Livestock
Winners crowned at Make It With Wool national finals
The 70th annual Make it With Wool competition saw yet another amazing set of…
Feb 8, 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.
Policy
USDA creates new division: Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the creation of a new USDA mission area; the…
Feb 7, 2018 · By Jerry Hagstrom, DTN political correspondent
Livestock
Records set and broken at the 77th Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale
It was an amazing sale at this year’s 77th annual Red Bluff Bull and…
Feb 7, 2018 · By Logan Ipsen
News
Survey: Producers more optimistic in January
Agricultural producers said in January that they were more optimistic about the agricultural economy…
Feb 7, 2018 · By Purdue University Extension
Policy
Understanding when to issue a 1099 tax form
Farmers and ranchers regularly pay for services from individuals who are not their full-time…
Feb 7, 2018 · By SDSU iGrow Extension
Livestock
Changes to National Cattle Evaluation benefits bull buyers in 2018
The majority of beef breed associations have made (or are currently making) substantial changes…
Feb 7, 2018 · By University of Nebraska Extension
Health/Nutrition
Assistance sought in identifying novel, abnormal traits in calves
University of Nebraska researchers are working to identify novel, abnormal traits in calves. To…
Feb 7, 2018 · By University of Nebraska-Lincoln Agricultural Research
Opinion
BeefTalk: Developing sire genetic benchmarks
Reviewing and benchmarking traits is important when buying bulls. There are more to traits…
Feb 6, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Livestock
No major surprises inside the cattle report
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, looks at the latest…
Feb 6, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Coffee: It’s good for the soul
The ritual of morning coffee is an important part of the agricultural community. The…
Feb 6, 2018 · By South Dakota Farmers Union
Environment
Court delays livestock emissions reporting rule
Livestock producers will have until at least May 1 before they are required to…
Feb 6, 2018 · By Todd Neeley, DTN environmental editor
Policy
Guest Opinion: Private landowners poised to make (not break) sage-grouse recovery
If you’ve farmed, ranched, or owned land in the West, you’ve probably participated in…
Feb 5, 2018 · By Jeff Laszlo
Health/Nutrition
Expansion of nut tree farms continues in California
Richard Matoian, executive director of American Pistachio Growers, says production of tree nuts such…
Feb 5, 2018 · By Mark Mendiola, WLJ correspondent
Policy
Ranchers and farmers resist high-speed train in California
California’s proposed construction of a controversial, steeply expensive high-speed rail system through the state’s…
Feb 5, 2018 · By Mark Mendiola, WLJ correspondent
Markets
Blockchain is the next innovative disruptor in ag markets
Blockchain creates digital ledgers for sales of goods including agricultural commodities. It provides levels…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Health/Nutrition
Neosporosis becoming an increasing problem
The Neospora parasite causes abortions in cattle, a costly problem for ranchers. But with…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Dr. Bob Hough, WLJ correspondent
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Score January for Canada
DTN Analyst John Harrington takes a look at the Canadian beef checkoff and the…
Feb 2, 2018 · By DTN
Policy
Washington considers mandatory electronic ID
Officials with the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) have announced that they are…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Jason Campbell, WLJ correspondent
Livestock
Are your cows mineral deficient?
Mineral deficiencies are widespread in the U.S. cowherd, even when producers are supplementing. The…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Communication is key in relationship with feds
Your relationship with federal agents is just like your relationship with anyone else; it…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Invest in information for your ranch’s future
You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: You can’t manage what you…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Policy
Not enough ag land in the Far West
The extreme diversity in the Far West—from territories, sellers, buyers, and property types—is making…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Cash, feeder cattle gain after the crash
Last week saw a reversal of the recent trend of late-week negotiated cash fed…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
NWSS Grand Champion Steer sets new sale record
The standing-room-only crowd at the 2018 Auction of the Junior Livestock Champions roared as…
Feb 2, 2018 · By NWSS
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: Cattle numbers
The big NCBA Cattle Industry Convention started last week in Phoenix, AZ, and perhaps…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Policy
NAFTA Round 6 concludes in Montreal
The sixth round of talks to renegotiate the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)…
Feb 2, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
Vet warns of effects of Cache Valley Virus during lambing
South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Specialist, Jeff Held encourages South Dakota sheep producers…
Feb 2, 2018 · By South Dakota State University Extension
Livestock
Latest Cattle on Feed report is neutral
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the monthly Cattle on Feed report…
Feb 2, 2018 · By University of Wisconsin-River Falls Extension
Markets
Fruit, vegetable spending high in direct marketing
Economic Research Service (ERS) researchers recently used USDA’s National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase…
Feb 2, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Policy
Rural poverty expanded since the Great Recession
Over 300 rural counties (15 percent of all rural counties) are persistently poor, compared…
Feb 2, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Livestock
BLM, U.S. Forest Service announce 2018 grazing fees
The BLM and U.S. Forest Service announced 2018 grazing fees for federal land will…
Feb 2, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
SCOTUS agrees to critical habitat hearing
The Supreme Court recently agreed to hear the Pacific Legal Foundation’s (PLF) case against…
Feb 2, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
State COOL rule dies in Colorado
An attempt at creating a mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law in Colorado died in…
Feb 2, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Oregon considers wolf kill compensation being tied to wolf population
A bill before the Oregon House of Representatives seeks to tie compensation prices for…
Feb 2, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Petition started to add pet food to SNAP
A petition has been started seeking to change the rules of the Supplemental Nutrition…
Feb 2, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Colorado Farm Show includes Sheep Day
This year’s Greeley Farm Show included “Sheep Day” on Jan. 25, hosted by Colorado…
Feb 2, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Irish farmers frustrated with Clean Sheep Policy
According to Global Meat News, Irish farmers are frustrated with slaughter plants. Farmers have…
Feb 2, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Two-year reprieve granted in WOTUS implementation
Farmers, ranchers and other landowners received good news on Jan. 31 when the U.S.…
Feb 2, 2018 · By WLJ
Markets
Australia has wool market correction
The U.S. lamb and wool markets are enormously affected by the movements of the…
Feb 2, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Gene editing aims to produce all male cattle
Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam talked to WLJ about her newest gene-editing project. “Boys Only”…
Feb 1, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Policy
Electronic logging device fight not over; more exemptions sought
The debate over electronic logging devices (ELDs) for agricultural haulers goes on. A trade…
Jan 31, 2018 · By DTN
Opinion
Guest Opinion: You’re about to lose your farm’s most important tax law
A tax reform provision to provide relief to agricultural producers may be short lived.…
Jan 31, 2018 · By Michael J. McCloskey, Select Milk Producers CEO
News
2018 NWSS celebrates over 700,000 attendees
The 112th National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO, rides off into the sunset…
Jan 31, 2018 · By NWSS
Opinion
Kay’s Korner: Packers have capacity, but…
More and more feedlot cattle will become market-ready as spring approaches. Feedlot marketing rates…
Jan 31, 2018 · By Steve Kay, WLJ columnist
Health/Nutrition
Dead trees in the Sierra are a massive risk for unpredictable wildfires
A new study by researchers at UC Berkeley argues for more prescribed fires, mechanically…
Jan 31, 2018 · By University of California Berkeley
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Characteristics of financially-resilient farms
Farms and ranches regularly operate on narrow margins. Robert Tigner, UNL Extension Agricultural Systems…
Jan 31, 2018 · By University of Nebraska Extension
Livestock
USDA appoints National Sheep Industry Improvement Center board of directors
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue recently announced the appointment of three members to serve on…
Jan 31, 2018 · By USDA
Markets
MARS launched to deliver market data to ag producers
USDA’s new Market Analysis and Reporting Services, is designed to use state-of-the-art technology to…
Jan 31, 2018 · By USDA
Policy
USDA appoints Lamb Board members
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of five members to serve on the…
Jan 31, 2018 · By USDA
Policy
Off-farm income big on farms of all sizes
Recent data shows that almost all farms depend on outside income to survive. Only…
Jan 31, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Health/Nutrition
New Meat MythCrusher video discusses role of processed meat in the diet
A common misconception in nutrition is that meats such as hot dogs, bacon, sausage…
Jan 30, 2018 · By North American Meat Institute
Livestock
Plenty of feedlot cattle to start 2018
The Jan. 1, 2018 inventory of cattle in feedlots was 11.49 million head, 108.3…
Jan 30, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Livestock
How to keep records for filing taxes on the ranch/farm
Shannon Sand, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension livestock business management field specialist, explains…
Jan 30, 2018 · By South Dakota State University Extension
Markets
Livestock Marketeers induct two into Hall of Fame
The Livestock Marketeers, an informal fraternity of livestock fieldmen, auctioneers, sale managers and related…
Jan 30, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Guest opinion: Things to consider as beef production sales ramp up
Many producers are buying cattle this time of year, but there is much more…
Jan 29, 2018 · By Mississippi State University Extension
News
Consider your options: Graze-out vs. harvesting wheat
Livestock and grain producers should consider all options and put pencil to paper in…
Jan 29, 2018 · By Noble Research Institute
Policy
Respondents oppose withdrawal of organic livestock rule
Over 78,500 comments were submitted on the proposal to withdraw the Organic Livestock and…
Jan 26, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Futures crash in late-week trade
The Jan. 22-26 week saw the markets steadily gaining. Then Thursday happened and a…
Jan 26, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
BeefTalk: Why push a chain up a hill?
Matching cattle inventory and calving date with appropriate forage-based systems is critical. Many livestock…
Jan 26, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Environment
Wyoming considering grizzly hunting season
Wyoming is planning to draft a grizzly bear management plan. The most controversial detail?…
Jan 26, 2018 · By Mark Mendiola, WLJ correspondent
Environment
Idaho focuses on ag issues
Agriculture is vital to Idaho’s economy and lawmakers generally get high marks from farmers…
Jan 26, 2018 · By Mark Mendiola, WLJ correspondent
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: And the survey says…
Every few years, we conduct our reader Bull Survey. This year’s response showed that…
Jan 26, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Policy
HSUS sues USDA over organic rule
The Humane Society of the United States is suing the USDA over a proposal…
Jan 26, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Beef
Canadians to pay more in beef check-off
Cattle producers in Canada are investing more to pay for research and promotion of…
Jan 26, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
Trade topics dominate
A lot of trade talk was going on in the last full week of…
Jan 26, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
U.S., South Korea meet to discuss KORUS
Representatives from the U.S. and South Korea met in the Office of the U.S.…
Jan 25, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Beef passes school lunch safety test
Results from a new University of Connecticut (UConn) study show the National School Lunch…
Jan 25, 2018 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
United States Cattlemen’s Association wants info on Brazil
The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) sent a letter to the USDA Food Safety…
Jan 25, 2018 · By WLJ
News
Members of National Park System Advisory Board resign to protest Zinke
Ten of the 12-member National Park System (NPS) Advisory Board (NPSAB) signed a letter…
Jan 25, 2018 · By WLJ
Environment
Wolves active in Cascade Mountains
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) issued a press release on Jan.…
Jan 25, 2018 · By WLJ
News
WTO says 15 months is a reasonable period of time for U.S. to make changes
On Jan. 19, a World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitrator ruled that 15 months was…
Jan 25, 2018 · By WLJ
Livestock
Cattle thief pays for animals
According to the Council Bluff, IA, newspaper Nonpareil, the person who stole 34 head…
Jan 25, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Weather halts Nebraska beef plants
Beef packing and processing plants closed temporarily on Jan. 22 because of weather conditions…
Jan 25, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
Japan to lift ban on British beef
Japan will begin the process of lifting its 22-year-old ban on British beef imports…
Jan 25, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Southern Plains at higher-than-usual risk for wildland fires
The ongoing drought in the Southern and Central Plains is creating a big fire…
Jan 24, 2018 · By DTN
Environment
What farms need to know on EPA air emissions mandate
The EPA’s air emissions reporting mandate may be on hold, but farms and ranches…
Jan 24, 2018 · By Michigan State University Extension
Livestock
Good records and visible identification can ease the pain of a disaster
Livestock producers don’t like to think about disasters such as wildfires, tornadoes or other…
Jan 24, 2018 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Policy
Farmers Union opposed to repeal of tax provision for co-ops
Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union, thinks some of the recent tax…
Jan 24, 2018 · By South Dakota State University Extension
Beef
TALL educates ag leaders to meet present, future challenges
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers the TALL program—Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership—to train worldly-wise farmers…
Jan 24, 2018 · By Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Environment
Court ponders delay of livestock emissions reporting mandate
Cattle producers are not required to report certain emissions to EPA… yet. The agency…
Jan 24, 2018 · By Todd Neeley, DTN environmental editor
Livestock
Prepare now to fight flames
The massive Texas fires of March 2017 taught residents a lot of hard lessons…
Jan 24, 2018 · By Todd Neeley, DTN environmental editor
Environment
District court the proper venue for WOTUS challenges
The Supreme Court has ruled that federal district court level is the proper venue…
Jan 24, 2018 · By Todd Neeley, DTN environmental editor
Beef
Colorado FFA Foundation gave out over $90,000 in grants
Colorado ag youth received over $90,000 in grants from the FFA Foundation during the…
Jan 24, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
New ag group defends NAFTA
Over 30 different ag-related businesses came together to urge President Trump that the NAFTA…
Jan 23, 2018 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Markets
USDA releases end of year feed market information
The recently released USDA reports show a fundamental situation that spells weakness for the…
Jan 23, 2018 · By Colorado State University Extension
Health/Nutrition
Study of wound treatment in horses could translate to human care
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine researchers are studying treatment to inhibit bacterial growth…
Jan 23, 2018 · By Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Beef
“Buck” naked barley given new life
A new strain of barley developed by Oregon State University researchers has no hull,…
Jan 23, 2018 · By Crop Science Society of America
Opinion
Guest Opinion: We enjoy environmental services without paying for them
We enjoy the benefits of a robust public lands system, but not everyone pays…
Jan 23, 2018 · By NDSU Extension
News
Grain prices to remain flat as U.S. inventory excess is consumed
A Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service economist predicts bumper corn yields and excess…
Jan 23, 2018 · By Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Beef
Millennials spend less on food per capita
Out of all the generations, Millennials spend the least amount on food for at-home…
Jan 23, 2018 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Health/Nutrition
Grants to provide e-connectivity to rural communities
A number of rural communities across the U.S. will benefit from e-connectivity grants provided…
Jan 23, 2018 · By WLJ
Beef
JBS sells Five Rivers to Pinnacle Asset Management
JBS USA sold Five Rivers Cattle Feeding to Pinnacle Asset Management. The sale was…
Jan 22, 2018 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Opinion
BeefTalk: Healthy soil buffers human inadequacies
Many factors such as weather can’t be controlled, but producers can implement production practices…
Jan 22, 2018 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Policy
Year ahead report: Forces that will shape the rural economy
CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division looks ahead to 2018 and says to expect an expanding…
Jan 22, 2018 · By WLJ
Policy
Millennials don’t spend much on beef
A recent report gives insight into the future of food demand by looking at…
Jan 19, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Futures surprise with rally nearing seasonal top
Despite the recent pressures on the market—more available fed cattle, declining production rates, consumer…
Jan 19, 2018 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: The gate swings
JBS USA sold their 11 feedlots to a single buyer; Pinnacle Investment Group. The…
Jan 19, 2018 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Policy
Legislation to delist Mexican gray wolf introduced
The Mexican gray wolf has reached population numbers established in its initial listing under…
Jan 19, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
Feds to regulate your cow manure
Congress needs to act to exempt livestock producers from reporting emissions from manure on…
Jan 19, 2018 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor