At the end of November, 69 percent of the U.S. was abnormally dry or worse with over 53 percent in some degree of drought. This could result in another severe round of cow liquidation in the first half of next year.

The Kansas Livestock Association elected Phil Perry of Oskaloosa as its president and Shawn Tiffany from Herrington as the new KLA president-elect during the group’s annual business meeting in Wichita.

Many livestock operations harvested drought-affected crops, annual small-grains or other alternative forages this year. Those drought-stressed forages can be high in nitrates and cause toxicity issues in cattle.

While Cargill and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union appear to have avoided a labor strike at the High River, Alberta, beef plant, a shut-down could produce significant disruptions to the U.S. cattle market.

Understanding and valuing genetic data can present a daunting task to seedstock and commercial producers. Panelists were asked to describe how they use genetic data to navigate breeding decisions and market cattle.

United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Department is investing $633 million to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities.