Latest News From Wyatt Bechtel

Weaning is one of the most stressful times for cattle. You remove the source of security calves have had since birth, and change their routine.

Winter-feeding of the beef cows represents the greatest expense in most beef cow-calf enterprises. 

The U.S. Meat Export Federation says an updated study quantifies the value red meat exports deliver to U.S. corn producers.

Cattle producers and industry personnel can become BQA certified in Oklahoma by in-person training, or on-line at BQA.org.

Right after weaning is a good time to analyze the business and see what it cost to produce a pound of weaned calf.

The number of beef cows that have calved has grown over the last four years adding 2.6 million head since 2014.

Fall and winter grazing on warm-season grasses is the least detrimental time to graze these species.

It is a constant struggle to evaluate the number of replacement heifers that must be developed or purchased to bring into the herd each year.

The farm bill is being praised by national and state organizations representing beef producers for the benefits it will provide cattlemen.

For $23,834 per acre, the Walt Disney World Co. bought a ranch in Florida that might never be developed for the nearby theme park.

More than $2.4 million worth of cattle were never bought in wire fraud scheme that spanned Missouri and Texas.

November Choice retail beef prices were $5.911/lb., up from $5.840/lb. in October and 1.8 percent above the November 2017 price of $5807/lb.

Rain reduces corn stalk quality several ways.

Anecdotal evidence and supply observations suggest packers have recently had a negotiating advantage over feedlots. Packer margins continue to be wide and the supply of cattle on feed continues to be high.

Is saving the jungle also better for business?

These pleasant December days could be put to good use in preparation for the spring calving season.

A rancher estimates that $75,000 worth of bred heifers were stolen from his property east of Denver.

A rancher estimates that $75,000 worth of bred heifers were stolen from his property east of Denver.

After a software error caused beef carcasses to be inaccurately reported for grades and weights, JBS is a paying a fine and reimbursing producers who were impacted.

After a software error caused beef carcasses to be inaccurately reported for grades and weights, JBS is a paying a fine and reimbursing producers who were impacted.

The Choice-Select spread is narrowing quickly now that the holiday purchasing is complete.

North Dakota's biggest rancher organization is walking back its opposition to a plan by Gov. Doug Burgum to expand a military training center.

The Duke’s former 2,000 acre ranch outside Los Angeles is being touted for its potential as a cattle grazing operation and a marijuana farm.

McDonald’s has announced plans to partner with its global beef suppliers to reduce the use of medically important antibiotics by the end of 2020.

Following the trend seen in fed cattle during the past few months, a market analyst expects limited volatility during the 1st quarter of 2019.

The number of people who have become ill from eating Salmonella contaminated beef has gone up by 87 cases after the recall was increased to 12 million lb.

Following the trend seen in fed cattle during the past few months, a market analyst expects limited volatility during the 1st quarter of 2019.

The number of people who have become ill from eating Salmonella contaminated beef has gone up by 87 cases after the recall was increased to 12 million lb.

In only a few hours after reporting that cattle had gone missing in southeast Kansas, the cattle owner was soon alerted that the stolen steers were at an auction more than 200 miles away.

Usually, readers of In The Cattle Markets want higher prices because we are thinking about selling cattle. In this case, our audience is interested in lower prices, because they are buying. 

The second half of December marks the end of the holiday run on middle meats, along with seasonally wider price spreads between quality grades and the premium brands.

Each year in December, it is time for a reminder to change the feeding schedule for part, if not all of the spring-calving cow herd.

Both the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) and National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) are happy with elements of the farm bill.

Changes to the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rules could help ease tension in agriculture about the regulation originally enacted by the Obama Administration.

A bill proposed by a state Senator in Oklahoma would make a ribeye the official state steak.

The domestic cattle markets continue to be supported by international beef demand based on strong October export quantities and values.

Five Hereford breeders banded together to sell a heifer that helped generate $40,800 in donation funds for wildfire relief efforts for northern California ranchers.

Having a large commercial feedlot component of the beef sector is mostly still the domain of just a few countries, led by the U.S.

After a previous prohibition, U.S. beef has gained access to Morocco which could become an $80 million market.

Shares jump as Gilberto Tomazoni succeeds Batista as CEO, while Guilherme Cavalcanti appointed chief financial officer.

Challenges associated with mud on the cattle farm need to be identified and evaluated to ensure the environment is not detrimental to animal health and performance.

USDA researchers say they have found little difference in levels of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in ground beef samples from either cattle raised without antibiotics or from conventionally raised cattle.

Mexico historically has been an important source of feeder cattle for U.S. cattlemen, with feeder calf imports of approximately 1 million head a year since the mid-1980s.

After writing a bad check for $300,000 to buy cattle, a man in Minnesota has plead guilty to his crime.

Test forage, study nutrient needs, and sort cattle to get through the next four months.

JBS has added another 5 million lb. of raw beef to a previous recall for Salmonella contaminated products that have sickened nearly 250 people.

At, and after calving time next January, February, and March “grass tetany” could occur in a few situations.

Cattle feeders should still hold some leverage over packers at this point in the game as the holiday season buying and restocking of beef counters post-holiday will keep the beef market supported.

Continued growth in U.S. beef production will keep the focus on beef demand in 2019. Beef production is slowing but is forecast to increase 1.5-2.0 percent year over year in 2019 to 27.5 billion pounds.

A South Dakota man has been charged with multiple felony counts including embezzlement of cattle sales receipts after two and a half years’ worth of alleged crimes occurred.