U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.
Baled forage probably constitutes the highest percentage of winter feed cost we have wrapped up in a cow. Here's how to best protect the asset from the elements.
Winter backgrounding programs in most areas will not include grazing this year, which makes calculating precise ration costs and projecting breakevens critical for success.
While several brand-name and generic products are available at a variety of price points, what questions do you ask yourself when there’s a sick animal needing care?
If cows are to maintain a calving interval of one year they must bred back within 80 – 85 days after calving. In cows of all ages the BCS at calving determines the rebreeding performance.
This discovery further heightens the need for Missouri cattle ranchers to make informed decisions regarding quarantining protocols when introducing new cattle into their herds.
Cash cattle sold higher in active trading ahead of the September Cattle on Feed report which saw slightly higher inventories but within the range of trade expectations.
There is often fear associated with grazing alfalfa due to bloat potential or hurting the alfalfa stand. However, with proper management, fall and winter grazing may be an option to harvest quality feed.
Late fall holiday demand heats up the cattle market, and that’s when high-quality carcasses get extra bragging rights. Demand alone doesn’t spur prices higher, there must be a degree of supply constraint.
Nutritional management of fall-calving cows is a little different than spring-calving herds throughout the production cycle. Here's some things to consider.
Seeking additional income options for your operation? Landowners might consider leasing out their land for wildlife activities, including hunting, fishing or birding.
The U.S. hay supply is at a 50-year low. Couple this with rising costs and it becomes prudent to plan fall, winter and next spring’s hay needs sooner rather than later.
As much as 11 percent of Oklahoma's winter wheat has been planted despite soil moisture profiles that are bleak at best. Wheat grazing prospects look dim and risky this fall.
Check out the "Easy Button" offered by the USRSB for starters. It's a quick self-assessment tool, with options for cow/calf and feedyard operations. You're probably already using some of the recommended practices.
Cattle prices moved moderately higher in both the North and the South last week as the declining supply of market-ready cattle gradually shifting leverage toward feedyards.
In a year like this, taking time to evaluate your herd and its present genetics may be valuable to set your operation up for success in the coming years.
America's dairy industry has been robust the last several decades. Now, larger average dairies are producing more beef-dairy crossbred calves that are much higher quality for producing beef.
Ongoing research at Oklahoma State University shows that the process of patch burning has the potential to save cattle producers $20 per cow per year in supplemental feed costs.
Cash fed cattle traded flat with most activity on Thursday ahead of Friday's CME futures rally. Expectations of tighter cattle supplies this fall supports bullish ideas for prices.
Average feed costs for finishing cattle and hogs are 25% to 28% higher than the same week last year, according to Sterling Marketing's weekly calculations.
Even though prices have been exceptional for calves and feeder cattle, feedlot breakeven projections are rapidly moving higher, discouraging ranchers to consider retaining ownership.
If pastures are managed properly during times of low moisture, the effects of drought will be less severe and pastures will rebound faster when precipitation is sufficient.
Hereford-cross cattle show better resiliency and feed efficiency in the face of challenging environments, according to the American Hereford Association.
Calf prices typically reach a seasonal low around October. This year, however, calf prices have moved counter-seasonally higher this summer as part of a general trend of tighter supplies and higher prices.
Grouping cows or growing cattle in larger groups to maximize feed delivery over groups to feed is an additional consideration under current economic conditions.
For 2022, the national average for cash rents on cropland is $148 per acre. That’s up $7 from last year and eclipsed the previous high of 2015’s $144 per acre.
Cattle in all categories traded mostly lower ahead of the Labor Day weekend. Packers head into next week with smaller inventories and cattle owners hope that encourages more aggressive bidding.
With much of the US cow herd in some form of drought the odds of thin cows heading into weaning season are high. This month let's look at practical approaches to wrangling the challenge of dry pastures and thin cows.
Developing a supplementation strategy with precision that includes technologies to improve feed efficiency regardless of stocking method is fundamental to maximizing resources.
Marbling has more influence on tenderness, juiciness and flavor of cooked beef than the other types of fat. As a result, marbling and Beef Quality Grades are typically the biggest driver of beef carcass value.
Sustainable Beef LLC received a giant boost in its efforts to bring a new, 1,500 head per day beef processing facility online with a commitment from Walmart.
The average cost of feeding a steer to finish weight was 25% higher for cattle marketed last week and is projected to be 31% higher for cattle placed on feed last week at roughly $600 per head.
Why should buyers at cattle auctions pay $10 to $15 per cwt premiums for the best cattle that have received the best management, if they can get the same thing at commodity prices?
Given the limited hay supply, proportionally more wheat pasture is likely to be used for cow herds than for stockers. Even if there is wheat pasture, stocker demand may be somewhat lighter than usual this year.
Cash cattle trade was called moderate in all regions but estimated cattle slaughter will be higher this week. Auction prices for both calves and feeder cattle were stronger.
Shrink is a concern because it reduces sales weight, but abnormal levels of shrink is often used as a health indicator for cattle arriving in receiving facilities at stocker operations, grow yards, and feedlots.
As expenses increase and producers evaluate more-efficient management techniques to lower production costs, one alternative may be to incorporate swath, or windrow grazing.
The fight against bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a never-ending battle on a beef operation. It’s frustrating, costly, and the causes can be extremely hard to understand.