Latest News From USDA

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.

Corbitt Wall with USDA gives the weekly Feeder and Stocker Cattle Summary for the week ending April 18.

More than 60 U.S. agricultural organizations focusing on expanding exports – including the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) – were awarded funds by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

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.

Corbitt Wall with USDA Market News gives the Weekly Feeder and Stocker Weekly Summary for the week ending April 11.

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.

Corbitt Wall gives the USDA Feeder and Stocker Cattle Summary for the week ending April 4.

Federal officials have approved a Northern California company's plans to take over a shuttered slaughterhouse that was at the center of a major beef recall.

Feedyards aggressively placed cattle on feed last month, with 1.65 million new arrivals during February, according to USDA.

Corbitt Wall gave the Weekly National Feeder Cattle Summary report for the week ending March 21.

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.

Corbitt Wall gave the weekly USDA National Feeder Cattle Summary for the week ending March 14.

Corbitt Wall gives the Feeder and Stocker Cattle summary for the week ending February 28.

Fewer cattle on feed numbers imply lower fed cattle slaughter and beef production ahead.

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.

USDA’s annual cattle inventory report confirmed what the industry had been suspecting for the past year — another year of contraction.

Corbitt Wall gave the weekly USDA Feeder and Stocker Cattle summary for the week ending Feb. 21.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

The report showed On Feed and Marketings near expectations.

USDA says safeguards in place to guard against FMD.

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.

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.

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 survey had been suspended due to budget cuts.

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.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Scott George, a dairy and beef producer from Cody, Wyo., tells why.