The 2017 cattle markets have been interesting, and since November 1, Elaine Kub, author of Mastering the Grain Markets, can describe them in one word: wild.

The United States’ number one beef importer for value and volume is hiking its tariffs on U.S. beef products.

Last week, Japan announced it would raise tariffs on frozen beef imported from the U.S., and the tougher fees went into effect Tuesday.

The Department of Interior (DOI) has made its first recommendations to modify the conservation plan for the greater sage grouse. The DOI Sage Grouse Review Team delivered recommendations to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke in a memo Aug. 7. The report is part of a June 7 order that called for the review of an Obama-era conservation plan that set out to protect the habitat of the threatened bird.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said Japan is continuing to buy U.S. beef. Exports to the island country continued to gain momentum in June, with volume up 7 percent and value up 13 percent compared to 2016.

Cattle markets moved lower this week, spurred by futures markets that nosedived on Wednesday.