group of South Dakota lawmakers re-introduced a bill into the state legislature that would…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
News
Ag groups seek support in letter to Congress
More than 50 agricultural industry groups penned a letter to Congress in mid-January, expressing concern over economic…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
Suit against WDFW wolf removal dismissed
A King County Superior Court judge on Jan. 14 dismissed a lawsuit against the Washington Department…
Jan 23, 2026 · By WLJ
News
Congress funding deal doesn’t include more farm aid
A package of funding bills assembled by House and Senate appropriators that needs to pass before…
Jan 22, 2026 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor, and Jerry Hagstrom, DTN political correspondent
Environment
Driving the next era of regenerative ag
When Jeff Sandborn first started working with Dr. Bruno Basso over 10 years ago,…
Jan 22, 2026 · By MSU Extension
Health/Nutrition
Drive cattle productivity with combination deworming
Parasites are a hidden drain on cattle performance, quietly stealing productivity and profit from…
Jan 22, 2026 · By Boehringer Ingelheim
Environment
Rollins elevates fight over CA dam removal
A battle over water storage, irrigation and wildfire protection in Northern California moved onto…
Jan 22, 2026 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Environment
IA bills would tax CO2 pipelines, expand pipeline corridors
A Senate Republican leader introduced two pieces of legislation Jan. 20 to address ongoing issues with…
Jan 22, 2026 · By Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
Health/Nutrition
Preventing and managing fog fever
Fog fever, a rapid-onset respiratory disease in cattle, is most commonly associated with sudden forage changes…
Jan 22, 2026 · By K-State Research and Extension
Livestock
Robust beef cattle commerce
The sale and price of beef cattle, both purebred seedstock and commercial, of all classes and ages has…
Jan 22, 2026 · By Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle breeding specialist
Beef
Beef exports expected to decline further in 2026
Beef exports were down 12.6% year over year through the first 10 months of 2025.
Jan 22, 2026 · By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
Environment
SCOTUS to hear Roundup liability case
The U.S. Supreme Court decided it will hear a Bayer Roundup case that could…
Jan 22, 2026 · By Todd Neeley, DTN environmental editor
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Thursday, Jan. 22
Cattle futures closed mixed as traders await Friday’s Cattle on Feed report.
Jan 22, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
News
Drought Weekly Report: Jan 15-21
An uneasy silence has settled across the West as below-average snowpack and warm storms…
Jan 22, 2026 · By UNL Drought Monitor
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Wednesday, Jan. 21
The livestock complex closed higher as traders continued to support the market, even as…
Jan 21, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Tuesday, Jan. 20
Live and feeder cattle futures saw buyers step in to stabilize prices, with the…
Jan 20, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Monday, Jan. 19
Most of the markets were closed today in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.…
Jan 19, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Friday, Jan. 16
It was a bleak day in the marketplace with futures plummeting lower.
Jan 16, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
News
Rappa launches the fastest electric fencing system
Rappa has launched its vehicle mounted fencing machine, the Rappa Winder, across the U.S and…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ Editor
Environment
MT water supply report shows elevation matters
Most sites in Montana hit all-time, or near-record amounts of precipitation in December when…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Micah Drew, Daily Montanan
Environment
Eastern NM to see above-normal wildfire risk in winter
Citing high temperatures and ongoing drought, national forecasters are warning that above-normal fire risk…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico
Environment
Genetic research targets methane in grazing cattle
Beef producers know methane isn’t just a talking point in the headlines.
Jan 16, 2026 · By BIF
Community
Federal grant opens doors for farmer, rancher mental health program
A new western Montana program is looking to improve mental health for farmers and…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Jordan Hansen, Daily Montanan
Environment
Mining regulatory bill splits NV congressional delegation
Nevada lawmakers are once again taking the lead in a bipartisan effort to reverse…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Jeniffer Solis
Environment
Greens call on Heinrich, Lee to oppose Pearce as BLM director
More than 80 environmental groups called on U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Mike Lee…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico
Environment
IWRRI funds strategic ID water research projects
The Idaho Water Resources Research Institute has prioritized and is backing several research projects involving the…
Jan 16, 2026 · By IWRRI
Environment
Report: NM faces ‘looming groundwater crisis’
Even as water advocates praised lawmakers’ record funding proposals for aquifer mapping and other…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Danielle Prokop, Source New Mexico
Health/Nutrition
Planning for spring annual forages
While we are still early in the new year, it is time to start…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension educator
Beef
Encouraging rebound for beef exports in October
While beef exports remained lower year over year, shipments rebounded to some degree in…
Jan 16, 2026 · By USMEF
Environment
New conservation funding for CO producers
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Colorado and the Colorado West Land Trust announced a…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Community
Perspectives from ranchers in the Wind River Basin
The University of Wyoming Extension has published a new interview-based report identifying key changes,…
Jan 16, 2026 · By UW Extension
Beef
WFCF launches RaiseWell Certified
Where Food Comes From Inc. (WFCF) has launched RaiseWell Certified, a new standard designed…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
Maintaining calf productivity when wheat pasture is short
What can we do to sustain stocking rates that will support at least approaching…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle nutrition specialist
News
Whole milk bill signed into law
Dairy groups rejoiced as President Donald Trump on Jan. 14 signed the Whole Milk…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Jerry Hagstrom, DTN political correspondent
Health/Nutrition
Canadian groups address traceability concerns
National and provincial cattle organizations are using social media to reassure producers concerned about…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Community
Young Farmers and Ranchers contest winners announced
Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in…
Jan 16, 2026 · By AFBF
Environment
Interior advances plan for unified wildfire service
The Department of the Interior announced it is taking the next step toward establishing a U.S. Wildland Fire…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Markets
Futures hold strong as cash market stalls
The cattle market traded steady to higher over the week, waiting to find fundamental…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Environment
USDA data shows low pesticide residues
USDA published its 2024 Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary, showing that more than 99%…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
$1M granted to study antimicrobial resistance
A research team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has received a $1 million…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
News
USDA: Food insecurity holding steady
A new report from the USDA Economic Research Service finds that 86.3% of U.S. households were…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
Utah signs agreement with USFS
Utah and the U.S. Forest Service have signed an agreement authorizing the state to…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Livestock
USDA expands Dairy Margin Coverage
USDA will be expanding the Dairy Margin Coverage program for 2026, USDA Secretary Brooke…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
News
Agri Stats settles in wage-fixing lawsuit
The analysis and consulting firm Agri Stats agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging the…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Beef
Dairy farmers launch ground beef initiative
Western United Dairies is launching a voluntary initiative calling on USDA to add lean…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
Alfalfa margins erode below economic cost
Alfalfa remains a foundational input for U.S. dairy and beef production and one of…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
Suit seeks protections for Southwest turtle
The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
San Francisco sues food companies over ultra-processed foods
The city of San Francisco, CA, is suing several large-scale food manufacturers, alleging the…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Environment
USFS seeks to expedite post-fire work
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to prepare a national environmental assessment to expedite post-fire recovery work on…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
Feds release draft Colorado River operations plan
The Bureau of Reclamation released a long-anticipated draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluating how the…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
News
White House withdraws from international groups
The Trump administration announced it would be withdrawing from 66 international organizations, calling them…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
News
Logan’s Comments: Short-sighted beneficiaries
Recently, Frank Mendonsa, president of Western United Dairies, released an email to their subscriber…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Logan Ipsen
Community
Nominations open for National Golden Spur, Working Cowboy Awards
Nominations are open for the 2026 recipients of the National Golden Spur Award and…
Jan 16, 2026 · By WLJ
News
Dittmer’s Take: Where we’ve been and good news
The revised, “upside down” food pyramid recently released by the Department of Health and…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Steve Dittmer, WLJ columnist
Community
2025 W.D. Farr Scholarship recipients announced
Shelley Curry of Kennard, TX, and Sydney Bowman-Schnug of Fort Lupton, CO, have each…
Jan 16, 2026 · By NCBA
News
Lawmakers see opening to finish farm bill in 2026
Farmers heading into 2026 are facing what congressional agriculture leaders repeatedly described as a…
Jan 16, 2026 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
News
FarmMind wins $100K in Ag Innovation Challenge
The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, now in its 12th year, provides opportunities for American Farm…
Jan 15, 2026 · By AFBF
Community
Farm Bureau names 2026 Farm Dog of the Year
Recognizing the vital role that four-legged friends often play on family farms and ranches, the…
Jan 15, 2026 · By AFBF
News
Chronic wasting disease found in four MT hunting districts
Four new hunting districts across the state recorded a detection of chronic wasting disease since…
Jan 15, 2026 · By Jordan Hansen, Daily Montanan
Environment
Record-low snowpack observed across much of CO
Record warm temperatures and below-normal precipitation have been the dominating trends since the start of…
Jan 15, 2026 · By USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Health/Nutrition
Cornstalk grazing during late gestation
Cornstalk residue is a good source of nutrition for the beef cow.
Jan 15, 2026 · By Randy Saner and Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension
Health/Nutrition
Advocates seek $30M for wolf attacks compensation
The California Farm Bureau and three other organizations that represent California farmers, ranchers and rural residents…
Jan 15, 2026 · By California Farm Bureau Federation
Health/Nutrition
The data story of the cow starts at birth
A cow’s life is a story. Like any good book, the opening chapters set the foundation for…
Jan 15, 2026 · By VAS
Livestock
BIF opens nominations for 2026 awards
Since 1972, the Beef Improvement Federation has annually recognized outstanding seedstock and commercial producers who demonstrate industry leadership…
Jan 15, 2026 · By BIF
Beef
An update on US beef imports
The latest release of shutdown-delayed trade data provides information on beef and cattle imports…
Jan 15, 2026 · By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
Community
Helping agritourism producers promote their strengths
In 2019, Good Earth Farm owners Nancy and Jeff Kirstein had to make a…
Jan 15, 2026 · By SDSU Extension
Environment
American Farm Bureau establishes 2026 policies
Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 107th Convention adopted policies to…
Jan 15, 2026 · By AFBF
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Thursday, Jan. 15
Cattle futures resumed their uptrend, led by feeder cattle as buyers stepped in to purchase the…
Jan 15, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
Weekly Drought Report: Jan. 8-14
It was a more active week nationwide, as widespread precipitation across the central Plains,…
Jan 15, 2026 · By UNL Drought Monitor
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Wednesday, Jan. 14
Cattle futures closed lower on mild profit-taking.
Jan 14, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Tuesday, Jan. 13
Cattle futures closed higher, supported by a USDA report indicating corn prices are expected to remain…
Jan 13, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Monday, Jan. 12
The cattle market opened the week higher on the board, with optimism for the…
Jan 12, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Friday, Jan. 9
The cattle market was unable to find gains higher moving into the weekend.
Jan 9, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Health/Nutrition
Permanent, profitable efficiency gains will keep beef on the menu
Sustainability means stewardship of land, cattle, families and rural communities.
Jan 9, 2026 · By Beef Improvement Federation
Environment
Grizzly deaths in Yellowstone reached record level in 2025
In Yellowstone National Park and areas just outside the park, at least 72 grizzly…
Jan 9, 2026 · By Micah Drew, Daily Montanan
Environment
Waterkeeper sues DEQ over new sewer pipeline in Big Sky
Upper Missouri Waterkeeper has sued the Montana Department of Environmental Quality alleging an unconstitutional…
Jan 9, 2026 · By Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan
Beef
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo announces cattle sales
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo will once again host a lineup of elite cattle…
Jan 9, 2026 · By FWSSR
Beef
Montana Stockgrowers announces Cattle Drive Program winners
The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Cattle…
Jan 9, 2026 · By Montana Stockgrowers Association
Health/Nutrition
Using ionophores to increase efficiency of heifer development
Ionophores are feed additives that improve ruminal efficiency by shifting fermentation toward greater propionate…
Jan 9, 2026 · By Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle nutrition specialist
Health/Nutrition
Developing an AI model to study heart failure in cattle
Chase Markel, a University of Wyoming Ph.D. student from Wheatland, WY, is harnessing artificial…
Jan 9, 2026 · By UW Extension
Health/Nutrition
Cattle producers wary as flesh-eating parasite comes closer to US
Last fall, the New World screwworm—the flesh-burrowing larva of a blowfly (Cochliomyia hominivorax)—was detected in cattle…
Jan 9, 2026 · By UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Environment
IA landowners ask court to reconsider pause on pipeline permit lawsuit
Landowners opposed to a carbon sequestration project in Iowa have asked a state court…
Jan 9, 2026 · By Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
Community
From beef to skin care
A passion for the beef industry and health care led Katie Biggins to add…
Jan 9, 2026 · By Jennifer Carrico, DTN senior livestock editor
Health/Nutrition
CSU to host Calving and Calf Care Clinic
Colorado State University Extension will be hosting a Calving and Calf Care Clinic on Feb. 7 at the Kit…
Jan 9, 2026 · By WLJ