Latest News From Wyatt Bechtel

The key to the market will continue to be beef demand as expected supply will change very little.

Cow-calf producers have a number of factors to consider when weighing the decision of retained ownership.

Officials in Texas have come to a temporary resolution that will allow the use of Cattle Fever Tick spray boxes for 45 days until a permanent solution is found.

Beef, pork and poultry production are increasing. Fortunately, something else has changed. Specifically, beef demand is rising.

Kansas pilot project aims at improving cattle traceability.

A herd of cows and calves in Florida assisted police in their efforts to apprehend a car jacker.

The impact of U.S. beef exports on calf prices continues to rise as experts advise ranchers to stay abreast of trade developments globally.

Kansas pilot project aims at improving cattle traceability.

At this point in early August, we’ve added the June and July head harvest counts only to see steer harvest not only failed to increase in the year-over-year numbers, but actually declined.

The risks and rewards of retained ownership are fairly even.

Producers have several options for controlling flies.

Efficient beef production starts when the bull mates with a cow and biological efficiency mates with economic efficiency.

Some overriding forces are shaping the economic environment for U.S. cow-calf operations.

Uncertainty with trade deals, global competition and an ongoing trade war have the potential to alter U.S. beef’s standing in the export market.

Many fall-calving cow herds are managed to begin the calving season near the first of September.

The combination of higher board and healthy packer participation helped push the market $2 higher in most regions.

Feeder cattle prices have found some footing the past couple of weeks with prices slightly higher this week compared to last week.

A new Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication provides information on understanding and controlling parasites in grazing cattle.

Ten cattle died on one Texas ranch where 82 cattle were seized, while another ranch in Texas had eight head die and six cattle confiscated. All of the cattle are believed to have been deprived of water or feed.

Despite cattle prices being lower than year-ago levels, of the major livestock markets beef has weathered the storm better than poultry or pork.

Seeding winter annual small grain offers fall grazing for beef cow herds short on grass and hay.

Total beef consumption in China in 2018 is estimated at 8.5 million metric tons, second only to the U.S., according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

If drought conditions persist, producers could find themselves seeking winter feed options. The program will focus on what producers can do to maximize on rainfall or plan ahead for various scenarios this winter.

A decision by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller to halt the operation of spray boxes utilized to prevent to the spread of Cattle Fever Ticks is getting pushback from other government officials and cattlemen.

The latest USDA Cattle report provided the most recent pieces of information to the ever-evolving cattle inventory picture.

Cow-calf producers need to manage costs and production.

A decision by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller to halt the operation of spray boxes utilized to prevent to the spread of Cattle Fever Ticks is getting pushback from other government officials and cattlemen.

Research by the University of Nebraska investigating summer dry lotting of cow-calf pairs has shown seasonal dry lotting can be a cost competitive option to traditional production systems. 

Those heifers that are determined to be "open" after this breeding season, should be strong candidates for culling.

The IGS Feeder Profit Calculator incorporates the genetic knowledge of most mainstream sires, regardless of breed, by referencing their EPD profile.

Authorities in Utah believe that 15-20 cattle starved to death in the Capitol Reef National Park.

Check bulls often during the early part of the breeding season.

Authorities in Utah believe that 15-20 cattle starved to death in the Capitol Reef National Park.

Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 cattle have been moved from summer pasture while a wildfire continues to burn more than 100,000 acres in Idaho.

Moving through the second half of 2018, the picture will become even clearer as the fall run of calves come to market and as producers continue to cull cows.

Two cattlemen’s organizations are debating what to call lab-grown “meat,” and within that debate is who should regulate the emerging product and possible competitor to beef.

Research from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture indicates that a trade agreement with Japan is crucial for the U.S. beef industry.

One unknown hanging over all meat markets is the impact of rising tariffs on meat exports.

Summer heat and humidity can take a toll on cattle and humans.

Research continues to demonstrate the impact of maternal nutrition on the developing fetus in beef cattle.

How cattlemen interact with threatened species like the greater sage-grouse could change with modifications to the Endangered Species Act.

Good business practices, an understanding of herd data and marketing skills are the cornerstones of a cow-calf operation.

China has an estimated total cattle herd of 96.85 million head in 2018, slightly larger than the current U.S. herd of 94.4 million head.

Cattle prices have struggled to move higher as beef supplies have been increasing.

The past decade shows a 23 percentage point improvement in marbling across Texas packers, matching that of Kansas if we use 2008 to the mid-year 2018 figures.

A cow in Colorado was recused by animal control officers, firefighters and oil field workers after getting stuck in a cattle guard.

The July Cattle report confirms larger cattle inventories in 2018.

USDA’s Cattle on Feed report, released July 20th did not include many big surprises, but there were some interesting points. But, first the basics.

Preconditioning programs can vary greatly from one operation to another but share the common goal of preparing calves for the next phase of production.

Stunted, stemmy pastures unable to support grazing cattle have potential. Depend on fall rains to bring fall regrowth, says University of Missouri Extension forage agronomist Craig Roberts.