Latest News From Wyatt Bechtel

While cash cattle prices slipped only modestly, cattle feeders saw margins erode by $86 per head, falling from an average profit of $38 two weeks ago to an average loss of $49 per head last week.

Forage quality decreases in late summer can present challenges for the May calving heifer.

Flood waters sent a herd of cattle floating down a creek from their pasture in Oklahoma after more than 13 inches of rain fell in the area.

The calf and feeder cattle market have remained strong through the late summer months and the futures market is suggesting continued strength while seasonal price trends would suggest lower prices.

The September record for cattle on feed was set after increasing 5.6% year-over-year and reaching more than 11.1 million head. This is the fourth month straight a monthly record has been set.

Nearly $4.8 million was trimmed by the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board from proposals by seven beef checkoff contractors to meet the approximately $40.5 million budget for activities like beef promotion.

The September record for cattle on feed was set after increasing 5.6% year-over-year and reaching more than 11.1 million head. This is the fourth month straight a monthly record has been set.

Windrow grazing is a management practice that can significantly reduce harvesting and feeding costs.

Fall aftermath grazing helps cows increase their conditioning and be better prepared for winter and next year’s calving and breeding.

Nearly $4.8 million was trimmed by the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board from proposals by seven beef checkoff contractors to meet the approximately $40.5 million budget for activities like beef promotion.

One death and 17 illnesses have resulted from an E. coli contamination that has forced Cargill to recall more than 130,000 lb. of ground beef.

One death and 17 illnesses have resulted from an E. coli contamination that has forced Cargill to recall more than 130,000 lb. of ground beef.

There appears to be considerable interest and excitement about winter wheat grazing this year.

A juvenile wolf has been killed in Washington after its pack was found repeatedly preying on cattle grazing federal land.

A juvenile wolf has been killed in Washington after its pack was found repeatedly preying on cattle grazing federal land.

Nebraska’s Prime-graded carcasses jumped 2.6 percentage points, overcoming the Choice decline for an accumulated net positive gain in Nebraska carcass quality so far this year.

Weaning is a good time to evaluate your cows to determine average body condition score of your herd.

Cattle producer Kate Miller says attorney David Muraskin’s reply falls short of the fact-based analysis she seeks.

A strong domestic economy and robust exports have buffered beef, and hence, cattle prices against near record large U.S. beef production and all-time highs in competing meats and poultry supplies.

The BNSF Railway Company is being sued by a rancher after more than 50 cattle went missing and died following flooding that is being blamed on a railroad berm.

A Kentucky cattle company and veterinarian are alleged to have shipped more than 60,000 cattle without proper health inspections and falsifying documents for at least 600 different certificates.

Attacks against the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF) and the Organization of Competitive Markets (OCM) are called “desperate” and “coordinated,” says David Muraskin.

A Kentucky cattle company and veterinarian are alleged to have shipped more than 60,000 cattle without proper health inspections and falsifying documents for at least 600 different certificates.

Demand in 2018 appears to be rounding into form similar to the previous two years with continued strong demand that has supported beef and cattle prices through the entire production chain.

“Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” is back to celebrate 25 years.

Cargill will pay 138 Somali-American Muslim former packing plant workers a $1.5 million settlement over wrongful termination based on discrimination and the wrongful revocation of a religious accommodation policy.

“Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” is back to celebrate 25 years.

By using some basic dust control techniques, open feedlots can prevent or minimize the problem.

Wildlife officials in Washington have approved a kill order for wolves that have been preying on livestock. This is the second time this has happened in less than a month.

Wildlife officials in Washington have approved a kill order for wolves that have been preying on livestock. This is the second time this has happened in less than a month.

Prolonged heat stress this year may bring a smaller calf crop next year. Herd owners are seeing cows known to be pregnant coming back into heat to be rebred.

During the past decade, the highest monthly average has occurred in November four times and in March four times, peaking in December and February the other times.

Total beef exports were up 16.8 percent year over year in July contributing to a year to date increase of 15.0 percent for the first seven months of the year.

Very often two-year-old cows and even some three-year-old cows will be in marginal body condition at the end of summer.

Beef packers and cattle feeders have either never heard the song “Meet in the Middle” by Diamond Rio or they do not believe it makes good business sense.

A former ranch employee has been accused of digital cattle rustling in Texas after falsifying records in emails and impersonating another person in emails.

Seasonal beef production increases are expected in the latter half of the year.

A former ranch employee has been accused of digital cattle rustling in Texas after falsifying records in emails and impersonating another person in emails.

Oklahoma producers interested in dual-purpose or forage-only wheat for winter grazing often prefer to plant winter wheat in early to mid-September if conditions permit.

E. coli is responsible for forcing a recall on ground chuck sold in Florida at Publix Super Markets after 18 people became sick.

E. coli is responsible for forcing a recall on ground chuck sold in Florida at Publix Super Markets after 18 people became sick.

Over past two decades, ethanol production has increased, and in turn, the byproduct of this industry (distillers grains) has become more available. 

Ranchers in central Utah have rescued 350 cattle from a wildfire that started in early August, but 100 head are still missing.

A rancher from Montana was sentenced to two years in prison and must pay back $2.1 million to a bank he defrauded out of money for cattle loans.

A rancher from Montana was sentenced to two years in prison and must pay back $2.1 million to a bank he defrauded out of money for cattle loans.

In the 2018 drought forages for cow herds are short. Without rain, pastures didn’t grow and stored hay for winter feeding fell short. But feed options are at hand that were not available before.

Data for the final week of August is yet to be posted but it’s a formality at this juncture, given the pace of CAB-qualifying carcasses in the first 3 ½ weeks.

The fundamental key to profit and loss, whether from cattle or sheep, is controlling costs.

Spring born calves have already been, or soon will be weaned to meet the 45 day requirement for value-added calf sales.

A male wolf in Washington has been killed by wildlife officials after its pack preyed on cattle three times in August.