Latest News From Industry

Cattle Market Hits All-Time Highs: How Long Will the Bull Run Last?
Cattle Market Hits All-Time Highs: How Long Will the Bull Run Last?

Both live and feeder cattle futures hit record highs this week as a function of historically tight supplies. Yet, the question remains—how long could these strong prices last?

Life-Saving Find: How This Missouri Soil Unearthed A Golden Medical Discovery 75 Years Ago
Life-Saving Find: How This Missouri Soil Unearthed A Golden Medical Discovery 75 Years Ago

Missouri soils unlocked a ‘golden’ antibiotic 75 years ago that’s still used in livestock today.

Nearly Two Years After Worker Strike, John Deere Lays Off 225 Workers From Harvester Works Location Indefinitely
Nearly Two Years After Worker Strike, John Deere Lays Off 225 Workers From Harvester Works Location Indefinitely

Nearly two years after close to 10,000 John Deere workers went on strike over a labor dispute, the company is indefinitely laying off 225 jobs from its Harvester Works location in October.

Cattle Prices Soar: Is The Cattle Industry's Optimism Justified?
Cattle Prices Soar: Is The Cattle Industry's Optimism Justified?

Could the optimism in the cattle industry be fueled by profitability? With cattle prices reaching record highs, it’s important to consider whether these high prices are equating to black ink on the balance sheet.

Tough Lessons Learned in the Show Ring: Exhibitors Speak Out
Tough Lessons Learned in the Show Ring: Exhibitors Speak Out

Although there’s nothing like getting the grand champion slap in front of a huge crowd in the coliseum, youth livestock exhibitors point out that a lot of hard work and tough lessons were learned behind the scenes first.

Kansas State Releases New Record-Keeping App For Cattle
Kansas State Releases New Record-Keeping App For Cattle

A record-keeping app for cattle producers using iPhones and Android devices has been developed by Kansas State University.

First Monarch Electric Autonomous Tractor Lands in the Midwest
First Monarch Electric Autonomous Tractor Lands in the Midwest

The University of Missouri became the first college to land an electric autonomous tractor, a tool that will drive teaching and research into the future.

Optimism Amidst Adversity: Resilience and Hope Remain in the U.S. Cattle Industry
Optimism Amidst Adversity: Resilience and Hope Remain in the U.S. Cattle Industry

Implications of historic drought and massive herd liquidation will likely continue to be uncovered over the next several months, yet cattle producers remain optimisic about the future of the industry.

Landmark Tool Supports Meat Sector Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets
Landmark Tool Supports Meat Sector Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets

The North American Meat Institute announces a new tool to support the meat industry in measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Feeding Quality Forum Shares Market Outlook, Path to Meeting Demand
Feeding Quality Forum Shares Market Outlook, Path to Meeting Demand

The beef demand success story of the past is also the industry’s roadmap for the future, said speakers at this year’s Feeding Quality Forum.

Horse Dies of West Nile Virus in South Carolina
Horse Dies of West Nile Virus in South Carolina

A 13-year-old gelding in Dillon County, South Carolina, died from the state's first confirmed West Nile Virus (WNV) case of the year.

U.S. Meat Export Federation Takes Producers on International Tour to Boost Meat Exports
U.S. Meat Export Federation Takes Producers on International Tour to Boost Meat Exports

U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO, Dan Halstrom, recently shed light on an international producer and grower tour, as well as the current state of U.S. meat exports.

Frey Family Farms Receives  Illinois Leopold Conservation Award
Frey Family Farms Receives Illinois Leopold Conservation Award

Dennis and Jackie Frey have implemented several conservation practices to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat at their beef cattle and grain farm in Hamilton County.

New Program Helps Young Athletes Achieve Peak Performance with Beef
New Program Helps Young Athletes Achieve Peak Performance with Beef

The Texas Beef Council (TBC) has launched the Sports Nutrition Game Plan, a power-packed beef nutrition resource for high school and college athletes.

Canola Waste for Cattle: Research Finds Benefits to Canola-Based Supplement
Canola Waste for Cattle: Research Finds Benefits to Canola-Based Supplement

Pioneering an investigation into the potential use of discarded canola as a dietary supplement for pregnant cows, graduate student, Erika Cornand, aims to enhance both their health and the well-being of their calves.

Enhancing Efficiency in Cattle Operations: Kansas State's CalfDex App Simplifies Animal Data Management
Enhancing Efficiency in Cattle Operations: Kansas State's CalfDex App Simplifies Animal Data Management

Kansas State University shares its new mobile, record-keeping system, CalfDex, providing producers with a user-friendly, convenient and modern tool for managing whole-herd and individual animal data.

Around the Ring: What’s the Best Piece of Advice You’ve Heard Lately? 
Around the Ring: What’s the Best Piece of Advice You’ve Heard Lately? 

One may argue teenagers have a lot of learning left to do, but I could argue they are wiser than they get credit for. After all, they are in a period of life where they hear a lot of advice from well-meaning people.

NFWF Awards $4 Million America the Beautiful Grant to Land Trust Partnership
NFWF Awards $4 Million America the Beautiful Grant to Land Trust Partnership

Funds will help support conserving 250,000 acres of grasslands and enable five land trusts to share best practices across the region.

Short Supply and Structural Shifts In Focus: 2023 State Of The Beef Industry
Short Supply and Structural Shifts In Focus: 2023 State Of The Beef Industry

The state of the U.S. beef industry in 2023 is strong. Drought-induced herd liquidation impacted the supply side, but an even greater impact occurred on the demand side.

No Bumper Hay Crop, 44% of the Cattle Inventory In Drought
No Bumper Hay Crop, 44% of the Cattle Inventory In Drought

Dry conditions persist across parts of the U.S., with nearly half of the nation’s corn crop and 37% of the nation’s hay crop areas experiencing drought. Cattle producers could be forced to make more tough decisions.

Grid Pricing Has Boosted Cattle Profits, Study Says
Grid Pricing Has Boosted Cattle Profits, Study Says

KSU economists said data reviewed clearly demonstrates that sending clear value signals to producers through premiums for high quality carcasses and discounts for less desired quality has transformed the beef industry.

Beef Promotion Operating Committee Approves 2024 Checkoff Plan
Beef Promotion Operating Committee Approves 2024 Checkoff Plan

Checkoff funding will invest $38 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing and producer communications during fiscal 2024.

Get a behind the scenes view of shipping cattle from the Youngmeyer pens in the southern Flint Hills of Kansas (Note: scroll down below for video).
Peel: North American Live Cattle Trade

Live cattle trade is part of the integrated markets for beef and cattle in North America.  Canada and Mexico account for 100 percent of U.S. cattle imports and 95 percent of cattle exports.

Beef-on-Dairy: A Revolution in American Beef Production?
Beef-on-Dairy: A Revolution in American Beef Production?

Beef-on-dairy is arguably the most significant advancement for the U.S. beef industry in a generation, and no current review of the State of the Beef Industry would be complete without examining its impact.

What The 2022 National Beef Quality Audit Says About The Cattle Industry
What The 2022 National Beef Quality Audit Says About The Cattle Industry

Gains to quality are documented along with areas for improvement identified.

Certified Angus Beef Launches Direct-to-Consumer Program
Certified Angus Beef Launches Direct-to-Consumer Program

Could your freezer beef carry the Certified Angus Beef brand logo? Perhaps. With the launch of a new program, Angus cattle producers may market their beef directly to consumers as Certified Angus Beef product.

July Pork Exports Surge, Beef Exports Decline
July Pork Exports Surge, Beef Exports Decline

Building on a robust first-half performance, July exports of U.S. pork continued to outpace year-ago levels, while beef continues to find a challenging export environment.

Endovac Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Endovac Celebrates 40th Anniversary

The company, based in Columbia, Mo., manufactures vaccines for livestock to aid in the protection of numerous diseases caused by gram-negative bacteria. 

Tyson Foods to Deploy Driverless Trucks in Arkansas
Tyson Foods to Deploy Driverless Trucks in Arkansas

Tyson Foods is deploying autonomous refrigerated box trucks to bolster Tyson routes in Northwest Arkansas. Operating 18 hours a day, these driverless trucks will deliver products to distribution and storage facilities.

Cattle Market Signals: High Costs, Projected Profits and Beef Demand
Cattle Market Signals: High Costs, Projected Profits and Beef Demand

The smallest herd in 60 years creates a historic market for cattle and calves.

West Coast Longshoremen Ratify Six-Year Port Labor Contract Agreement
West Coast Longshoremen Ratify Six-Year Port Labor Contract Agreement

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union agreed to a six-year contract, effective July 1, 2022 through July 1, 2028.

Producer Profitability Initiative Seeks to Spark Conversation, Unite Industry
Producer Profitability Initiative Seeks to Spark Conversation, Unite Industry

LMA launches producer profitability initiative to strengthen ranchers' bottom lines and incentivize the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

Loran Steinlage Receives Iowa Leopold Conservation Award
Loran Steinlage Receives Iowa Leopold Conservation Award

Loran Steinlage of West Union has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Iowa Leopold Conservation Award.

Automated Satellite Measuring of Inputs for Heritable Traits in Grazing Cattle
Automated Satellite Measuring of Inputs for Heritable Traits in Grazing Cattle

Satellite connected mobile livestock weighing and successful gathering of individual animal feed efficiency data in the field, in real-time, has been achieved and both are commercially available technologies.

Survey Reveals Key Insights: What Are Cattle Producers Focusing On Now?
Survey Reveals Key Insights: What Are Cattle Producers Focusing On Now?

The discussion below highlights several items because of their potential influence on the industry over the long run. They’re addressed in no particular order; each one is independently important.

Meet Howdy Doody: The Famous Watusi Bull
Meet Howdy Doody: The Famous Watusi Bull

He is not your average Watusi bull. He enjoys long walks in the road ditches and joy rides with his owner Lee Meyer of Nebraska. In case you missed Howdy Doody’s rise to fame, here’s a look at how he gained attention.

Data Reveals Passion: Optimism and Resilience Amidst Drought
Data Reveals Passion: Optimism and Resilience Amidst Drought

America’s beef producers are optimistic about the future, and the state of today’s industry is strong. Those are two highlights from the 2023 Drovers State of the Industry survey and reported in this special section.

BT_Beef_Steak_1
12 Percent Eat Half of America's Beef, Study Says

A new study claims that half of the beef consumed in America is eaten by just 12% of the population on a given day.

Unified Vision Drives Beef Checkoff Success
Unified Vision Drives Beef Checkoff Success

Committed to building beef demand by inspiring, unifying and supporting an effective and coordinated national Checkoff partnership, the Federation of State Beef Councils provides examples of recent program successes.

CAB Insider: Short Supplies, Higher Beef Prices
CAB Insider: Short Supplies, Higher Beef Prices

In the waning days ahead of Labor Day spot market beef prices are posting positive numbers, boosting a bit of optimism into the total beef complex.

Kubota’s Trio of M7 Series Tractors Available in Three Specification Levels
Kubota’s Trio of M7 Series Tractors Available in Three Specification Levels

The new M7-4 Series has three models (M7-134, M7-154, and M7-174) ranging from 128 to 168 hp and each available in Deluxe, Premium, and Premium KVT. 

USDA_Sheep
Unrustled – Thieves Return 48 Sheep to Wyoming Ranch

Rancher doesn’t know whether it was rustler’s remorse or publicity that gave the bandits cold feet about trying to sell the sheep that prompted their return.

John Deere 1 Series Round Baler Boosts Capacity and Offers New Tech
John Deere 1 Series Round Baler Boosts Capacity and Offers New Tech

New features focus on making the eight-baler lineup fast and efficient while capturing important bale data.

From Meat Lab to Marketplace: Importers Discover U.S. Beef and Pork Innovations through USMEF Seminar in Nebraska
From Meat Lab to Marketplace: Importers Discover U.S. Beef and Pork Innovations through USMEF Seminar in Nebraska

Latin American meat importers recently convened at an USMEF seminar held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to gain a comprehensive understanding of the merits and distinctive qualities of U.S. beef and pork.

USDA Updates Livestock Disaster Payment Rate
USDA Updates Livestock Disaster Payment Rate

The Farm Service Agency is updating the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) payment rate to support livestock producers in the Midwest who have lost cattle to the extreme heat and humidity experienced this summer.

New Holland Continues Its Alternative Energy Future with the T4 Electric Power Tractor
New Holland Continues Its Alternative Energy Future with the T4 Electric Power Tractor

Boasting an industry first, New Holland introduces the T4 Electric Power Tractor, which is fully electric and is outfitted with autonomous features.

Saddle & Sirloin Honors Jarold Callahan
Saddle & Sirloin Honors Jarold Callahan

Oklahoma Angus breeder to receive prestigious award during North American International Livestock Expo.

Fire Destroys Arkansas Sale Barn, Devastating Local Producers and Economy
Fire Destroys Arkansas Sale Barn, Devastating Local Producers and Economy

A north central Arkansas sale barn suffered a devastating fire last week, affecting many livestock producers and the local economy with the loss of a long-standing amenity in the area.

Steve Hunt Honored with the 2023 Industry Achievement Award
Steve Hunt Honored with the 2023 Industry Achievement Award

When the cattle industry needed a leader, Steve Hunt stepped up. A leader, an innovator, an entrepreneur, an idea guy and an executer, Hunt was honored with the Certified Angus Beef 2023 Industry Achievement Award.

JBS_Bloomberg_Beef_Packer_Brazil
Environmental Activists Pressure U.S. Regulators to Halt JBS Listing

Environmental groups are pushing U.S. securities regulators to thwart JBS SA's New York share listing over concerns about the world's largest meatpacker's impact on deforestation, climate change and other issues.