Latest News From Wyatt Bechtel

Police in Harper County, Kansas are searching for 42 cattle that have either been lost or stolen from a ranch.

There's an old saying about warm-season grass: "First year it sleeps. Second year it creeps. Third year it leaps."

Understanding the cows' attitude and behavior can help improve the herd.

The sale offering will consist of 330 heifers due to calve from late January to late April.

Body condition score at calving is the single most important trait determining when a cow resumes heat cycles and therefore when she is likely to re-conceive for the next calf crop.

Predicting an abrupt end to the uptick in beef prices may be premature this year.

A big factor in determining the health of a new born calf and the performance of the cow and calf after birth is the nutrition of the cow and fetus during the last ninety days of gestation.

He feeds his herd of 35 cattle without starting his tractor in cold months.

He feeds his herd of 35 cattle without starting his tractor in cold months.

Sunshine also helped kick-start feeder markets, at least for stocker calves.

After 16 separate attacks on livestock, wildlife officials in Washington have approved the lethal removal of the remaining pack members.

After 16 separate attacks on livestock, wildlife officials in Washington have approved the lethal removal of the remaining pack members.

The Choice boxed beef cutout price has increased more than $10 in two weeks. The price surge the back half of October is being driven by middle meats.

Grazing longer, feeding hay and supplementing grain are all ways to keep cattle fed in winter.

Grazing longer, feeding hay and supplementing grain are all ways to keep cattle fed in winter.

The fed cattle market has traded in a tight range at about $111 per cwt for the past six weeks, which results in cattle feeders losing an average of $50 to $60 per head.

The beef industry, similar to other industries, is constantly attempting to be more efficient and create more value in the product produced.

The 12th largest beef packer in the country is building a new $35 million distribution center.

The 12th largest beef packer in the country is building a new $35 million distribution center.

The latest monthly trade data has been tabulated – for August – and U.S. beef trade continued its impressive performance with monthly exports up 9 percent and year-to-date export totals up 14.2% year over year.

Kodiak bears have killed an estimated 30 cattle on one rancher’s property on Alaska’s Kodiak Island.

State cattlemen’s groups and national organizations representing beef producers shared their concerns with lab-grown meat labeling and safety to two government agencies.

Kodiak bears have killed an estimated 30 cattle on one rancher’s property on Alaska’s Kodiak Island.

A wolf pack in northeastern Washington has committed three more attacks on cattle, making their total amount of livestock depredation come to 15 this year.

A wolf pack in northeastern Washington has committed three more attacks on cattle, making their total amount of livestock depredation come to 15 this year.

Marketings and placements were below the prior year while the end of the month inventory was larger. 

Sunshine finally appeared late last week raising hopes that Oklahoma will dry out and get summer crop harvest and wheat pasture grazing back on track.

With Mega Millions at a record-high of $1.6 billion there are loads of possibilities for things that can be bought in agriculture.

Despite calf demand support, freshly weaned steer and heifer values have the potential to fall below $750 and $650 per head respectively which would equate to prices declining $5 more per hundredweight.

For the fifth straight month a record for Cattle on Feed was eclipsed after an increase of 5.2% since Oct. 1, 2017.

For the fifth straight month a record for Cattle on Feed was eclipsed after an increase of 5.2% since Oct. 1, 2017.

In this week's Drovers TV Report there is a case of brucellosis in Wyoming; proposed regulation changes for livestock haulers; and a Texas beef packer is facing financial troubles. 

U.S. beef trade continued the impressive performance of recent months in the latest monthly trade data for August.

Winter wheat pasture availability is helping to keep demand high for select stocker cattle weights.

It appears that herd expansion has slowed down as beef production forecasts have been lowered by analysts at USDA.

It appears that herd expansion has slowed down as beef production forecasts have been lowered by analysts at USDA.

In separate interviews with AgriTalk representatives from two major beef industry organizations discussed major trade deals that have been negotiated recently.

Make weaning and preconditioning a worthwhile investment.

Remember cull cows that are destined to go to the packing house are graded by their fleshiness.

The driver of a semi-trailer was killed along with five cattle that were being hauled during rollover accident in Oregon.

The KC7 Ranch in West Texas has been listed for sale which includes a 10,000 square foot home and more than 37,000 acres of range land.

The breakaway amount of Prime beef carcasses is beginning to swamp demand.

Seasonality is often discussed in terms of a consistent pattern in cash prices. In the northern plains the cash or spot price for fed cattle has an April or May peak with a September or October low.

For the first time in three years a positive case of brucellosis has been identified in a Wyoming cattle herd.

For the first time in three years a positive case of brucellosis has been identified in a Wyoming cattle herd.

Some culling of beef cows occurs in most herds every year.

With fall grazing upon us, some areas of the Midwest and Central Plains have been blessed with plenty of precipitation this year and other areas are still experiencing drought conditions.

Finished cattle continued trading steady for the fifth consecutive week. Early in this trend, one might say this was beneficial for cattle feeders as they were able to hold packers at bay and keep prices from falling.

Beef cattle numbers in Mississippi are up and prices are profitable, making 2018 a good year for the industry despite high supply.

Wildlife officials have confirmed that a grizzly bear is responsible for killing a calf in central Montana.