U.S. Department of Agriculture
Decades of data kept by USDA scientists are providing valuable information about how seasonal weather patterns affect cattle production.
Fifty years ago Congress approved legislation that began the transfer of a Naval Ammunition Depot to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, thus creating the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center, Neb.
U.S. feedlots unexpectedly bought 4.7 percent fewer cattle in March than a year earlier, as herds declined in Texas, Oklahoma and Washington state, a government report showed.
USDA scientists have found that one reason why some beef cows may not be getting pregnant is they have fragments of male Y chromosome in their DNA.
Ranchers in the Dakotas are starting to sign up for federal disaster aid to help them recover after an early October blizzard killed tens of thousands of animals, and government officials say they are ready.
Arkansas’ cattle numbers recovering nearly two years after the start of a drought that caused $128 million damage to the state’s beef industry, while national numbers plummet to their lowest levels in more than 60 years.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hosting livestock disaster program gatherings next week for South Dakota producers in Hermosa, Eagle Butte, Union Center and Interior.
Feedyards aggressively placed cattle on feed last month, with 1.65 million new arrivals during February, according to USDA.
While U.S. beef cow numbers declined, beef cows in North Dakota increased to 943,000, which is up by 21,000 head as of Jan. 1, 2014.
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.
Federal officials have designated portions of 11 western and central states as primary natural disaster areas because of a drought.
The report showed On Feed and Marketings near expectations.
USDA says safeguards in place to guard against FMD.
The company cites increased expenses due to COOL.
USDA also encourages producers to document losses with FSA.
The survey had been suspended due to budget cuts.
Further assistance made through grazing or haying CRP.
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.
Still reflects more than half of continuous U.S. covered by drought.
As a result, beef supplies will be reduced for several years.
“We are deeply disappointed with this short-sighted action by the USDA,” says Scott George, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president, after USDA’s rule on mandatory country of origin labeling.
Texas moves backwards, with 12.88% of the state covered by exceptional drought.
Forecast calls for below-normal precip for bulk of Corn Belt.
Drought Monitor reflects 60.21% of the nation still covered by some form of drought.
Rains the next two months set the stage for grazing season.
But a majority of the country is still covered by some form of drought.
Seasonal Drought Outlook a broken record for Southern Plains.
Drought monitor notes that 34.96% of contiguous U.S. is drought-free -- little changed from last week.