News
DOE action could impact NM landowners’ property rights
The U.S. Department of Energy initiated the establishment of a 5- to 15-mile-wide energy…
Jan 24, 2025 · By NMCGA
Advertisement
News Archive
Latest News From Western Livestock Journal
A streamlined archive of the most recent reporting and updates from across the site.
Health/Nutrition
Feeding ionophores to beef cows
Forage and supplemental feed costs have the most influence on profitability of cow-calf operations.
Jan 24, 2025 · By Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle nutrition specialist
News
WY Freedom Caucus sides with private property restrictions
Dalton Banks stood on the House floor Jan. 20 and argued his proposal isn’t…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Mike Koshmrl, WyoFile
Environment
USFS seeking public input on Flathead River plan
When Greg Schartz first began horse packing into the remote wilderness along the South…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Justin Franz, Montana Free Press
News
IAMP opens second round of producer applications
A University of Idaho-led program offering technical and financial assistance to Idaho farmers and…
Jan 24, 2025 · By U of I Extension
News
Cargill settles turkey price-fixing case for $32.5M
Cargill Inc. has reached a $32.5 million settlement in a broad class-action lawsuit over…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Health/Nutrition
Ranchbot, ORBCOMM providing remote water management solutions
Through ORBCOMM satellite IoT communications technology, Ranchbot enables ranchers to check their water anytime,…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Ranchbot
Livestock
Genetics for a better cow herd
Improving fertility in cows involves leveraging genetic selection and advanced genomic tools to enhance…
Jan 24, 2025 · By University of Missouri Extension
News
NDSU projects 2025 commodity prices
Planning for the future can be a very frustrating process particularly in times of…
Jan 24, 2025 · By NDSU Extension
Health/Nutrition
Hay worries this winter
Grass tetany and nitrate poisoning can be a problem in winter when animal diets…
Jan 24, 2025 · By UNL Extension
Health/Nutrition
WY confirms first case of CWD inside an elk feedground
Wyoming wildlife managers on Jan. 15 reported an unwelcome first: The infectious prions that…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Mike Koshmrl, WyoFile
News
Trump appoints new USDA staff members
The Trump administration has made some staff announcements at USDA, including an acting secretary…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
News
US produce supplies continue to rely on imports
Imports play an increasingly important role in ensuring that fresh fruit and vegetables are…
Jan 24, 2025 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Health/Nutrition
Calving and cow nutrition in extreme cold
Calving during the winter months can present some unique challenges.
Jan 24, 2025 · By Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle breeding specialist
News
Bringing high tech solutions to farmers’ fields
Today we’ll meet a rural entrepreneur who has founded a business producing autonomous robots…
Jan 24, 2025 · By K-State Research and Extension
News
One-third of the farm share of the food dollar went to non-ag
In 2023, farm establishments received 15.9 cents per dollar spent by consumers on domestically…
Jan 24, 2025 · By USDA Economic Research Service
News
Brooke Rollins’ top USDA priorities
Priorities include quickly getting economic and disaster aid out to farmers, dealing with current…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
News
Quantity of ag labor has declined over time
Over time, the quantity of labor used in agriculture, such as the number of…
Jan 24, 2025 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Breeds
Fall Focus tours showcase industry hub
Over one-third of U.S. beef is finished in the Texas Panhandle, making it a…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Lilly Platts, ASA editor
Breeds
ASA partners with Neogen to offer DNA testing at show
In collaboration with Neogen Inc., all animals exhibited at the 2024 American Junior Simmental…
Jan 24, 2025 · By ASA
Health/Nutrition
Preparing for calving season
Inventor Alexander Graham Bell once said, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to…
Jan 24, 2025 · By K-State Research and Extension
Breeds
An examination of Milk EPD
Over the last several years I have fielded too many calls to count from…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Dr. Wade Shafer
News
69th MT Legislature kicks off considering ag measures
On Jan. 6, legislators, lobbyists and members of the public converged in Helena, MT,…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Montana Farm Bureau Federation
Breeds
Adding value to feeder calves
The Feeder Profit Calculator and Genetic Merit Pricing Task Force go hand-in-hand in helping…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Lilly Platts, ASA editor
Breeds
ASA releases dry matter intake EPD in research release format
An EPD for Dry Matter Intake and an economic subindex have been released by…
Jan 24, 2025 · By ASA
Environment
MT Fish and Wildlife Commission sued over black bear quotas
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission was sued Jan. 17 for allegedly ignoring state…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Robert Chaney, Montana Free Press
Breeds
Utilizing DNA testing, genomics to select replacement females
Being able to identify replacement heifers with greater precision should be a top priority…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Lane Giess, ASA geneticist
Beef
Cattle and beef markets charge into 2025
Cattle and beef markets rocketed out of the gate coming into 2025.
Jan 24, 2025 · By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
Breeds
DeClerck to serve as next ASA executive vice president
Dr. Jon DeClerck has been selected as the next American Simmental Association executive vice…
Jan 24, 2025 · By ASA
Breeds
Balancing phenotype and genomics
With advancements in genomic technology, do I still need to turn in birth weight,…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Ryan Boldt, IGS lead geneticist
Health/Nutrition
Preempting African swine fever in Texas with research
As feral hog populations increase in Texas and the U.S., they create desirable conditions…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Breeds
Yield grade challenges, potential solutions and the value of tallow
Dr. Ty Lawrence with West Texas A&M University presented about the history of the…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Lilly Platts, ASA editor
Breeds
Considering the consumer’s wants
Consumer demand, purchasing habits, and understanding the factors that go into a person’s decision…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Lilly Platts, ASA editor
News
Chipotle invests in aquatic plant-based feed
Chipotle Mexican Grill announced minority investments into two companies, Plantible and CH4 Global, through…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
News
Guest Opinion: Fixing the market
The USDA’s recently issued advance notice of proposed rulemaking is intended to resolve a…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA
Environment
NRCS Oregon announces CSP funding
USDA announced the Conservation Stewardship Program application deadline for fiscal year 2025 funding is…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
News
United We Stand with Ashley McDonald
Despite challenges like drought, invasive species and evolving policies, the benefits of healthier rangelands…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Ashley McDonald, executive director of the National Grazing Lands Coalition
Beef
Funding for bison production, marketing
USDA announced up to $2 million in funding through the Bison Production and Marketing…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
News
Pete’s Comments: Markets go crazy
Cattle markets continued to move higher this last week, and the live cattle futures…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Pete Crow, WLJ publisher emeritus
Environment
NFWF announces regenerative ag grants
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced $14.7 million in grants across 27…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
Markets
Live cattle futures rally over the $200 mark
The cattle market saw record-breaking prices over the week, encouraged by robust consumer demand…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Environment
BLM releases south-central OR management plan
The Bureau of Land Management finalized a management plan for approximately 3.2 million surface…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Charles Wallace
Beef
FSIS issues Boar’s Head listeria report
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued its final report detailing the Boar’s Head…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
Environment
BLM issues OR, CO sage grouse RODs
The Bureau of Land Management signed records of decision in mid-January to update greater…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Beef
OR college launches butcher program
Blue Mountain Community College, in partnership with the Northwest Meat Processors Association, launched the…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
Environment
Trump wades into CA’s water supply with EO
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing…
Jan 24, 2025 · By Charles Wallace
News
USDA adds states to milk testing program
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service expanded the National Milk Testing Strategy to…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
News
Costco Teamsters vote to authorize strike
Costco Teamsters voted by an 85% margin to authorize a strike across the country.
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
Germany says it’s clear of more FMD cases
German Agriculture Minister Cem Oezdemir said the country has had no new cases of…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
News
New Horse Protection Act on pause
Last May, the USDA published new Horse Protection Act rules to be implemented in…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
Environment
CA withdraws diesel truck regs
The California Air Resources Board withdrew its request to the Environmental Protection Agency seeking…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
Environment
Bill seeks to improve forest management
Reps. Bruce Westerman and Rep. Scott Peters reintroduced the Fix Our Forests Act, which…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
News
FTC sues Deere over right to repair
The Federal Trade Commission and the Illinois and Minnesota attorneys general in mid-January filed…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
Environment
CO releases 15 wolves from Canada on Western Slope
Colorado Parks and Wildlife concluded on Jan. 18 its second round of gray wolf…
Jan 24, 2025 · By WLJ
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Thursday, Jan. 23
The cattle complex continued its ascent, with live cattle futures reaching new contract highs.
Jan 23, 2025 · By Charles Wallace
News
Weekly Drought Report: Jan. 16-22
Almost all of the U.S. experienced a cooler-than-normal week, with only a handful of…
Jan 23, 2025 · By UNL Drought Monitor
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Wednesday, Jan. 22
Cattle futures were hot as traders propelled February live cattle futures above $200.
Jan 22, 2025 · By WLJ
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Tuesday, Jan. 21
Cattle futures closed on both sides of steady, with deferred contracts closing lower.
Jan 21, 2025 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Monday, Jan. 20
The livestock and grains markets were closed today for the Martin Luther King Jr.…
Jan 20, 2025 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Friday, Jan. 17
The cattle market traded into the weekend on a mostly sideways note.
Jan 17, 2025 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Health/Nutrition
A guide to reading meat labels
Commodity markers—usually accompanied by a barcode and scale label—allow buyers to identify a cut…
Jan 17, 2025 · By K-State Research and Extension
Health/Nutrition
Larger hay supply leads to lower hay prices
Larger May 1 stocks and increased year over year hay production led to larger…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Charles Wallace
Beef
JBS reaches $4M settlement on alleged child labor law violations
The nation’s largest meatpacking company JBS USA Food Company will pay $4 million as…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Todd Neeley, DTN environmental editor
News
Key takeaways from an investigation of MT’s ag ax code
An investigation into a facet of the state’s tax code that has been a…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Eric Dietrich, MTFP
Environment
Grand Staircase-Escalante gets a new management plan
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has a new management plan, and Utah’s congressional delegation doesn’t…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Kyle Dunphey, Utah News Dispatch
Health/Nutrition
Winter cold and insect mortality
Although we could see temperatures in single or negative digits with wind chills reaching…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension educator
Health/Nutrition
Developing a BCHF EPD
Findings showed that while BCHF occurs in all breeds, beef breeds had higher concentrations…
Jan 17, 2025 · By BIF
News
Foreign ownership of US ag land increases
Foreign investors now hold interests in nearly 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land,…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Charles Wallace
Health/Nutrition
Planning, self-evaluation are key to successful sire selection
For many cattle producers, winter and early spring is prime bull-buying season.
Jan 17, 2025 · By NDSU Extension
Environment
CA water board readopts drought flows for Siskiyou
Even though hydrologic conditions point to a more positive water outlook for the Scott…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Christine Souza, Ag Alert senior editor, California Farm Bureau
Health/Nutrition
Management practices to prevent retained placenta
Retention of fetal membranes, or retained placenta, in cows usually is defined as failure…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle breeding specialist
Environment
New Mexico snowpacks smaller than normal
The recent smattering of snow across the state hasn’t plumped up New Mexico’s snowpacks,…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Danielle Prokop, Source New Mexico
Health/Nutrition
Grazing crop stubble can extend feed resources
Eating leftovers is a way for people to save money while still getting nutritious…
Jan 17, 2025 · By K-State Research and Extension
Environment
Cattle care during prolonged extreme cold
Cold weather has moved in quickly with no plans of leaving soon, according to…
Jan 17, 2025 · By University of Missouri Extension
News
Registration open for 2025 Advanced Crop Advisers Workshop
The 2025 Advanced Crop Advisers Workshop, hosted by North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension…
Jan 17, 2025 · By NDSU Extension
News
Supreme Court will not hear UT’s public lands lawsuit
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Jan. 13 it will not hear Utah’s sweeping public…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Kyle Dunphey, Utah News Dispatch
News
Field set for WLAC championship semifinals
A total of 31 bid callers will battle it out in the World Livestock…
Jan 17, 2025 · By LMA
Environment
Bill would make corner crossing legal in Wyoming
A bill filed in the Wyoming Legislature would clarify that corner crossing is not…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Angus M. Thuermer Jr., WyoFile
News
PRF represents the majority of insured acreage in West
The Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance (PRF) Plan, offered as part of the Federal…
Jan 17, 2025 · By USDA Economic Research Service
News
Ag groups look to new administration with cautious optimism
Livestock organizations are looking forward to the new administration taking over with cautious optimism.
Jan 17, 2025 · By Jennifer Carrico, DTN senior livestock editor
News
Small family farms accounted for 86% of US farms
In 2023, about 86% of all farms were small family farms.
Jan 17, 2025 · By USDA Economic Research Service
Environment
CO sees snowpack trends diverge across state
January snowpack conditions reveal contrasting trends across Colorado, with early season storms boosting accumulation…
Jan 17, 2025 · By USDA
News
States challenge beneficial ownership rule in legal fight
The attorneys general for 25 Republican-led states filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Health/Nutrition
Planning for spring annual forages
While we are still early in the new year, it is time to start…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension educator
News
Analyzing ag labor trends
A Michigan State University agricultural economist has been awarded a grant from the USDA’s…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Michigan State University Extension
Community
The Viewpoint with Tyler Cozzens
Tyler Cozzens’ deep connection to agriculture began on a small farm in northeastern Colorado…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Charles Wallace
News
Guest Opinion: Could the Fed be through cutting rates?
Unfortunately for farmers, ranchers and other business borrowers, Fed policymakers are predicting they’ll slow…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Urban Lehner, DTN editor emeritus
News
Applications accepted for ACEP in NV
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Charles Wallace
Opinion
Dittmer’s Take: A new era begins
Our economy is doing better than many expected, but we are at a critical…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Steve Dittmer, WLJ columnist
News
Loan program open for rural vets in IA
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, through its Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Incentive Program, will…
Jan 17, 2025 · By WLJ
News
UDAF appoints new state veterinarian
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announced the appointment of Dr. Amanda Price…
Jan 17, 2025 · By WLJ
News
Jared’s Comments: A tale of two responses
While wildfires happen almost every year in California, it’s becoming clearer that not everyone…
Jan 17, 2025 · By jared@wlj.net
News
Corn production down, soybeans up in 2024
According to the USDA’s 2024 Crop Production Annual Summary, U.S. corn production declined while…
Jan 17, 2025 · By WLJ
Livestock
USDA invests in risk management training
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced up to $2 million in funding…
Jan 17, 2025 · By WLJ
Markets
Futures cool and cash trade stabilizes
Live cattle futures retreated from record highs this week, backing away from the $200…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Environment
CO moves forward with more wolf releases
Colorado’s next batch of wolves are on their way from Canada.
Jan 17, 2025 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
News
Poultry, dairy exhibitions banned in CA
n response to the ongoing spread of the H5N1 bird flu in California has…
Jan 17, 2025 · By WLJ
Beef
Record meat exports from Australia in 2024
Australia reported its largest red meat export volume in history, shipping 2.24 million tons…
Jan 17, 2025 · By WLJ
Environment
BLM seeks input on former Hammond allotments
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking input on a draft environmental impact statement…
Jan 17, 2025 · By Charles Wallace