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The drought has had lasting effects on farmers across the country. Here’s how three cattle producers have changed management practices to survive.

The question often posed is “will beef be priced so high that consumers will quit buying beef?”

Dwindling cattle supplies cited as cause for halting production at the Plainview, Texas, facility.

Japan will ease restrictions on U.S. beef imports next month, boosting supplies to restaurants.

The U.S. agriculture secretary delivered that message Thursday at his department’s Agricultural Outlook Forum 2013.

The 2012 calf crop was estimated at 34.3 million head, down 3%from 2011,which is the smallest calf crop since the 33.7 million born during 1949.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.2 million head on Jan. 1, 2013.

Higher grain costs are creating opportunities for beef producers to explore other feed options, says Derrell Peel of Oklahoma State University.

There’s interesting speculation about when and how the nation’s cowherd will start rebuilding.

It is easy to take the data for granted, but the U.S. agricultural data system is under threat of budget cuts.