Latest News From BEEF

Images From the Smokehouse Creek Fire
Images From the Smokehouse Creek Fire

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photographer Sam Craft was in the Texas Panhandle documenting the aftermath of the largest wildfire in Texas history, and the aid and support for fire victims.

Trade Groups Criticize USDA’s Final P&SA Rule
Trade Groups Criticize USDA’s Final P&SA Rule

Meat and poultry industry trade groups were quick to criticize USDA's announcement of changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act claiming the changes add unnecessary regulations and costs.

Wildfire Battles Continue Over Weekend for Texas, Oklahoma
Wildfire Battles Continue Over Weekend for Texas, Oklahoma

After burning for more than six days, the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma was only 15% contained Sunday morning. Drifting sand now poses a threat to rural roads.

Global Farmer Network
Turning the Challenge of a Cattle Cycle Into an Opportunity

We’re in a predictable period of a well-established supply and demand cycle. Yet there is a different potential crisis looming for the beef cattle industry.

Wildfire Burns 71,000 Acres in Central Nebraska
Wildfire Burns 71,000 Acres in Central Nebraska

Nebraska officials say a mower ignited a wildfire that burned roughly 110 square miles of central Nebraska grasslands.

Smokehouse Creek Fire is Officially the Largest in Texas History
Smokehouse Creek Fire is Officially the Largest in Texas History

While the Smokehouse Creek Fire rapidly became the state's largest in history, four other wildfires are burning in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle area. (Additional images contained in story.)

Hay, Feed, Fencing Supplies Needed to Support Panhandle Wildfire Victims
Hay, Feed, Fencing Supplies Needed to Support Panhandle Wildfire Victims

Donations of hay, feed, fence supplies, cow feed and milk replacer are needed to support livestock owners impacted by the wildfires that have scorched ranchland across a large portion of the Texas Panhandle.

Wildfires Raging in Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle Region Threaten Residents and Livestock
Wildfires Raging in Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle Region Threaten Residents and Livestock

Devastating wildfires are burning in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle region and the Smokehouse Creek Fire has already become the second largest in Texas history, consuming at least three-quarters of a million acres.

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Poultry Line Speed Lawsuit Dismissed Against USDA

A U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, dismissed a lawsuit filed four years ago against the USDA regarding its decision to increase line speeds at poultry plants.

Meet 87-Year-Old Joan Kerns, A True Trailblazer Who Helped Carve Out A Niche For Her Family Nearly 60 Years Ago
Meet 87-Year-Old Joan Kerns, A True Trailblazer Who Helped Carve Out A Niche For Her Family Nearly 60 Years Ago

Edgewood Locker got its start in rural northeast Iowa in 1966. The business now spans over three generations, and it's largely thanks to Joan Kerns who helped start the family business that's now seen phenomenal growth.

Next-Gen Spotlight: Lindsay Baneck Is In the Business of Selling Memories
Next-Gen Spotlight: Lindsay Baneck Is In the Business of Selling Memories

In addition to traditional row crops and cattle, Lindsay Baneck operates a direct-to-consumer produce business in Wisconsin. These days, her goals are geared toward success and sustainability.

Antler Madness: Deer Shed Thieves Poach Farmland, Private Property
Antler Madness: Deer Shed Thieves Poach Farmland, Private Property

Lust or greed, trespassers are drawn to farmland by deer sheds. Private property is no barrier to a shed thief.

2024 Top Producer Of The Year Christine Hamilton: Driven For Excellence
2024 Top Producer Of The Year Christine Hamilton: Driven For Excellence

At Christiansen Land and Cattle, they’re committed to excellence and continuous improvement, a mindset that started when Christine Hamilton’s family homesteaded in South Dakota in 1891.

US Justice Department Probing ADM Accounting Practices
US Justice Department Probing ADM Accounting Practices

According to two sources, in recent days the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has interviewed former ADM employees, ramping up pressure on the global commodities giant.

U.S. Cattle Inventory Reaches 73 Year Low
U.S. Cattle Inventory Reaches 73 Year Low

The January 1, 2024, beef cow herd inventory was 28.22 million head, down 2.5 percent year over year and a decrease of 3.47 million head or 10.9 percent lower, from the cyclical peak in 2019.

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet: Why Economists Say Cattle Prices Will Soar Even Higher This Year
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet: Why Economists Say Cattle Prices Will Soar Even Higher This Year

Oklahoma State's Derrell Peel points out with the U.S. beef cow herd the smallest since 1961 and the all cattle inventory the lowest since 1951, it’s setting the cattle market up for higher highs.

U.S. Cattle Inventory Down 2%, Beef Cows Down 2%
U.S. Cattle Inventory Down 2%, Beef Cows Down 2%

The U.S. cattle report shows all cattle and calves reported at 87.2 million head, 2% below the 88.8 million last year.

John Deere Introduces 326 P-Tier Compact Wheel Loader
John Deere Introduces 326 P-Tier Compact Wheel Loader

John Deere announces the release of its new 326 P-Tier telescopic compact wheel loader. The new telescopic loader offers 16-plus feet of reach while still being compact enough to work in barns or other tight spaces. 

New Holland Launches Autonomous Baling Technology And Mobile App, Marks 50 Years Of Baler Innovation With Brand Refresh
New Holland Launches Autonomous Baling Technology And Mobile App, Marks 50 Years Of Baler Innovation With Brand Refresh

New Holland announces its autonomous bailing solution, a new mobile app, as well as a brand refresh with the transition of its haytool styling to a striking yellow.

Study Confirms Facial Recognition Technology’s Success in Disease Prediction
Study Confirms Facial Recognition Technology’s Success in Disease Prediction

Ag tech startup MyAnIML and USDA find first-of-its-kind facial recognition technology successfully analyzes cattle muzzles to predict illness.

Congress Mulls Bills Meant to Help Ranchers Defend Calves From Vultures
Congress Mulls Bills Meant to Help Ranchers Defend Calves From Vultures

While estimates suggest that black vultures are responsible for the loss of thousands of calves every year, as a protected species, the bird may not be killed without a permit.

Hemp Seed Livestock Meal Receives Green Lights On Way to Federal Approval
Hemp Seed Livestock Meal Receives Green Lights On Way to Federal Approval

Wendy Mosher, CEO at New West Genetics and vice president of Hemp Feed Coalition, says this is something that has been in the works for at least four years

Winter Storm Survival: A Nightmare for Livestock Producers in Western Illinois
Winter Storm Survival: A Nightmare for Livestock Producers in Western Illinois

Despite nearly 24 inches of snow, below-zero temperatures and raging winds that some people are affectionately calling “Death Storm #2,” Illinois livestock producers are finding ways to overcome the horrific conditions.

Leigh Rubin
100% Human-made- Contains no A.I. Guaranteed!

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Are You Ready For the Polar Plunge? Some Areas Could See Temperatures Plummet to Negative 40 Degrees
Are You Ready For the Polar Plunge? Some Areas Could See Temperatures Plummet to Negative 40 Degrees

From 40 degrees above zero earlier this week in parts of the Great Plains to now forecasts for temps to fall 40 degrees below zero, ag meteorologist Drew Lerner says the frigid conditions will be dangerous for livestock.

Next-Gen Spotlight: Matt Adams Created His Niche By Doing Things No One Else Wanted To Do
Next-Gen Spotlight: Matt Adams Created His Niche By Doing Things No One Else Wanted To Do

After years of letting negativity and discouragement hold him back from full-time farming, the first-generation Kentucky farmer decided to take a leap of faith.

CattleFax Cow-Calf Survey Released
CattleFax Cow-Calf Survey Released

CattleFax invites producers to participate in its annual Cow-Calf Survey, which provides participants and the rest of the industry with valuable data regarding industry benchmarks and trends.

Judge Orders Wind Turbines Removed From Osage Nation
Judge Orders Wind Turbines Removed From Osage Nation

Removal of the 84 turbines erected beginning 10 years ago without a mining permit from the Osage Nation ends a long legal battle and will cost the developers $300 million.

‘Let me be clear, the Stockyards intends to thrive’
‘Let me be clear, the Stockyards intends to thrive’

Oklahoma National Stockyards' owners and nearby businesses fear their livelihood could be infringed if Oklahoma County commissioners seek to use imminent domain to acquire land for the county's new jail site.

Texas Rancher’s Property Rights Case to be Heard by U.S. Supreme Court
Texas Rancher’s Property Rights Case to be Heard by U.S. Supreme Court

After Texas renovated a highway, Richie DeVillier’s ranch experienced catastrophic flooding that destroyed his crops and killed his cattle. A seven-year legal battle ensued, which now heads to the Supreme Court.

The El Niño Effect: Is El Niño to Blame for the Historic Heat and Drought that Gripped the U.S. in 2023?
The El Niño Effect: Is El Niño to Blame for the Historic Heat and Drought that Gripped the U.S. in 2023?

From the intense heat in the South to drought blanketing much of the U.S., weather stole headlines again in 2023. What caused such extreme conditions? One meteorologist explains the culprits of the heat and drought.

AgDay TV Markets Now: Brad Kooima Discusses if the Cattle Market Can Make New Highs in 2024
AgDay TV Markets Now: Brad Kooima Discusses if the Cattle Market Can Make New Highs in 2024

AgDay TV Markets Now: Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, recaps a record year in the cattle market and discusses if new highs are possible in 2024.

Grain and Livestock Futures Mostly Lower for 2023.  So, What’s Ahead in 2024?
Grain and Livestock Futures Mostly Lower for 2023. So, What’s Ahead in 2024?

2023 was a lower year for all the grains as the market went through a commodity reset similar to 2013. What's ahead for 2024?

Be proactive in managing through financial stress
Fraud Alert: Don’t Fall Victim to These Common Schemes

Farmers routinely handle high-dollar transactions — and the nature of the payments, often through unsecure methods, leaves them susceptible to foul play.

Want to Avoid Leaving Climate-Smart Money On the Table? There's An App for That
Want to Avoid Leaving Climate-Smart Money On the Table? There's An App for That

AgWeb and Trust In Food’s beta Climate-Smart Opportunity Navigator is matching producers with Climate-Smart Commodities grants tailored to their operation.

Greg Henderson
Gov. Polis Releases Wolves in Covert Ceremony

The gray wolves relocated from Oregon to Colorado have a lengthy rap sheet. Maybe the secret reintroduction ceremony included a secret clemency grant from the Governor.

Leigh Rubin
‘Rubes’ cartoonist publishes new book sharing secrets on creativity and humor

‘Rubes’ cartoonist publishes new book sharing secrets on creativity and humor

Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Worst Since Summer 2020
Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Worst Since Summer 2020

The Grinch is writing closeouts ahead of the holidays as cattle and hog profit margins tumble to their lowest point since the summer of 2020, just months into the COVID pandemic.

Navigating Structural Changes: Rabobank's Insights on Challenges and Opportunities in Global Animal Protein Markets
Navigating Structural Changes: Rabobank's Insights on Challenges and Opportunities in Global Animal Protein Markets

Both dynamic and resilient, the animal protein sector is likely heading into another challenging year. However, it’s important to identify potential opportunities that could help your operation survive or even thrive.

8 Factors Shaping the Rural Economy in 2024
8 Factors Shaping the Rural Economy in 2024

CoBank has released their 2024 outlook report, which takes a look at the key themes the organization expects to shape agricultural and the rural economy in the coming year.

Government Seizes Control of Rancher’s Land for Endangered Bug Habitat
Government Seizes Control of Rancher’s Land for Endangered Bug Habitat

The government seized control of John Yearwood’s ranchland in the name of a tiny bug. “There is no shame in Washington,” he says.

Kristin Leigh Lore
How New Carbon Claims Shortchange Sustainable Agriculture and Why It Matters

“I believe we have to broaden the conversation beyond just low carbon,” said Amy Skoczlas Cole. “If we can reconnect to the roots of what this is all about—rather than counting molecules—we will be so much better off.”

Activist Sentenced to Jail for Conspiracy and Trespassing
Activist Sentenced to Jail for Conspiracy and Trespassing

A California jury deliberated for six days before returning guilty verdicts of conspiracy and trespassing for DxE co-founder Wayne Hsiung. The jury deadlocked on a second conspiracy charge.

It’s Been a Quiet Week in Grocery Store Meat Departments Across the U.S.
It’s Been a Quiet Week in Grocery Store Meat Departments Across the U.S.

It was a seasonally quiet week in grocery store meat departments and up the distribution chain for turkeys and hams, reports Steiner Consulting Group in the Daily Livestock Report. Here’s a look at pork, turkey and beef.

Leigh Rubin
What does a geologist, an obit writer and a rocket scientist have in common?

What does a geologist, an obit writer and a rocket scientist have in common?

American Royal Hosts Barn Raising at New Site
American Royal Hosts Barn Raising at New Site

The future home of the American Royal moves forward on facility to “create a food and agriculture innovation district that will be unlike any other in the world,” said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

USMCA Trade Panel Rejects U.S. Complaint About Access to Canada Dairy Market
USMCA Trade Panel Rejects U.S. Complaint About Access to Canada Dairy Market

A trade dispute settlement panel set up under a major North American free trade agreement has rejected a U.S. complaint that Canada is improperly limiting access to its dairy market.

Leigh Rubin
The GOAT Thanksgiving!

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The Biggest Loser In America's Obsession With Weight-Loss Medications
The Biggest Loser In America's Obsession With Weight-Loss Medications

As more Americans become hooked on weight-loss medication, the impact on farmers could be substantial as more and cheaper versions of these drugs are released in the next few months.

Leigh Rubin
Think Like a Cartoonist! A Celebration of Humor and Creativity

Think Like a Cartoonist! A Celebration of Humor and Creativity