Latest News From Ag Policy

Corbitt Wall gives the weekly USDA Feeder and Stocker Cattle Market summary. Demand is pretty good and with tight supplies it could get wild.

Congressional delegation members from the Dakotas say the U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to expedite implementation of a farm bill provision that will help ranchers in the Dakotas hurt by an early October blizzard.

The list includes the July Cattle Report.

The winter weather across the nation didn’t allow enough trade to really test the markets.

A Northern California company is recalling more than 8.7 million pounds of beef products because it processed diseased and unhealthy animals without a full federal inspection, federal officials said Saturday.

No one wants to handle a temperamental cow or bull, but there is more at stake than overall attitude.

The Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association applaud passage of the Grazing Improvement Act by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association’s Cattlemen’s College headlined convention activities on Feb. 3-4, 2014.

Federal officials have announced $20 million in aid for California farmers affected by the ongoing drought.

The USDA feeder cattle report for the week ending January 31 confirmed the inventory drop showing cattle and calves nearly 2% lower than last year’s numbers.

Industry analysts expected cattle herds to decline by about 1.5%, but USDA’s total came in about 250,000 head lower than pre-report estimates--a 2% decline.

The Farm Bill moving through Congress includes disaster assistance for ranchers and millions of dollars in federal payments for counties with federal lands.

A massive, five-year farm bill set for a floor vote in the U.S. House Wednesday contains help for South Dakota ranchers dealing with cattle losses from last October's early-season blizzard

The nation’s largest livestock groups have vowed to oppose final passage of the farm bill if Congress fails to change current country-of-origin labeling laws.

Corbitt Wall gave his weekly USDA National Feeder and Stocker summary. The report was slightly bearish.

Both packers and feeders are operating with positive margins.

Congress needs to move quickly to pass a farm bill, largely to help western South Dakota ranchers recovering from a fall blizzard that killed thousands of cattle.

The feeder markets keep moving higher each week and have since the holidays.

Federal officials have designated portions of 11 western and central states as primary natural disaster areas because of a drought.

Understanding the FDA’s December 11, 2013 announcement to remove “improve growth, gain, and efficiency” use of feed grade antibiotics.

A North Dakota company has recalled more than a ton of beef franks due to misbranding.

A Northern California company has recalled more than 40,000 pounds of beef products because it was produced without a full federal inspection.

Landowners in eastern New Mexico say they still have questions over the lesser prairie chicken and its possible listing as a threatened species

After record prices of $137 per cwt. the week before, cattle feeders started last week asking an unprecedented $140.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Environmental Protection Agency work through strained relationships.

Despite record prices, the cattle industry continues to struggle with the drought’s long coattails.

Negotiating and implementing Congress' multibillion-dollar farm bill so that it helps South Dakota, including ranchers who suffered heavy losses during October's blizzard, will be the first order of business in 2014, the state's congressional members say.

The report showed On Feed and Marketings near expectations.

USDA says safeguards in place to guard against FMD.

Ranchers in South Dakota are still waiting to see if they will receive any federal aid after losing cattle in an October blizzard.

South Dakota farmers and ranchers have a lot on the line in Congress as the year comes to a close.

Feedyards aggressively placed cattle on feed during October, which may fill any marketing hole expected late this winter.

USDA’s Oct. 1 Cattle on Feed report confirmed recent bullish ideas for cattlemen.

The company cites increased expenses due to COOL.

A USDA official says there is some federal aid available to South Dakota ranchers who lost cattle to an early October blizzard, but it's limited.

USDA also encourages producers to document losses with FSA.

The government shutdown did little to dampen the enthusiasm drifting through the cattle markets.

Beef packers scrambled to fill orders last week and were forced to pay record prices on Thursday for Midwestern fed cattle.

The devastating South Dakota blizzard that has killed thousands of cattle adds urgency to the call for a five-year piece of legislation, Rep. Kristi Noem tells AgriTalk.

Feeder cattle prices are called a “runaway” this week. Declining corn prices has prompted cattle feeders to bid up yearling cattle prices to dizzying heights, which is great news if you’re a seller.

Harvest activity is picking up.

August placements of cattle into feedyards were the lowest since 1996, according to USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report, another indication that U.S. cattle numbers are as tight as feared.

The revised USDA regulations are intended to reduce consumer confusion and allow cattle producers the ability to differentiate their product from foreign beef.

The survey had been suspended due to budget cuts.

Unfavorable weather is in focus to start the week.

Cattle on Feed placements are lower, prices steady to higher; while increases in cow slaughter means the breeding herd is still contracting.

Further assistance made through grazing or haying CRP.

U.S. Cattle on Feed report shows cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with steady domestic beef demand.

U.S. meat industry groups, joined by Canadian counterparts, sued USDA seeking to block rules requiring meat producers to increase the amount of information about countries of origin on their products.