Opinion
Black Ink: Unconventional risk management
Not all approaches to risk management are the same. Cattle producers need to find…
Aug 27, 2018 · By Nicole Erceg, Certified Angus Beef director of communications
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News Archive
Latest News From Western Livestock Journal
A streamlined archive of the most recent reporting and updates from across the site.
Markets
Pete’s Comments: Meandering markets
Cattle markets were a little softer this week, down $1 from the prior week.…
Aug 27, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Policy
Wildfire strategy announced
USDA and the National Forest Service recently announced a new strategy that will work…
Aug 27, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
Wolf depredations continue — Lethal take halted by court
Wolves in Washington are continuing to kill cattle. A recent lawsuit is temporarily preventing…
Aug 27, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Markets
Lots of down-side risk ahead
Market fundamentals suggest that the price outlook for cattle and beef isn’t all that…
Aug 27, 2018 · By Stephen R. Koontz, agricultural and resource economist, Colorado State University
Environment
WOTUS now in effect in 26 states
WOTUS is again the law of the land… for half the land, that is.…
Aug 27, 2018 · By Todd Neeley, DTN environmental editor
Environment
Drought-stressed corn: a feed opportunity
In areas where farmers are experiencing drought, there is still an opportunity to utilize…
Aug 27, 2018 · By University of Nebraska Extension
News
Small farms produce a different mix of commodities than larger farms
USDA, Economic Research Service data shows that the mix of commodities grown varies with…
Aug 27, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Beef
Beef Bits Briefs: Marfrig completes sale of Keystone
A press release from Margrig Global Foods and translated from Portuguese confirms the company…
Aug 27, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Beef Bits Brief: Sustainable beef success in Canada
The Cargill Canadian Beef Sustainability pilot produced more than 1 million pounds of beef…
Aug 27, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Beef Bits Brief: Charity steer show breaks records
The 36th annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show and auction, held Aug. 11 during the…
Aug 27, 2018 · By WLJ
News
Legal Ledger Briefs: WTO complaints from Turkey
Turkey issued complaints against the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs to the World Trade…
Aug 27, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Legal Ledger Briefs: Alaskan sport hunting comments due
Comments for a proposed change in Alaska’s sport hunting regulations that drew massive public…
Aug 27, 2018 · By WLJ
News
NAMI names Potts as new CEO
Julie Anna Potts has been named president and CEO of the North American Meat…
Aug 27, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Legal Ledger Brief: Groups submit COOL comments
The USCA and R-CALF submitted comments regarding proposed changes to the FSIS’ Policy Book’s…
Aug 27, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Beef Bits Brief: Tyson licenses Progressive Beef program
Tyson Fresh Meats announced Aug. 15 that the company has become the first beef…
Aug 27, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Legal Ledger Brief: AFBF hopes to stay WOTUS
The American Farm Bureau Federation submitted a motion to stay the recent decision that…
Aug 27, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Cattle Traceability Could Have Benefits Beyond Disease Control
Cattle traceability has been talked about in earnest since 2003 when a disease event…
Aug 24, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Markets
Fall feeder markets and stocker prospects
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, suggests that fall feeder…
Aug 20, 2018 · By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
Beef
Increasing retention of May-calving 2-year-old heifers
Karla Jenkins, Nebraska Extension beef specialist in cow-calf stocker management, discusses what it takes…
Aug 20, 2018 · By Karla Jenkins, Nebraska Extension beef specialist in cow-calf stocker management
Livestock
California wolf listing called illegal
After almost a year and a half, the California Cattlemen’s Association’s lawsuit against California…
Aug 20, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Markets
Cash cattle expected to decline
Despite seasonally spectacular demand for beef, market fundamentals point to a slow down in…
Aug 20, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
BeefTalk: Sheep and cows: Some do and some do not
Grazing of various animals on grasslands can be beneficial because different types of animals…
Aug 20, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: Professional advocacy
Pete questions R-CALF’s expanded attack on the checkoff. “After 32 years of checkoff battles,…
Aug 20, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Beef
Attack on Beef Checkoff expands
The Beef Checkoff is under an expanded attack as R-CALF has asked the court…
Aug 20, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Environment
WOTUS rule suspended nationwide
A U.S. District Court Judge in South Carolina has issued an injunction against the…
Aug 20, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Tax code changes make Charitable Remainder Trusts more attractive
The changes in the tax laws have made the use of Charitable Remainder Trusts…
Aug 20, 2018 · By Rod Mauszycki, DTN tax columnist
Policy
Nearly $2 billion available for eligible producers affected by 2017 hurricanes and wildfires
Eligible agricultural producers impacted by hurricanes or wildfires can apply for USDA assistance until…
Aug 20, 2018 · By USDA
Health/Nutrition
Quality of food store purchases increases with nutrition information
A recent USDA study found a positive relationship between nutrition information use and the…
Aug 20, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Livestock
Beef Bits brief: Cattle spray box update
As reported in the Aug. 6 Beef Bits, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller stopped…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Beef Bits brief: Caviness to expand Hereford plant
Caviness Beef Packers headquartered in Amarillo, TX, announced on Aug. 13 that it plans…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Beef Bits brief: Cattle corral car thief
Cattle may have helped Sanford, FL, police and sheriff’s deputies in Seminole County capture…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Beef Bits brief: Washington wolf activity
Washington's wolf policy lead confirmed that the department will continue providing detailed information on…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
News
Legal Ledger brief: Western governors pen Section 401 letter
On Thursday, Aug. 9, the Western Governors’ Association joined nine other groups of state…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Legal Ledger brief: CA cancer case on glyphosate
A California Superior Court found in favor of plaintiff Dewayne Johnson in his cancer…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Oregon judge upholds feral horse removal
Managing feral horses is a controversial issue to begin with, but introduce fire into…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Legal Ledger brief: Passage and signing of H.R. 5515
President Donald Trump signed H.R. 5515 into law. The version the president signed did…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Beef Bits brief: New resources to aid producers
A new USDA website, farmers.gov, is available to help agricultural producers prepare for and…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Legal Ledger brief: Perdue says ERS will move
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on Thursday, Aug. 9, that the USDA’s Economic Research…
Aug 20, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Making use of trampled grass is possible
Pastures with tall grass that has been trampled can still offer grazing options when…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Bruce Anderson, Nebraska Extension forage specialist
News
China says $60 billion more in U.S. exports face tariffs
Chinese officials announced Friday, Aug. 3 that they would impose new tariffs on $60…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Livestock
More than taxes are involved in transitions
Transition planning, farm transfer planning, how do I make sure my son gets the…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Elizabeth Williams, DTN special correspondent
Markets
Futures collapse, bringing cash fed cattle prices down
The cattle futures collapsed after a week of trying to post gains. The futures…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
BeefTalk: Let the cow save you money and the bull make you money
North Dakota State University’s Kris Ringwall discusses economic drivers of cow-calf businesses and looks…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Six ways to drive productivity
Do you have too much turnover on the farm? Employees need supportive environments, or…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Lori Culler, DTN Farm Business Adviser
News
Urban facility continues ag legend’s vision
About 10 years before he died in May 2008 at the age of 99,…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Mark Mendiola, WLJ correspondent
Beef
Beef consumption and growing beef imports in China
Despite challenges of cost and consumer preference, there is a growing demand for U.S.…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: Trump’s trade tirade
Pete sees Trump’s trade patterns paying off. Countries are starting to come to the…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
News
Ag barometer sees record decline, trade war concerns weaken producer outlook
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer is a nationwide measure of the health…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Purdue University Extension, CME Group
Livestock
HSUS readies supporters for action
Attendees at the recent 2018 Taking Action for Animals Conference learned tactics to advance…
Aug 13, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
Know the feeding value of ditch hay
In times of drought, livestock producers often turn to harvesting hay from ditches. SDSU…
Aug 13, 2018 · By SDSU iGrow Extension
Policy
Agricultural productivity has grown since 1970s
Since the 1970s, agricultural productivity has almost doubled in rich countries like the U.S.…
Aug 13, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
News
More tariffs for China
The second part of the June-announced $50 billion in tariffs against Chinese goods was…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
Markets
Trade growth slowing on world stage
The first half of the year was a tremendous one for U.S. beef exports,…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
CDFW acknowledges wolves
In its Aug. 6 Legislative Bulletin, the California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) reported that the…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Oregon wolf attack
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that a series of attacks on calves…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
News
Cultured meat by 2021
The Dutch start-up Mosa Meat announced it has raised 7.5M euros ($8.8 million) to…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
News
CO: CSU withdraws from horse project
CSU has withdrawn from the BLM's project to sterilize feral mares. Dr. Alan Rudolph…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
News
KS: Cruelty or outrageous gov. conduct
According to a WLJ reader tip and a report by the Salina Journal, Saline…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Interest shown in Oregon packer
Bartels Packing of Eugene, OR, may be on the path to reopening. Richard Hooper…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
News
EPA: FARM Act final rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule on Aug. 1 that incorporates…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
CRP enrollment deadline Aug. 17
The deadline for enrollment in USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is Friday, Aug. 17,…
Aug 13, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Perdue cautions against hopes of large payments based on price declines
While engaged in ongoing trade talks on the heels of the G20 talks, Secretary…
Aug 6, 2018 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Policy
Gene-editing to be regulated as GMOs in EU
The European Court of Justice for the EU has ruled that gene-edited crops must…
Aug 6, 2018 · By DTN
Livestock
Senate passes bill with a one-year ELD delay
Livestock haulers might get a year-long delay on ELD requirements, pending the ratification of…
Aug 6, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Another week of late cash fed trade
There wasn’t much to write home about with the cash fed cattle and futures…
Aug 6, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Cattle cycles vs. beef cycles
There are many economic cycles that impact our industry, and some don’t sync up…
Aug 6, 2018 · By Mississippi State University Extension
Livestock
Pinkeye and foot rot a rancher’s headache
Managing flies in cattle herds can help reduce changes of pinkeye and foot rot…
Aug 6, 2018 · By NDSU Extension
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: Earning respect
Pete sees this current political environment as a friendly one to ag and grazing.…
Aug 6, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Federal land policy has failed to adapt with industry
Having spent the better half of 30 years actively engaged in the livestock grazing…
Aug 6, 2018 · By Public Lands Council
Livestock
Public Lands Council celebrates 50 years
The Public Lands Council, an advocate for public lands ranching in Western states, is…
Aug 6, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
Wild horse plan under review
A proposal is under review that would allow surgical spaying of wild mares in…
Aug 6, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Environment
Cover crops are a good option for hailed out crop acres
If hail has damaged crops, growing cover crops for supplemental forages and soil health…
Aug 6, 2018 · By SDSU iGrow Extension
Opinion
Kay’s Korner: Carcass weights and kills are key
The live cattle market has performed better than expected so far this summer, says…
Aug 6, 2018 · By Steve Kay, WLJ columnist
News
How land transitions can lead to unintended consequences
Failure to leave specific instructions for land transfers in estate plans can lead to…
Aug 6, 2018 · By University of Nebraska Extension
Policy
Oil, gas payments up to 30 percent of net cash farm income
With the boom in oil and gas extraction innovation, more energy production is occurring…
Aug 6, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
News
Forest Service extended comment period on greater sage-grouse
The U.S. Forest Service has extended the comment period on amendments to the Idaho,…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
China files challenge with the World Trade Organization on latest round of tariff proposals
On July 16, China filed a challenge with the World Trade Organization (WTO) on…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
News
California wilderness Act proposed
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) introduced a bill on July 27 that seeks to “guard…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Cattle tick spraying halted
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller shut down a cattle fever tick spray box operation…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
EPA extends comment period on transparency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the deadline on the comment period seeking…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Texas packer to repay almost $38 million to local ranchers
Sam Kane Beef Processors will repay ranchers nearly $38 million for violations of the…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says boycott not a good move
The Western Producer, an agricultural publication targeted for Western Canadian farmers and ranchers, reports…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Arby’s menu gets beefier
Arby’s has added three new beef items to its Smokehouse menu. For a limited…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Feedlot expansion corralled
WLJ reported in the July 2 issue that Valley Oaks Steak Company, LLC of…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Comment extension on NEPA amendments
The Council on Environmental Quality has been seeking stakeholder comment on its proposed rule…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
President Donald Trump selects Dr. Scott Hutchins for USDA Undersecretary of Research, Education and Economics
In mid-July, President Donald Trump selected Dr. Scott Hutchins to be the USDA Undersecretary…
Aug 6, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
BeefTalk: Cost per pound of calf is struggling
Cost of calf pounds gained is not on pace with pounds of calf marketed.
Jul 31, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Markets
Devin’s Comments: Video markets and government aid
WLJ Fieldman Devin Murnin reflects on what he’s been seeing in the auctions lately,…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Devin
Livestock
Genetic predictions for brisket disease a priority
There’s been an uptick in death loss of nearly market-ready fed cattle lately, and…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Dr. Bob Hough, WLJ correspondent
Policy
$12B announced in tariff aid
The USDA announced a trio of aid programs to producers hit hard by tariffs.…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Markets
Mixed markets and supply-side confusion
It was another week of slow cash fed cattle trade, with concerns over trade…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
BeefTalk: Cow-calf enterprise expenses are up
Keeping data on cow-calf herds is important. Producers need to know input costs to…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Livestock
K-State researchers establish testing guidelines for water intake
Researchers are studying how water intake impacts the ability of cattle to adapt to…
Jul 30, 2018 · By K-State Research and Extension
Livestock
New packing plant already looking to the future
The new CS Beef Packers plant is barely a year old, but management is…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Mark Mendiola, WLJ correspondent
Livestock
Producers should consider implanting beef calves at summer processing
Depending on your operation, implanting suckling calves around three months may be a sound…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Michigan State University Extension
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Cattle and beef production in China
China is the fourth largest beef producing country in the world. Derrell S. Peel,…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Markets
July Cattle on Feed and mid-year cattle inventory
The July Cattle report confirms larger cattle inventories in 2018. Indicators point to a…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Livestock
Guestworker legislation introduced
The AG and Legal Workforce Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives…
Jul 30, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor