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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.

The Farm Bill moving through Congress includes disaster assistance for ranchers and millions of dollars in federal payments for counties with federal lands.

Because of historically dry conditions in California have forced ranchers to already sell off parts of their herds as normally green grazing pastures have turned brown.

When do cows start experiencing cold stress and then how much more energy do they need?

As California braces for record drought, ranchers are among the most immediately impacted, and most say they are not ready for the severe water shortages and lack of forage that drought would bring, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis.

Along with the decreased temperatures and decline in forage growth, comes an increase in calories needed for farm animals.

As temperatures drop we need to consider how to adjust diet and management practices for cows and heifers.

Federal officials have designated portions of 11 western and central states as primary natural disaster areas because of a drought.

Lack of precipitation so far this season has California farmers and ranchers bracing for a third consecutive dry year that they say could have wide-reaching impact on the state's agricultural landscape.

Even though parts of Texas and across the nation have received beneficial rainfall, experts urge cattle producers to be cautious when thinking about restocking herds.

But chilly conditions are currently in effect for the Southern Plains & Midwest.

How much can I afford to pay for a bred female to restock after the drought?

U.S. crops are escaping record-setting cold weather with little damage, while the arctic blast drove cattle prices to a record as animals struggle to gain weight.

After a dispiriting stretch of years, many Texas ranchers are optimistic as drought, expensive feed and other conditions that decimated their cattle herds start to loosen their grip.

Drought can create stress for the land, cattle and people. Here’s how one western ranch coped with adversity.

Many ranches and farms spend a lot of time working on business plans, mission statements, employee training, goals, and financial management, but how many spend time discussing a disaster plan?

Snow expected to move into the Midwest.

Mother Nature is taking the gloves off this week, delivering another one-two punch of Arctic cold and precipitation.

If there are any lessons that can be learned from the past few years of sparse rainfall it’s that recovering from drought requires proper management.

While the U.S. Drought Monitor still shows dry areas across the state, the soil moisture profile is well on its way to being full again.

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.

Two 20-foot-deep disposal pits opened on Monday to help ranchers dispose of livestock carcasses piling up since an early October blizzard decimated herds.

Unfavorable weather is in focus to start the week.

Even in the depths of lingering drought, cattle producers have persevered. Hard choices have been made.

Cattle on Feed placements are lower, prices steady to higher; while increases in cow slaughter means the breeding herd is still contracting.

The planned use of meat from cattle treated with antibiotics because of an illness comes as U.S. beef production is projected to plunge to a 21-year low next year.

The drought areas of Iowa increased by eight percentage points from last week.

The national beef herd has been in a downward spiral since 2007, but prospects are looking up.

But a large drought footprint will remain in place across the western states.

Even with USDA's higher forecast of 2013 beef production, lower expected corn yields and higher prices continue to stem growth in the U.S. beef herd.

Still reflects more than half of continuous U.S. covered by drought.

The House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources today advanced the Grazing Improvement Act to improve the livestock grazing permitting processes on managed lands.

This is expected to prolong Midwest planting delays.

Many ranchers in the Texas Panhandle have been forced to cull their herd, just waiting for the three-year drought to pass.

Forecast raises concerns about planting delays.

While drought improved in many areas, the Southern Plains saw slight expansion.

Seasonal Drought Outlook calls for some drought improvement across areas of the Plains.

Nebraska's pastures are starting to grow again, but the effects of last year's drought linger and might cause complications for producers.

Texas moves backwards, with 12.88% of the state covered by exceptional drought.

Normal precip expected across most of the Corn Belt.

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.

Drier conditions expected in the western Corn Belt, while wet condition to continue in the eastern Belt.

Cooler-than-usual conditions to linger into month's end.

Seasonal Drought Outlook a broken record for Southern Plains.

But a majority of the country is still covered by some form of drought.

Rains the next two months set the stage for grazing season.

The next two to three months are critical to determine the forage prospects for the remainder of the year.

Drought monitor notes that 34.96% of contiguous U.S. is drought-free -- little changed from last week.