News
Idaho Brand Board issues fee refunds
The Idaho State Brand Board (IBB) released a notice at the end of November…
Dec 21, 2017 · 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
Just how do Santa’s reindeer get the job done?
How do reindeer get the job done? Glenn Selk of Oklahoma State University looks…
Dec 20, 2017 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Markets
Chinese beef market expands
The Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA) reported Dec. 12 that two Belarus companies have been…
Dec 20, 2017 · By WLJ
News
NAMI seeks CEO
The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) has announced the search for a new president…
Dec 20, 2017 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
Canada TB has not spread
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) investigators say they are confident the bovine tuberculosis (TB)…
Dec 20, 2017 · By WLJ
Policy
House offers online resources for 2018 Farm Bill
U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) announced the launch of a new…
Dec 20, 2017 · By WLJ
Policy
Ag census responses needed
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service mailed questionnaires for the 2017 Census of Agriculture…
Dec 20, 2017 · By WLJ
Beef
Beef consumption and beef demand
Beef consumption was up on a per-capita basis in 2017 due in part to…
Dec 19, 2017 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Beef
What is the repeatability of calving difficulty?
Research indicates that calving difficulty as a two-year-old had a profound effect on productivity.…
Dec 19, 2017 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
BeefTalk: Just when does one let the calves go?
Availability of forage, and weaning time for calves are important points to ponder. A…
Dec 18, 2017 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Pore space as a property right
Energy industries have increasingly been looking to pore space to store carbon capture and…
Dec 15, 2017 · By Budd-Falen Law Offices
Policy
U.S. could be caught off-guard by biological attack on agriculture
Is the United States is underprepared for possible biological attack on agriculture?
Dec 15, 2017 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Beef
This is a good time to evaluate your cattle operation
Some critical questions to ask when evaluating your cattle business include: How is overall…
Dec 15, 2017 · By Iowa State University Extension
Health/Nutrition
We need to talk about mental health in ag
We are a stoic, self-reliant bunch in ag, but we need to talk about…
Dec 15, 2017 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Cash cattle offer no direction
The week of Dec. 11-15 was an oddly flat one. Cash fed cattle trade…
Dec 15, 2017 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
NWSS Legacy Building unveiled
Plans for the new Legacy Building—first among four major National Western Stock Show facilities…
Dec 15, 2017 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
BeefTalk: Use the numbers when bull buying
Would you plant a crop based on a picture of a field? No? Then…
Dec 15, 2017 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
News
How much hay do I need to feed?
Having the right amount of hay on hand to feed cows throughout the winter…
Dec 15, 2017 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: Petty politics
Pete’s tired of the pettiness in Washington D.C. He wants our Congressional leaders to…
Dec 15, 2017 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Policy
NAFTA changes or pull out could harm ag
Discussion and debate continues regarding ramifications of a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement.
Dec 15, 2017 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Beef
What is the cost of wintering cattle?
Carrying unproductive cows over the winter can have a big impact on your bottom…
Dec 15, 2017 · By University of Wisconsin-River Falls Extension
Policy
New ag director named in Nebraska
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has named Steve Wellman as the new director of the…
Dec 15, 2017 · By WLJ
Environment
Tyson puts more in Beyond Meat
Tyson Foods, Inc. announced it has made an additional investment in plant-based protein producer,…
Dec 15, 2017 · By WLJ
Beef
Little immediate impact of fake meat
Protein products derived from plant sources, insects and cultured meats will be among the…
Dec 15, 2017 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
Meat tax could be coming
A Bloomberg report on Dec. 11, 2017 advises, “Move over, taxes on carbon and…
Dec 15, 2017 · By WLJ
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Telling consumers about cattle production and modern technology is important
The Beef Checkoff Program is trying to get consumers to #RethinkTheRanch to better understand…
Dec 14, 2017 · By Cattlemen's Beef Board
Environment
La Niсa and the 2017-2018 winter outlook
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is predicting a weak La Niсa event this winter.…
Dec 14, 2017 · By South Dakota State University Extension
Policy
Agricultural producers should do tax planning before the end of the year based on the current law
There are a number of things agricultural producers can do to limit their tax…
Dec 13, 2017 · By NDSU Extension
Livestock
Numbers indicate herd expansion continued in 2017
Beef cow herd expansion continued in 2017, albeit at a slower pace than 2016.…
Dec 13, 2017 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Policy
Land used for ag purposes has declined since 1949
The amount of U.S. land dedicated to agriculture has declined 11 percent since 1949,…
Dec 13, 2017 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Beef
Food is third largest spending category
Americans spent 12.6 percent of their income on food in 2016. This is the…
Dec 13, 2017 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Health/Nutrition
Mortality rates up for rural adults since 2000
Working-aged adults living in rural counties are dying fast than in non-rural counties. Opioid…
Dec 13, 2017 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Beef
October a stellar month for U.S. beef exports
Beef exports are flirting with record value levels for 2017 with October exports being…
Dec 13, 2017 · By USMEF
Livestock
Red Meat Club names Waneka 2018 Friend of the National Western
Bill Waneka has had the “stock show disease” for almost 50 years now. As…
Dec 13, 2017 · By WLJ
Beef
Ranch success leads to production problems
Congratulations to the American rancher! You have done an amazing job making more, better…
Dec 8, 2017 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: This land is our land, too
What does “public” land mean when it comes to national monuments and multiple use?…
Dec 8, 2017 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Policy
Utah monuments reduced in size
On Dec. 4, President Donald Trump signed two proclamations modifying the size of the…
Dec 8, 2017 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Environment
Researcher explores incentives, nudges for coordinated land use
University of Nebraska research shows that agricultural producers can be incentivized to implement pro-environmental…
Dec 8, 2017 · By UNL-Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
News
Hay forecast is tricky to predict
If you’re ranching in the West, that usually means you feed hay in the…
Dec 8, 2017 · By WLJ
Livestock
Perdue Premium Meat names CEO
Randy Day, CEO of Perdue Farms, announced on Dec. 4 that Mark McKay has…
Dec 8, 2017 · By WLJ
Livestock
Brexit could mean meat crisis
The European Livestock and Meat Trades Union (UECBV) which represents meat and livestock trade…
Dec 8, 2017 · By WLJ
Livestock
Grazing returns to burned area
BLM officials will use 30 miles of targeted grazing fuel breaks as part of…
Dec 8, 2017 · By WLJ
Beef
Beef grade standards changing on Dec. 18
The UDSA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced Dec. 5 that it is updating the…
Dec 8, 2017 · By WLJ
Opinion
Black Ink: Should you invest or improvise to improve cattle herds?
If producers want 2018 to be a better year than the last, they will…
Dec 7, 2017 · By Certified Angus Beef
Environment
Submit comments on proposed date change to WOTUS
Dec. 13 is the last day to submit comments on a proposed date change…
Dec 7, 2017 · By WLJ
Policy
School Meal Flexibility Rule gives more local control
The USDA published the School Meal Flexibility Rule on Nov. 29. According to the…
Dec 7, 2017 · By WLJ
News
Smaller branches pack the fastest, biggest wildfire-spreading punch
Research at Oregon State University looks at how fire embers form and the blaze-starting…
Dec 6, 2017 · By Oregon State University Extension
Beef
UNL offers beef heifer replacement forecasts for coming production season
The University of Nebraska Beef Economics team looks at factors to consider in purchasing…
Dec 6, 2017 · By University of Nebraska Extension
Livestock
WLJ offers free subscriptions to a variety of universities
We here at WLJ are invested in the future of the beef industry in…
Dec 6, 2017 · By WLJ
Policy
California egg law under attack
Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley announced Dec. 4 that he and his office will…
Dec 6, 2017 · By WLJ
Environment
Oregon revising wolf plan
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) released its working revised Oregon Wolf…
Dec 6, 2017 · By WLJ
Policy
Plaintiff backs out of Colorado River lawsuit
The case Colorado River Ecosystem vs. the State of Colorado (see WLJ’s Oct. 2…
Dec 6, 2017 · By WLJ
Environment
Tips for evaluating property for raising cattle
Livestock producers need to carefully evaluate all aspects of a property when raising cattle.…
Dec 5, 2017 · By Noble Research Institute
Beef
Carcass weight impacts beef supply and beef demand
The latest weekly carcass weight data for the week ended November 18 showed steer…
Dec 5, 2017 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
Guest Opinion: Increase the resilience of your ranch
You may not be suffering drought right now, but that doesn’t mean you should…
Dec 5, 2017 · By South Dakota State University Extension
Policy
Farm sector profits forecast to stabilize in 2017
This year’s net farm income is relatively stable, but still down from recent averages.
Dec 5, 2017 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Policy
Farm payments benefit wealthier households
As farms and ranches have consolidated to survive, more of the government farm payments…
Dec 5, 2017 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Livestock
WLJ offers free online subscription for students of land-grant universities
WLJ wants to see the cattle and beef industry continue, so we are investing…
Dec 5, 2017 · By WLJ
Environment
Survey reveals hopeful young farmers
Young farmers are working to overcome barriers—land access, student debt, labor, health care. But…
Dec 5, 2017 · By WLJ
Livestock
On Target: Next breeding season starts now
Reproductive success in a cow herd depends on many factors. Is there a fertile…
Dec 4, 2017 · By Justin Sexten, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Beef
BeefTalk: Has the beef industry reached commercial thresholds for performance?
We’ve done well with limiting calf death loss, but where do we go from…
Dec 4, 2017 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Policy
USDA shows higher livestock revenues, but crop income falling
Cash receipts in the livestock sector are forecast to grow 7.6 percent for all…
Dec 1, 2017 · By DTN
Policy
Packers look to replenish supplies
The negotiated cash fed cattle market seemed to be suffering from a tryptophan slow-down…
Dec 1, 2017 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Livestock
Help your calves make the transition during weaning
Weaning is the opportunity for cattle producers to prepare calves for the next phase…
Dec 1, 2017 · By K-State Research and Extension
Livestock
Packing industry faces labor shortage
Beef processing plants cite the growing labor dilemma as their major concern in a…
Dec 1, 2017 · By Mark Mendiola, WLJ correspondent
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: Tax wars continue in Washington
Watching the debate over this tax bill is at least entertaining; it a total…
Dec 1, 2017 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Environment
WOTUS rule could get two-year delay
The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of the Army say a delay in…
Dec 1, 2017 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Livestock
Producers should prepare for winter supplement needs
Supplemental feed may be necessary for cattle herds in some areas of the country.…
Dec 1, 2017 · By Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Policy
Senate debates tax reform
The U.S. Senate continued its debate on its version of the tax bill on…
Dec 1, 2017 · By WLJ
Policy
Who is the stocker cattle industry?
Oklahoma cattle producers were asked in a survey to identify all cattle production activities…
Nov 30, 2017 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Policy
Final crop report of 2017: Wheat conditions below five-year average
USDA estimated winter wheat conditions at 50 percent good to excellent as of Sunday,…
Nov 29, 2017 · By DTN
Health/Nutrition
Kansas State University meat scientists verify benefits of Omega 3 feeding regimen
Meat scientists at Kansas State University are reporting results of a study that indicates…
Nov 29, 2017 · By K-State Research and Extension
News
Prepare now for next spring’s calving season
Planning and preparing ahead for next spring’s calving season can help increase the chances…
Nov 29, 2017 · By Oklahoma State University Extension
Opinion
Kays Korner: Plenty of protein and promise
This year still has one month to go. But barring a last-minute shock, 2017…
Nov 29, 2017 · By Steve Kay, WLJ columnist
Policy
NAFTA: Concern over stalls
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer released the following statement on Nov. 21 at the…
Nov 29, 2017 · By WLJ
Environment
SD: BPI workers apply for relief
Having never administered a relief fund before, Dakota Dunes, SD-based Beef Products Inc. officials…
Nov 29, 2017 · By WLJ
Environment
EPA: Stay in emissions reporting
On Nov. 22, 2017, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals granted EPA’s…
Nov 29, 2017 · By WLJ
Livestock
Texas county released from fever tick quarantine
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle Fever…
Nov 29, 2017 · By WLJ
Policy
Colorado AG moves to dismiss Colorado River lawsuit
The Colorado Attorney General’s (AG’s) Office has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit…
Nov 29, 2017 · By WLJ
Opinion
BeefTalk: Reproductive performance in commercial beef herds is remarkable
Data from the Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software (CHAPS), through the North Dakota State…
Nov 28, 2017 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Livestock
Alico to end cattle operations
Alico, Inc., based in Ft. Myers, FL, announced its Alico 2.0 Modernization Program on…
Nov 28, 2017 · By WLJ
Beef
New technique can rapidly detect impurities in ground beef
Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, CN, have found a…
Nov 28, 2017 · By WLJ
Policy
Minerva to resume exports to U.S.
According to a Reuters report, Minerva SA Chief Executive Fernando Galletti said last Tuesday,…
Nov 28, 2017 · By WLJ
Beef
Beef plant breaks ground
National Beef celebrated with local and corporate dignitaries Nov. 27 as the company broke…
Nov 28, 2017 · By WLJ
Beef
Beef provides fuel for runners
More than 2,500 runners participated in the 39th annual Road-O-Cross Race at Living History…
Nov 28, 2017 · By WLJ
News
Bankers ready for difficult conversations
The general mood at the National Agricultural Bankers Conference Nov. 12-15 in Milwaukee, WI,…
Nov 27, 2017 · By DTN
News
Family loyalty can lead to business turmoil
What does family mean to you? For many, family means unconditional love and support,…
Nov 27, 2017 · By DTN
Opinion
BeefTalk: Beef growth performance continues to be stable
Beef cattle performance growth trends, as calculated through the Cow Herd Appraisal of Performance…
Nov 27, 2017 · By Kris Ringwall, WLJ Contributing Columnist
Opinion
Pete’s Comments: 2018 Ranch Tour: Touring new territory
Last week Jerry York and I spend some time in eastern Oklahoma, southwest Missouri…
Nov 27, 2017 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Policy
Looking ahead: A new farm bill is on the horizon
As lawmakers continue discussions in Washington, D.C. regarding tax reform and federal budget issues,…
Nov 27, 2017 · By Rae Price, WLJ editor
Health/Nutrition
USDA invests in rural health care
USDA provided more than $1 billion in Fiscal Year 2017 to help improve access…
Nov 27, 2017 · By USDA
Policy
60 Percent of households in 800 rural counties have wired broadband
Internet service providers have been increasing access to broadband in rural areas by expanding…
Nov 27, 2017 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Markets
Easy access to supermarket varies by county
Distance from a supermarket or large grocery store offering a variety of affordable and…
Nov 27, 2017 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Policy
Productivity has driven the growth in U.S. agricultural output
Technological developments in agriculture have been influential in driving changes in the farm sector.…
Nov 27, 2017 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Markets
An unexpected market gift
The holiday-shortened week of Nov. 20-22 gave cattle and beef producers a market worthy…
Nov 26, 2017 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Health/Nutrition
Preconditioning returns differ by weights
Preconditioning is a form of adding value to your cattle, but how much does…
Nov 22, 2017 · By Dr. Bob Hough, WLJ correspondent
Health/Nutrition
Vets: Heroes of Harvey
Most coverage of Hurricane Harvey focused on the destruction, but there were a lot…
Nov 22, 2017 · By Dr. Ginger Elliott DVM, WLJ correspondent
Livestock
Future prices depend on supply management
Ross Wilson of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association projected the coming years will see…
Nov 22, 2017 · By Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor
Beef
Black Ink: Mother Nature, mother cows, and marbling
It’s been said before and it will be said again over and over; the…
Nov 22, 2017 · By Miranda Reiman, WLJ Contributing Columnist