News
McDonald’s HQ serves global items
From Canada’s Mighty Angus Burger to the Cheese & Bacon Loaded Fries from Australia,…
May 7, 2018 · By WLJ
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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.
Livestock
Survey asks about impacts of VFD regulation
The VFD went into effect Jan. 1, 2017 and land grand universities are trying…
May 7, 2018 · By WLJ
News
U.S. files appeal against World Trade Organization panel report that found in favor of China
On April 27, the U.S. filed an appeal against a World Trade Organization (WTO)…
May 7, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
U.S. framework for beef sustainability released
The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef released a framework to assist cattle producers, processors…
May 7, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
USDA seeking comments on proposed GMO label
The USDA is seeking comments on a proposed rule for a “National Bioengineered Food…
May 7, 2018 · By WLJ
News
JBS, S.A. ups hamburger production
To meet rising demand, particularly from fast food chains, JBS, S.A. recently announced that…
May 7, 2018 · By WLJ
Opinion
Letter to the Editor: RE: “Talking traceability with agency and industry”
One reader argues that domestic traceability is yet another expense laid on U.S. ranchers…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Bill Yancey, Captain USN-RET
Environment
Producers in drought facing decisions
As drought conditions grow, cattle producers need to carefully evaluate herd size along with…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
Policy
Senators urge Perdue to be stronger voice
Senators held a hearing on the state of rural America and urged Sonny Perdue…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Jerry Hagstrom, DTN political correspondent
Environment
NEPA needs to be “de-weaponized”
Environmental litigators are using NEPA as a weapon against resource users and infrastructure projects…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Policy
Lawfare: Using litigation as a weapon in a resource war
Ranchers are familiar with the weaponization of environmental laws and how they are wielded…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Cutouts surge ahead of cattle wall
The Choice beef cutout rallied $8 in four days, showing strength in the beef…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
BeefTalk: Crested wheatgrass needs grazing management
Cattle producers are grass producers, so appropriate grass management determines the success of the…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Opinion
BeefTalk: Balanced mineral supplements are good for the cow
It’s time for spring pasture turn out but watch out for grass tetany. Keep…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Opinion
Letter to the Editor: The Art of the Deal
A reader points out that the best deal is trading a liability for a…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Mike Sheridan
Livestock
Cattle on feed and slow herd expansion
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist discusses current feedlot inventories.
Apr 30, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Livestock
Early weaning effective method for high rebreeding rates in thin cows
In areas where drought or wildfire results in limited forage, early weaning may be…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: New tools
There have been several new tools cropping up, both for resource users and those…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Livestock
Bull trout lawsuit favors cattlemen
A judge in the U.S. District Court in Portland, OR ruled that cattle grazing…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
Sheep provisions included in farm bill
Calling it one of the strongest farm bills in recent memory, the American Sheep…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Beef
How to manage heifers to improve longevity
The way you treat your replacement heifers has a big impact on what kind…
Apr 30, 2018 · By SDSU iGrow Extension
Environment
Grassley: Replacing Pruitt would not be easy
The Trump Administration has been under a lot of pressure to fire EPA Administrator…
Apr 30, 2018 · By Todd Neeley, DTN environmental editor
Health/Nutrition
FMD vaccine allowed on mainland
USDA authorized a modified, non-infectious version of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus on the…
Apr 30, 2018 · By USDA
Policy
USDA offering more financial assistance for cover crops
Between 2005 and 2016, USDA EQIP funding for cover crops went from $5 million…
Apr 30, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Livestock
House: Bill for young, new farmers
Senators Heitkamp and Collins have introduced a bill aimed at helping new farmers and…
Apr 30, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Bureau of Land Management seeks horse input
The BLM Worland Field Office of Wyoming has requested public comment on a proposed…
Apr 30, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
France regulates meat terms
No longer will French citizens be able to find fake "sausage" or "steak." Those…
Apr 30, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
House works on Recreation Not Red Tape Act
The House has worked on the “Recreation Not Red-Tape Act,” but leaders of the…
Apr 30, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
California egg law, referendum ruffles feathers
California is again dealing with the echos of 2008's Prop 2. A new state…
Apr 30, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Changes to LIP announced
Veterinarian certifications on unavoidable livestock deaths due to weather will now be acceptable under…
Apr 30, 2018 · By WLJ
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Foodservice operators offered more beef on the menu
Beef is not a food fad—it’s here to stay. Beef is an enduring favorite…
Apr 23, 2018 · By Cattlemen's Beef Board
Policy
Farm bill loosens payment rules
The new Farm Bill proposed out of the House suggests changes to LLCs and…
Apr 23, 2018 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Access to international trade critical
Colorado’s Commissioner of Agriculture argues that access to international markets is critical to the…
Apr 23, 2018 · By Don Brown, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture
Livestock
Could castration be a thing of the past?
Imagine not having to castrate calves every year. A gene editing project with pigs…
Apr 23, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
BeefTalk: Grass calving
Producers may chose to calve in pens, or on grass in the spring. The…
Apr 23, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Livestock
Good feed management helps prevent weak calves
Many things can contribute to weak calves including weather and inadequate nutrition. Cattle producers…
Apr 23, 2018 · By NDSU Extension
Beef
Beef demand holding strong thus far
Beef production is up about 1.5 percent so far this year, but total production…
Apr 23, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: Fire season starts early
That terrible time of year—fire season—seems to have started early this year. Or did…
Apr 23, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Livestock
Fire devastates Oklahoma
Wildfires burn across Oklahoma. The two largest fires are the Rhea fire and the…
Apr 23, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Health/Nutrition
Farm bill advances from committee
Just a week after being introduced, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 was…
Apr 23, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
Specialist offers herbicide considerations for cover crop planting in 2018
Take care with your herbicide selection if you are using cover crops. This goes…
Apr 23, 2018 · By SDSU iGrow Extension
Policy
Talking about tariffs, TPP, and trade
In recent trade relations, China slapped U.S. sorghum with a massive tariff, Trump has…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Oregon officials kill more wolves
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reported that department staff shot and…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Markets
National Agri-Marketing Association honors Kendal Frazier
The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has named Kendal Frazier, chief executive officer of the…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
News
Maple Leaf Foods invests in insect protein
Entomo Farms, North America’s largest insect farm for human consumption, announced on April 11…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Technicalities present in Montana checkoff case
Not all rulings in a case are about the case itself. A recent court…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Senate holds hearing on groundwater regulation
The Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on April 18…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Comment period extended for USCA’s meat definitions
The comment period has been extended on a U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) petition to…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Organic brand Annie’s announces two products grown on farms practicing regenerative management
Organic brand Annie’s has announced it will launch two limited edition products using products…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Markets
China opens markets to Irish beef
On April 16, the Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed,…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
News
Oberto sold to Canadian Company
Premium Brands Holdings based in Vancouver, British Columbia, CA, announced on April 12 that…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
President Trump nominates James Hubbard to be USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
President Donald Trump nominated James Hubbard to be the USDA Under Secretary for Natural…
Apr 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
The traceability discussion has room for all ID technology
In the ongoing discussion over animal disease traceability, the matter of ear tag technology…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Markets
Savory Institute offers Land to Market pilot program
Working with the land and improving it is in a rancher’s DNA, but too…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Policy
Gene-edited plants are traditional, animals are drugs
Whether gene editing technology should be regulated or not depends on what you’re editing…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Health/Nutrition
Talking traceability with agency and industry
Chief Veterinary Officer with the USDA, Dr. Jack Shere said that a lot of…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Late-week gains made in the futures
Strong gains in the futures were seen in late-week futures trade. Is this the…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
BeefTalk: Herd vaccination protocols are critical
Pre-calving, pre-breeding, post-calving, pre-weaning and weaning are all periods that should involve the implementation…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Opinion
Black Ink: Cattlemen: Are you settling for par?
With the right genetics, management and some cooperation from Mother Nature, almost anyone can…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Nicole Lane Erceg, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Livestock
Remember the economic basics amid trade turbulence
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist discusses trade deficits, pointing…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: Food fight
Both markets and technologies change fast. Industries and regulation... not so much. Pete looks…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Beef
NCBA comments on fake meat petition
NCBA asked the federal government to enforce fair and accurate labeling for fake meat.…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Beef
National Beef sold to Marfrig
Brazil meat packer Marfrig has entered an agreement to buy 51 percent interest in…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Environment
Group wants feral horses listed under the ESA
An international animal rights group, Friends of Animals, wants feral horses listed under the…
Apr 16, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Policy
USDA says less labor and land, more capital in modern farm inputs
Overtime, American farms have become more dependent on capital such as machinery, fertilizer, and…
Apr 16, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Policy
Number of authorized SNAP stores growing
In 2016, low-income participants in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) received an average…
Apr 16, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Environment
Oregon wolf killed by officials
Just days after the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) issued a kill…
Apr 16, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Kosher beef startup secures seed funding
Zephyr Foods LLC, a producer of premium and kosher beef, recently announced it has…
Apr 16, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
J.R. Simplot CEO to retire
A press release from J.R. Simplot Company on April 6 announced that CEO Bill…
Apr 16, 2018 · By WLJ
Markets
Government Accountability Office releases report on 2015 market crash
Following a 2016 request by the Ranchers-Cattlemen’s Action Legal Fund (R-CALF), the Government Accountability…
Apr 16, 2018 · By WLJ
News
Treasury Department blacklists Russian ag company
On April 6, the U.S. Treasury department added Kuban AgroHolding—a south Russian agricultural company…
Apr 16, 2018 · By WLJ
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Should you own or lease equipment?
There are some things to consider when choosing to lease or buy equipment, but…
Apr 9, 2018 · By DTN
Opinion
On Target: Early path to quality beef
Justin Sexten, director of supply development for Certified Angus Beef discusses how quality beef…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Justin Sexten, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Environment
Mexican wolf recovery plan to change
In an odd turn of events, a district judge agreed with four enviro-litigator groups…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Beef
Futures ignore China threat to surge higher
The cattle futures seemed to disregard the trade scuffles with China and surged in…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Policy
China threatens $16.5B in tariffs against U.S. ag
Tariffs have become the weapon of choice in the fencing match between the U.S.…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Policy
Researchers make breakthrough in understanding glyphosate resistance in pigweeds
K-State researchers may have cracked the mystery behind how pigweed develops rapid resistance to…
Apr 9, 2018 · By K-State Research and Extension
Environment
Drought advances in the High Plains
Drought conditions continue to spread through the southern High Plains and has significantly altered…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Livestock
Develop a nutrition plan now to ensure good cow body condition next calving season
As calving season has ended or is wrapping up in many parts of the…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Livestock
Comparing weaning dates for fall-calving cows
Choosing the right time to wean calves will impact sale weights and the rebreeding…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: Tumultuous trade times
The adage goes: “When goods don’t cross borders, soldiers will.” By comparison, free trade…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Beef
Japan lowers tariff on frozen beef
After rising to 50 percent, the tariff on frozen beef sold to Japan was…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Beef
Opportunities and obstacles in Animal ID
Livestock identification and traceability is becoming the industry “norm”, according to a study commissioned…
Apr 9, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
How to help calves survive this stressful season
Frigid temperatures can prove challenging and impact the survival of newborn calves. Cow-Calf Specialist…
Apr 9, 2018 · By SDSU iGrow Extension
Beef
Economist: Taste feeds growing demand for beef
University of Missouri economist Scott Brown says demand is important to maintain beef prices…
Apr 9, 2018 · By University of Missouri Extension
Livestock
Stretching grass while maintaining cattle in the pasture
Since most of the Central Plains is in on-going and worsening drought, making available…
Apr 9, 2018 · By University of Nebraska Extension
Environment
Research to advance tractor testing techniques
New research at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory will assess three different types of…
Apr 9, 2018 · By UNL-Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Policy
Farm debt service ratio forecast to stabilize in 2017 and 2018
The farm sector debt service ratio is now near its 2002 value and its…
Apr 9, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Policy
Rural America ends period of population loss
Rural (nonmetro) counties increased in population for the first time this decade, according to…
Apr 9, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Policy
Representative asks Government Accountability Office about framework of cell-cultured food products
On March 28, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to the Government Accountability…
Apr 9, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
FTM and USRSB announce partnership
On March 29, Field to Market (FTM): The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and the…
Apr 9, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Montana Governor lifts hauling restrictions
In light of “the effects of the severe winter” and ongoing need to transport…
Apr 9, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
“Blind alley” design blamed for death in Kansas
On March 29, circuit judges for the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Kansas…
Apr 9, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Lack of inspection prompts recall
PFP Enterprises, LLC, also doing business as Texas Meat Packers, of Fort Worth, TX,…
Apr 9, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Texas rancher is new assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
On April 2, Texas rancher Susan Combs was appointed the assistant secretary of the…
Apr 9, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Should pork use beef quality grade terms?
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and many other state-level cattle groups answered a…
Apr 9, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Meat plant in Ticonderoga, NY closes
The Adirondack Meat Company in Ticonderoga, NY, is on the market for $1.7 million,…
Apr 9, 2018 · By WLJ
Opinion
BeefTalk: Time for a managerial report card
Success in school is based on grades, here, Kris Ringwall, North Dakota State University…
Apr 4, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Opinion
Letter to the Editor: RE: “Kerry’s Comments: What’s your opinion worth?”
A reader argues that the Federal Register controls Americans, bypasses Congressional oversight, and needs…
Apr 2, 2018 · By Bill Yancey, Captain USN-RET