CoBank estimates meat supplies at grocery stores could shrink nearly 30% by Memorial Day, leading to prices rising by as much as 20%. Some cattle producers say they are barely hanging on due to futures prices.
March 6, 2017 is a day Beaver County, Okla., rancher and volunteer fire chief Bernie Smith will always remember. That day wildfires tore through the central and southern Plains. Nearly 2 million acres across four states were scorched by fast moving fires that month. AgDay national reporter Betsy Jibben and national videographer Russ Hnatusko report over Smith’s recollection of the fire, his future and why he’s thankful this Thanksgiving.
The wildfires that tore through more than 1.5 million acres in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Colorado in March destroyed an estimated more than 18,000 miles of fencing. AgDay's Betsy Jibben travelled to Texas to learn more about the ongoing work being done to repair the fences damaged this spring.
A multitude of wildfires rolled its way across the High Plains in early March and destroyed acres, homes, livestock and took the lives of countless livestock and people. The Texas Panhandle was an area hit hard by the wildfire.
The epicenter of the Kansas fire was in Clark County, where roughly 50 percent of the land was burned. It’s considered cattle country and is home to one of the most recognizable Angus breeders in the country, the Gardiner Ranch.
Ranchers and veterinarians will continue to determine the damage and clean up the mess for months to come after the wildfires that engulfed farms and ranches earlier this month. A young 4-H group in Meade County, Kan. is helping in their own unique way.
The wildfires in Kansas may be extinguished, but the need for help is far from over. Ranch families say the community needs assistance now more than ever.
Even though exports are strong, industry leaders say there seems to be a misconception about the U.S. importing beef, saying imports are not behind lower prices.
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Prime Minister, traveled to the U.S. late last week. This comes after President Donald Trump shot down the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)—a deal many in agriculture believe would have opened up doors to U.S. trade between 12 countries on the Pacific rim, including Japan.
Since the beginning of the year, the national drought picture has dramatically improved, but there are still problem areas in parts of the central and southern Plains.
Volatile cattle markets have impacted the industry over the past year. To help the situation, industry leaders have tried to shorten the trading hours and address high frequency trading. A group of cattle operators are doing business a different way in an open cash market with an online live auction.
The annual Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show was held Feb. 1-3 in Nashville, Tenn. Industry leaders talk about the health of the overall beef industry.
The cattle market has seen fluctuation, not only from the highs of two years ago but also from last fall when live cattle futures traded under a $1.
Cattle markets continue their turbulent prices over the past months as prices declined 12 to 13 percent for all classes of cattle. This week, however, the trend is different.
Lower retail prices haven't been able to prop up cattle markets as of late. Despite a rally over the last week, live and feeder cattle futures prices remain below where they were a month ago. October live cattle futures at the CME even dipped below the dollar mark for two sessions earlier in the month.
It’s been one year since an early snowstorm in South Dakota killed over 40,000 head of livestock. While most ranchers have found a way to scrape by, rebuilding hasn’t been easy.
It’s been nearly a year since an early blizzard plowed into the northern Plains, killing more than 40,000 head of livestock. Now, ranchers are focused on rebuilding.
The nation hasn’t seen such a small beef cow herd in decades. Now many producers who survived the recent drought are focused on rebuilding. The question is, how long will it take?
The last time the U.S. beef herd was this small, John F. Kennedy was still president. But producers are starting to rebuild. The question is, how long will it take?
Workers at the Cargill Slaughterhouse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin will walk out the doors one final time. The company announced Wednesday it’s closing the plant effective Friday.
