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APHIS Now Thinks Wild Birds Are to Blame for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza's Arrival on Four U.S. Dairies
APHIS Now Thinks Wild Birds Are to Blame for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza's Arrival on Four U.S. Dairies

The livestock industry continues to grapple with the first confirmed cases of HPAI in cattle, while federal and state agencies continue to assure consumers there's no concern about the safety of the U.S. milk supply.

Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps
Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps

U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.

USDA Authorizes CRP Graze and Hay Donations to Wildfire Victims
USDA Authorizes CRP Graze and Hay Donations to Wildfire Victims

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants can donate emergency grazing authority to ranchers in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas impacted by recent wildfires.

New Guide Helps Producers Maximize Values of Cull Cows
New Guide Helps Producers Maximize Values of Cull Cows

A new resource developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and CattleFax helps cattle producers maximize profitability from their culling decisions.

How Ranchers can Feel More Energized and Reduce their Aches and Pains
How Ranchers can Feel More Energized and Reduce their Aches and Pains

We can’t care for our livestock, resources and families without caring for ourselves first. That seems even harder during the busy seasons, but it isn’t impossible and even one thing a day makes a difference.

Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Grows
Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Grows

Last week’s rally to new record prices pushed packer and feeder margins in opposite directions. Pork producer margins continue higher with prices now above year ago.

Spring Forward Horse Health with Vaccinations
Spring Forward Horse Health with Vaccinations

As horses are exposed to the environment, wildlife and mosquitoes that transmit the five core equine diseases, it’s important to follow the core equine disease vaccination protocol.

Bringing Back Native Grasslands After Wildfire
Bringing Back Native Grasslands After Wildfire

Recovery time will depend on moisture and the nutrient contents in the soil that support grass growth. Take the stress off recovering pastures by letting them rest.

After Drought, Managing Calf and Cow Health is Critical
After Drought, Managing Calf and Cow Health is Critical

The effects of drought conditions on the cow herd can extend beyond the cow to the newborn calves, especially if they’re born into wet conditions.

Vibrant Market Opportunities for U.S. Red Meat in Korea
Vibrant Market Opportunities for U.S. Red Meat in Korea

In Seoul, South Korea, an agribusiness trade mission organized by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service is underway. Here's what's going on across the world right now.

Meat Institute: Properly Prepared Beef is Safe to Eat; HPAI is not a Food Safety Threat
Meat Institute: Properly Prepared Beef is Safe to Eat; HPAI is not a Food Safety Threat

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and USDA food safety experts, properly prepared beef is safe to eat and is not a food safety risk to humans.

Blue Ranch Receives Texas Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award
Blue Ranch Receives Texas Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award

The Blue Ranch near Dumas was presented the Texas Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award at the 2024 Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo held last week in Fort Worth.

BREAKING: Mystery Illness Impacting Texas, Kansas Dairy Cattle is Confirmed as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Strain
BREAKING: Mystery Illness Impacting Texas, Kansas Dairy Cattle is Confirmed as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Strain

USDA says genetic sequencing revealed the mystery illness impacting Texas dairies is the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that's been in the U.S. The virus is carried by wild waterfowl.

Peel: Slow-Moving Feedlot Dynamics
Peel: Slow-Moving Feedlot Dynamics

A primary reason feedlot inventories have remained high is due to the continued placement and feeding of heifers. At some point, increased heifer retention will lead to more pronounced decreases in feedlot inventories.

Mackey: March Madness Brings Record Cash Prices
Mackey: March Madness Brings Record Cash Prices

Cash fed cattle prices reached new record highs in all feeding regions last week, but the trade was a bracket-buster for packers who were forced to pay up as wholesale beef prices declined.

Beware of Mud Season
Beware of Mud Season

Preventive practices are recommended for feedyards to reduce the stress and performance loss that comes from muddy lot conditions.

NCBA and PLC Opposes Plan to Relocate Grizzly Bears
NCBA and PLC Opposes Plan to Relocate Grizzly Bears

Groups condemn the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) indication that they intend to proceed with translocating grizzly bears to the North Cascades Ecosystem in northwest Washington state.

Markets: Cash Cattle at Record Highs; COF Up 1%
Markets: Cash Cattle at Record Highs; COF Up 1%

Cattle feeders displayed their market leverage this week as active trading pushed prices to new record highs. Friday’s Cattle on Feed report identified another strong placement increase.

Boston Doctors Transplant Genetically Modified Pig Kidney into Living Person for First Time
Boston Doctors Transplant Genetically Modified Pig Kidney into Living Person for First Time

Doctors in Boston have transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a 62-year-old patient. This marks the first time a pig kidney has been transplanted into a living person.

Minnesota Goat Confirmed to Have Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Minnesota Goat Confirmed to Have Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

While HPAI has been detected in predatory mammals that prey on infected birds, this is the first identified case of HPAI in domestic livestock in the U.S.

Know the Enemy: Understanding the Four Pathogens Behind BRD
Know the Enemy: Understanding the Four Pathogens Behind BRD

Each of the pathogens exhibits slightly different clinical signs and often at different times.

Profit Tracker: Beef Packer Losses Continue; Pork Producer Margins Improve
Profit Tracker: Beef Packer Losses Continue; Pork Producer Margins Improve

Cattle feeding margins show improvement with higher prices. Beef packer losses remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producer margins gain on higher prices.

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NCBA Applauds Senate Vote to Block Paraguayan Beef Imports

The resolution comes in response to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule that lifted the longstanding ban on Paraguayan beef imports despite the country’s concerning animal health track record.

Noble Research Institute, Ranch Management Consultants Offer Financial Management Courses for Farmers and Ranchers
Noble Research Institute, Ranch Management Consultants Offer Financial Management Courses for Farmers and Ranchers

The first product from the partnership, Noble Business Essentials, will launch in June 2024.

Fire at National Beef Facility in Liberal, Kansas
Fire at National Beef Facility in Liberal, Kansas

Firefighters were dispatched to National Beef's 6,000-head per day facility in Liberal, Kansas, Wednesday evening.

CAB Insider: Where Do Carcasses Fall Short?
CAB Insider: Where Do Carcasses Fall Short?

Certified Angus Beef has captured detailed carcass measurements on several million Angus-type carcasses over the past 17 years to learn about brand-eligible, Angus-influenced carcasses across the industry.

Livestock Respiratory Issues Expected Following Texas Wildfires
Livestock Respiratory Issues Expected Following Texas Wildfires

Weeks after the smoke has cleared from the wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory is alerting livestock owners to watch their surviving livestock for respiratory issues.

Beef Spokespeople Join Newest Group of Trailblazers
Beef Spokespeople Join Newest Group of Trailblazers

After a competitive application process, ten Trailblazers have been selected for the program’s third cohort of beef community spokespeople.

$100,000 Up for Grabs with 2024 Colvin Scholarships
$100,000 Up for Grabs with 2024 Colvin Scholarships

Applications are open through April 30 for Certified Angus Beef’s scholarship fund, supporting college students pursuing food and agriculture.

‘The Space Between Us’ Brings the Beef Industry and Consumers Together
‘The Space Between Us’ Brings the Beef Industry and Consumers Together

Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma Beef Councils joined forces to develop a promotional campaign resulting in nearly 4 million views during the National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

Ag Business Council Names Two for Outstanding Service
Ag Business Council Names Two for Outstanding Service

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City will honor the late Cliff Becker and Dr. Scott Brown with the group’s prestigious Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.

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Ogallala Aquifer Summit 2024: Tackling Tough Water Issues

The Ogallala Aquifer Summit brings diverse stakeholders and policy makers together to collaborate on how best to manage the High Plains’ precious water resources into the future.

Reducing Mature Weight and Increasing Cow Productivity
Reducing Mature Weight and Increasing Cow Productivity

Improving the efficiency, sustainability and profit potential of commercial cow calf production involves reducing feed costs while improving pounds of calf weaned.

Prevent Farm and Ranch Injuries from Cattle
Prevent Farm and Ranch Injuries from Cattle

Most if not all injuries caused by livestock can be prevented. Livestock producers can reduce the risk of injury by studying animal behavior, by using proper handling techniques, and by using equipment correctly.

Feedlot Cattle Health Summits in KS, NE
Feedlot Cattle Health Summits in KS, NE

Production Animal Consultation (PAC) plans to hold beef industry summits for stakeholders to gather and exchange ideas the first week in April.

Corn and Cocaine: Roger Reaves and the Most Incredible Farm Story Never Told
Corn and Cocaine: Roger Reaves and the Most Incredible Farm Story Never Told

Roger Reaves forged the most astounding farm life of modern times. Row crops to moonshine to marijuana to cocaine, he was the highest paid narco-pilot in history.

AFIA Objects to EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation of Formaldehyde
AFIA Objects to EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation of Formaldehyde

The American Feed Industry Association says formaldehyde has been "safely used in the U.S. animal food industry for over 40 years via accurate automated equipment."

Power of Meat Reports Strong Meat Consumption, Evolving Consumer Trends
Power of Meat Reports Strong Meat Consumption, Evolving Consumer Trends

The Meat Institute and FMI-The Food Industry Association released the 19th annual Power of Meat report.

Cattle Imports from Mexico
Cattle Imports from Mexico

Mexico has become one of the major beef import sources for the U.S. as beef trade evolved from simply supplementing deficit beef production in Mexico to bilateral, product specific trade between the two countries.

Markets: Cash Cattle Markets Nearing Historic Highs
Markets: Cash Cattle Markets Nearing Historic Highs

All classes of cattle sold at higher prices for the week and most are at or near record highs. Supplies of all classes remain extremely tight.

International Genetic Solutions Debuts New Informational Resource
International Genetic Solutions Debuts New Informational Resource

International Genetic Solutions (IGS) recently unveiled a new information resource and video platform for important beef industry topics pertinent to producers’ bottom lines.

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Ranchers Urge BLM to Incorporate Latest Science in New Sage Grouse Plans

NCBA and PLC are requesting that BLM significantly extend the comment period deadlines while ranchers and other local stakeholders evaluate these lengthy proposals.

‘Green Book’ Proposals Could Mean Substantial Tax Increases
‘Green Book’ Proposals Could Mean Substantial Tax Increases

Paul Neiffer, The Farm CPA, details some of the Biden administration's 2025 budget plans and how they could affect farmers if approved. Of the provisions, only one would potentially help farmers, he says.

Genomic Testing Made Easy for Cow-calf Producers
Genomic Testing Made Easy for Cow-calf Producers

ranchers in 2024 have more tools to increase their confidence about management decisions than generations before them. One of these tools is genomic testing, like Igenity® Beef.

Montana Man Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Develop Giant Hybrid Sheep for Captive Hunting
Montana Man Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Develop Giant Hybrid Sheep for Captive Hunting

In a near decade-long effort to create giant sheep hybrids in the U.S. with the goal of selling the trophy species to captive hunting ranches, the defendant violated federal wildlife trafficking regulations.

Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Improve; Beef Packer Losses Remain Triple Digits
Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Improve; Beef Packer Losses Remain Triple Digits

Cattle feeding margins improved as prices advanced. Beef packer margins improved but losses remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producer margins gain on higher prices.

Replacing Thousands of Miles of Burned Fences in the Texas Panhandle
Replacing Thousands of Miles of Burned Fences in the Texas Panhandle

Ranchers in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma region face the overwhelming task of rebuilding or repairing thousands of miles of fence.

Stocking Rates, Weed Management and Fire Break Recovery Following Wildfire
Stocking Rates, Weed Management and Fire Break Recovery Following Wildfire

Nebraska extension educators answer questions about stocking rates, pasture management following wildfire.

Hundreds Gather to Dedicate Dr. Doug Parrett Memorial Arena at Illinois
Hundreds Gather to Dedicate Dr. Doug Parrett Memorial Arena at Illinois

Over 300 people gathered March 8 to dedicate the “Dr. Doug Parrett Memorial Arena” in the historic Stock Pavilion at the University of Illinois honoring the 49-year career of beef production professor and judging coach.

A ‘Smart’ Examination to Improve Livestock Management Efficiency
A ‘Smart’ Examination to Improve Livestock Management Efficiency

Animal nutritionist studies precision livestock management technology to develop cost-effective and noninvasive methods of monitoring feeding behaviors that can make operations more efficient.