Calves

Worst Winter Storm in a Decade Sets Sights on Weekend Mayhem

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 22:27:34 GMT

Weather models are predicting one of the biggest winter storms in years as an arctic cold front shoulders its way south, setting a collision course with subtropical moisture from the Gulf. The result could be up to 2' of snow, freezing rain, up to an inch of ice and temperatures in the single digits across more than 2,000 miles from Texas to the Carolinas.

“We’re talking about probably once in a decade type event here,” says USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey. “We haven’t seen a storm like this in exactly 10 years, since Jan. 22 and 23 of 2016.”

He says that storm that brought 18" to 30" of snow to Washington, D.C., but had a much larger impact across the Lower 48. This storm is different because it combines not just precipitation but also bitter cold.

“There’s going be some 1' to 2' [snow] totals stretching across the Ozarks plateau, probably just south of the Ohio river and possibly into the northern mid-Atlantic,” Rippey says. “South of that is where we could see extended power outages related to ice accumulations that could be 0.5" to 1".”

Watch for Ice and Bitter Cold

Rippey says the heaviest ice impacts are likely to be from northeastern Texas across to the mid-south. Power outages are expected and restoration of services are likely to take several days or even weeks, depending on the severity.

For the areas that don’t see heavy snow or ice, the issue will be bitterly cold temperatures. Parts of North Dakota, across the upper Great Lakes, expect temperatures of -30°F. While the North will see the worst of the cold, the outbreak is likely to be felt across two-thirds of the country, including the South.

“This is a part of the country where cattle are not accustomed to this type of environment,” Rippey adds. “It’s going to be important to try to guard against getting too wet and too cold.”

Operations that have cows calving in the northern Plains normally have calving facilities, but in the southern Plains and Southeast, that may not be the case. Veterinarians suggest livestock owners develop a contingency plan to be ready for the impending storm.

“Can you get power to your wells or your tank heaters,” asks Dr. Robin Falkner, a technical service veterinarian with Elanco Animal Health. “Can you crank your tractor? Do you have the water you need or can you feed your cattle? Where’s your best hay? Can you get to it? Can you roll out some bales of hay to get them off the cold, wet ground? What can you do to make sure your system doesn’t collapse?”

The National Weather Prediction Center says this is what to expect.

(NWS)

Rippey says for parts of the southern Plains, this could be the biggest winter weather event since the great arctic outbreak of February 2021. He believes winter wheat producers will also need to keep an eye on the crop in areas where it might have extended exposure to subzero temperatures.

What’s Driving This Storm

While you can blame La Niña for the dryness across the country, this incoming winter storm system isn’t happening in isolation. Eric Snodgrass, senior science fellow with Nutrien Ag Solutions, says the broader weather pattern favors repeated intrusions of Arctic air, which helps fuel winter storms farther south than usual.

“The reality is this: Unlocking more Arctic air is a possibility through the remainder of January and February,” he says. “So I don’t think we’re done with this more southern storm track.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean every storm will be this severe. He says there could be a couple more winter storms before this winter is over, but he doesn’t think they’ll be at the velocity of this one. Rippey adds that this doesn’t appear to be the beginning of a new cold and stormy weather pattern. He calls it a one-storm anomaly and expects the cold and winter weather to return to its northern perch by mid-February.

Snodgrass points out what’s missing from the pattern is just as important as what’s present. He says the absence of El Niño is a major reason the U.S. has leaned so heavily on cold air to generate precipitation.

“What we don’t have is what we want, which is El Niño,” he says. “If we had an El Niño, I’d be talking about nonstop flow out of the southwest, kicking off storms through the mid-South, the Delta.”

Instead, farmers are dealing with a colder, harsher setup.

“This winter though, we’ve got to get Arctic air down in order to kick off good snows across these drier places,” Snodgrass says.

The Silver Lining: Moisture

The only silver lining might be the moisture the storm brings to areas currently experiencing drought or dryness.

“We have seen more than 40% of the country in varying degrees of drought each week, going back to mid-September,” Rippey says. “Once this snow and ice begins to melt, it will percolate into the soils and actually could provide quite a benefit for some of those drought-stricken areas in the South where we’ve had trouble with pasture conditions and surface water supplies.”

“If you look from the southern Plains through the Delta and mid-South and look at the, since the beginning of winter, Dec. 1, the rank of how dry it’s been, it’s like in the top five,” Snodgrass says. “And in some places, the driest start to anyone on record.”

That context makes the incoming storm especially critical. While travel disruptions, ice and power outages are likely, Snodgrass emphasizes the sheer amount of moisture involved.

“I hate it that it’s a massive winter storm, and it’s extremely disruptive, and it is going be a problem,” he says. “But there’s up to 3" of liquid in this, and we need every bit of that.”

How Long will the Cold Last

For producers watching soil moisture and river levels, Snodgrass offers perspective but also encourages patience.

“Spring can undo all of winter’s sins,” he says. “So by the time we get into March and April, we can recover these significant losses in soil. The rivers can come back up, and we can start to see a better start.”

Still, the concern isn’t evenly spread across the country. In southern Texas, drought pressure is already immediate.

“You have to remember, right now in Texas, they’re already scratching dirt and planting corn,” Snodgrass says “So you’ve got folks down there that are more concerned about this drought because it’s hitting them right now.”

For most of the Corn Belt and Plains, Snodgrass says waiting might be the best course of action.

“For the rest of us, we can be patient and wait,” he says. “And that’s what I would advise folks to do for the next couple of months.”

Icy winter storm conditions are forecast across parts of Texas through the weekend.

AgriLife Extension encourages Texans to take steps now to protect their families, homes and property. Winter storms can create dangerous conditions, including power outages, hazardous travel and… pic.twitter.com/DDncSrhLq7
— Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (@txextension) January 22, 2026

Nightly Battles and Big Losses: Ranchers Demand Reform as Wolves Continue to Wreak Havoc

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:42:52 GMT

It’s hard to fathom: 92 confirmed or probable kills of cattle by three wolves during one season (April to October 2025) in the Sierra Valley. For ranchers, it’s more than economical loss — the emotional toll of dealing with wolves targeting their livestock and livelihoods is real.

Reintroduction and management of wolves in Sierra County, Calif., has led to significant challenges. The community, led by officials such as Paul Roen, has been actively pushing for updated management protocols, enhanced deterrence measures and better support from state and federal agencies to address the escalating wolf-livestock conflict.

Roen, a Sierra County supervisor (similar to a county commissioner) and rancher, explains it’s more than a livestock issue; it is a human safety issue.

“These wolves were not bothered by humans whatsoever. I mean, they were not acting like wild animals at all,” he says in reference to the wolves killing cattle earlier this year.

Rick Roberti, California Cattlemen’s Association president and a cattle rancher in Sierra Valley, adds: “For every confirmed kill you find, there’s probably four to six others. The wolves had gotten so used to eating cattle they didn’t hardly even look at a deer if they could find one.”

Roen and Roberti both stress the wolves have no fear of humans, with frequent sightings near homes and barns.

The severity of the attacks led Roen and other local officials to declare a state of emergency, drawing statewide and media attention. Despite the efforts of ranchers and local authorities — including constant night patrols, protective measures and deployment of technology like drones — wolf predation persisted. The community also engaged with state and federal resources, including a Strike Force sent by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to document the losses and explore possible intervention .

The program, designed to prevent livestock attacks on ranching properties in the heavily impacted Sierra Valley, deployed more than 18,000 staff hours across 114 days, engaging in 95 hazing events that helped to prevent an even greater loss in cattle deaths.

Eighteen Sierra Valley ranches enrolled in the program. CDFW staff also assisted ranches in evaluating the use of wolf-deterring fladry and ensuring livestock carcasses are correctly disposed to avoid attracting scavenging wolves. Additionally, the program helped facilitate depredation investigations, enabling ranchers to access compensation through CDFW’s Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program .

Following the unprecedented level of livestock attacks across the Sierra Valley, CDFW, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), took the step of lethally removing four gray wolves from the Beyem Seyo pack.

“This action follows months of intensive non-lethal management efforts to reduce livestock loss and is grounded in the best available science and understanding of wolf biology,” according to the press release.

Roen says progress dealing with the wolf issue came with federal involvement and local law enforcement support. He says when the sheriff got involved , people woke up in Sacramento.

Read more about how sheriff departments from seven California counties united to oppose environmental polices they believe threaten ranchers and farmers.

Not Just California

The gray wolf is on the federal endangered species list except in the Northern Rocky Mountain region of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, the eastern one-third of Oregon, Washington and north-central Utah. In Minnesota, the gray wolf is considered threatened. Because of these protections, killing a wolf in the states where it’s protected is illegal, even if it’s seen killing livestock.

Luke Morgan, Lightning Bolt Cattle Company general manager, has been dealing with wolves since 2011 when they first came to Oregon. Morgan manages 2,500 mother cows on multiple locations in Oregon and Washington using both public and private lands.

A pack of wolves that live on one of the Lightning Bolt ranches in western Oregon have been causing havoc the past couple years. According to Morgan, the wolves killed more than 25 head of livestock from mid-October to mid-November.

He says the wolves prey the weak-minded: “Whatever can’t take the pressure … the ones that will break and run.”

(CDFW)

Cattle producer Amy Anderson Fitzpatrick says her family has also been dealing with wolves since 2011. They raise cattle in southern Oregon during the grazing season (May to December), then move the herd to winter in Northern California. The base ranch, called Rancheria Ranch, is in the mountains of Oregon and is a mix of owned land and permitted grazing. The operation includes commercial cow herd plus some yearlings.

Since 2019, Fitzpatrick says at least 24 cattle deaths have been attributed to wolves, though actual losses are likely higher due to unconfirmed cases in the rugged terrain.

“I have learned far more about wolves and their behavior than I could ever imagine. Wolves kill for food, yes, but they also kill to hone their skills, teach their young and for fun. We have witnessed wolves literally bumping livestock bedded down to get them up and running to chase them,” Fitzpatrick says. “We’ve been dealing with it for about 14 years. … The earlier pack, the Rogue Pack, would hit Fort Klamath hard in the summer months when there was an abundance of yearling cattle, then in the fall they’d come over the hill to Rancheria and hit us. Now we deal with what is known as this Grouse Ridge Pack, which seems to just like to hang out at the ranch and hit our permit country in the summertime.”

Fitzpatrick says they previously anticipated up to five losses per year from cattle turned out on the range as a cost of doing business. With the increase in wolf population, the ranch tallied between 35 and 40 mostly weaned calves during the 2024 season.

The Rogue Pack would kill livestock as sport and not consume the animals. However, the current, larger pack tends to consume more carcasses, further complicating verification.

In Wisconsin over the past 12 months, wolf attacks on livestock have increased. According to the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), there have been 62 livestock depredation incidents in 2025 — 45 killed and 17 confirmed harassments — all of which are either livestock or pets. That’s nearly double the number of incidents reported just three years ago.

According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau : “Wisconsin’s wolf population has rebounded from extinction to an undeniable conservation success. But lately, it feels more like a horror story than a success story.”

Read more about how ranchers say they are willing to deal with wolves if they will return to their natural habitat:
Wolves Are Not Going Away: Ranchers Push for Practical Management Tools

(Paul Roen)

Financial Loss is Real

Herd-level effects beyond death loss include lower conception rates, 50 lb. to 75 lb. weaning weight declines and cow herd fear. Wolves have changed cattle behavior significantly.

Fitzpatrick says the presence of wolves has caused observable stress and aggression in the cattle, leading to behavioral changes, abortions and decreased weaning weights.

“Wolves actively harass resting cattle, preventing them from relaxing or thriving,” she says.

Morgan says herd experience more vulnerability during calving season. He points out calves and protective dams are high-risk with wolf attacks leading to increasing accidental calf deaths and stress-related herd disruptions.

Research by Tina Saitone, a University of California-Davis professor and cooperative Extension specialist in livestock and rangeland economics, found one wolf can cause up to $162,000 in annual financial loss .

Compensation is Available But Falls Short

Compensation frameworks exist but often lack speed and scope and require confirmations that are often unfeasible. Morgan says there’s not even close to enough funds in the pool to cover all the losses.

“There is money appropriated in California, but we’re just having a hard time getting it,” Roberti adds. “Most have been waiting since April.”

All four producers say depredations are significantly undercounted compared with real losses due to terrain, investigation lags and evidence requirements. A shared frustration is the fact if an animal is nearly completely consumed, the investigators can’t find the evidence it was a wolf attack and thus, it does not count as a wolf depredation.

Emotional Toll is Substantial

For cattle producers impacted by wolves, it’s more than the financial toll; it’s the human factor, the stress incurred.

“Financial-wise, it’s huge. It’s astronomical, if you really dig into it, but the mental capacity it takes from us and the people who work for us is huge,” Morgan says. “The emotional toll we have to go through just watching and observing cattle, and we spend every day we possibly can trying to keep these animals alive.

“There’s nothing pretty about the way [wolves] kill animals,” he continues. “For us to go out and find them or have to deal with that, it’s huge emotionally.”

Fitzpatrick explains the losses due to wolves have deeply affected her dad.

“My dad is 81 years old, and I have never seen him so depressed,” she explains. “He’s not the same; he’s lost the fight. It’s like we’ve lost. How do you put a price tag on that?”

Dealing with wolves it is a safety issue as well, Roberti adds. As producers stay up all night checking on and protecting their cattle. Fitzpatrick agrees, summarizing the stressful steps she takes to check cattle, noting she now avoids certain tasks due to the increased risks to herself and her dogs.

Documenting the events in Sierra County, Roen says he hopes their experiences can be used as a road map for others. He plans to share plans, forms and training materials with ranchers facing similar threats.

“We created different plans and trainings we will allow everybody to plagiarize,” he says.

Your Next Read:
Wolves Are Not Going Away: Ranchers Push for Practical Management Tools

The Cost of Coexistence With Wolves

What Does Talk of $10 Ground Beef Mean to Producers?

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 20:00:36 GMT

While the core fundamentals of the beef industry remain unchanged, the overall environment has become much more volatile and uncertain in recent weeks.

Omaha Steaks CEO Nate Rempe, in a recent interview on Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria , predicts ground beef prices will reach $10 per pound by the third quarter of 2026.

In response to that prediction, ag economist Glynn Tonsor from Kansas State University reports, according to September Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average price for ground beef was $6.32 per pound. He explains while niche markets such as Omaha Steaks could see some products priced at $10, the national average is unlikely to reach that level within the next three years.

Tonsor emphasizes Omaha Steaks serves a distinct customer base, and their prices should not be generalized to represent all U.S. ground beef prices.

Lance Zimmerman, senior animal protein analyst with Rabo AgriFinance, adds: “It’s possible, but that’d be pretty wild. Is it probable? I would say no, based on history.”

He explains his stance also referring to the BLS historic data, although prices spiked radically during the pandemic posting the highest year-over-year increases on record, that event only resulted in a 34% jump, far short of the 54% increase needed to see $10 ground beef by the third quarter of 2026.

What Does All This Beef Chatter Cause?

The beef industry has found itself in national headlines since Sept. 15. The industry has been experiencing chaos in the markets since President Donald Trump made statements regarding the need to lower beef prices as well as his request for the Department of Justice to investigate meatpackers for driving up the price of beef.

“The base fundamentals of the industry have not changed in the last four weeks,” Tonsor says. “The volatility, the noise in the business environment, has definitely elevated.”

Read more about the industry chaos today:
Beef Industry Chaos: Tight Supplies, Strong Consumer Demand and Political Interference

Zimmerman explains while political sound bites and promises to lower food prices draw media attention, they do not directly affect the day-to-day decisions by producers who remain focused on long-term business fundamentals.

“At the end of the day, the average cow-calf producer, stocker operator and feedlot operator, have a business to run, and all of this noise doesn’t change much surrounding their day-to-day business,” Zimmerman summarizes. “The challenge is the president is making this a very regular soundbite, as is the rest of his administration. And, cyclically, there is no quick fix.”

Zimmerman shares his frustration regarding the broader impact of political statements, especially presidential promises to bring down food prices. He explains that, historically, the only way to significantly reduce food costs is to enter a recession. The catch, he argues, is that neither administration nor producers desire such an outcome. This underscores the conflict between policy rhetoric and on-the-ground market drivers.

Tonsor adds media attention and dramatic statements, such as $10 ground beef, often do not accurately represent broad market reality.

“I’m trying to use this as an excuse to educate on why prices are higher; [it’s] not just because cow numbers are down,” Tonsor explains. “When we just jump to the number of cows, we don’t give credit to the demand story that the public wants beef.”

Read more about beef demand:
Consumers Confirm Protein is In: Meat Continues to Have Its Moment on the Plate
How Many Minutes Does a Consumer Have to Work to Buy A Pound of Ground Beef?

One question on the mind of producers and industry stakeholders is if the political and media attention will heighten consumer awareness to beef prices and cause a change in buying behavior.

Tonsor says, so far, there is little impact from these headlines on consumer demand.

“It’s too early to tell if there’s been a consumer demand impact from all the chatter,” he says. “My best guess is little-to-no direct impact.”

Both analysts agree beef prices are fueled by demand. Tonsor notes consumers are willing to pay the retail price of beef today because of their continued demand for taste and protein. He points out if public demand for beef stays strong, prices will remain robust.

“The public still thinks taste is the most important thing when they make a decision,” he summarizes.

Slowing Down Rebuilding

“This uncertainty has wrecked the market potential in Chicago in the short run,” Zimmerman explains. “But the timing of it also couldn’t be worse for the cow-calf producer who’s making those fall retention decisions right now.”

Both analysts agree the heightened uncertainty is making producers more hesitant to invest or expand their herds, which will lead to slower industry investment and herd growth.

Read more about herd rebuilding:
Rebuilding the U.S. Cow Herd: A Calculated Climb

“I think we’re going to slow investment compared to even a month ago, just because those that are anxious or don’t like uncertainty are a little more cautious today than they were a month ago,” Tonsor explains. “Those that are extra uncomfortable with elevated uncertainty, like not knowing what the trade environment might be, it’s going to give them pause. So, they will be less likely to hold back a heifer and expand. They’ll be less likely to modernize the feedyard. They’ll be less likely to do whatever that capital investment was.”

Will Tarriff Reduction Impact Prices?

Late last week, Trump signed an executive order that modifies the scope of the reciprocal tariffs he first announced on April 2. The executive order now exempts several agricultural products from tariffs, including beef.

Zimmerman explains Brazil’s beef processors and beef exporters would have gained the most if the country’s additional tariffs were removed by the U.S. The previous rate was an additional 50% tariff on top of the 26.4% tariff that exists on all imports from countries without a free-trade agreement on beef after the first 65,005 MT each calendar year. However, the Brazil tariffs are structured under two separate practices. Ten percent are reciprocal tariffs, and the additional 40% that came in August are through another process.

“The latest removal of reciprocal tariffs on beef effectively changes Brazil’s country-specific import tax from 50% to 40%,” he explains. “This is not going to significantly change the competitive landscape for global exporters shipping into the U.S. market. It is still incredibly tough for Brazil to compete with Australia, New Zealand and other major lean beef importers in the U.S. market.”

Tonsor adds reducing tariffs could marginally lower beef prices for consumers, but the effect would not be dramatic. He points out the U.S. produces the majority of its own beef (more than 80%), so changes in import tariffs have a limited impact on domestic prices.

He says recent record import months only moved the import share from around 15% to slightly more than 20%. Tonsor expects the net effect of the tariff reduction on beef prices to be fairly small, potentially less than a 5%-to-10% change, and that overall, strong domestic demand will continue to be the main driver of prices.

Challenge to Producers

Tonsor says his advice to producers is to steady the ship.

He encourages a steady approach, suggesting those comfortable with uncertainty should move forward as planned, while others might pause on major decisions. Ultimately, he expects less herd expansion and more caution among producers, even as demand fundamentals continue to provide underlying strength for the industry.

Tonsor says while general industry investment and expansion might slow, producers who move forward despite the uncertainty could be rewarded, especially if fewer others do the same. His overall message is for producers to carefully weigh their risk tolerance and business needs before making significant changes and not to let the current noise distract from their long-term goals.

Despite recent market corrections, Zimmerman says strong demand and cyclical tightness mean profitability remains high for most producers. He shares these six strategies for producers to consider looking forward:

Consider Strategic Heifer Retention. He advises producers to begin or continue retaining heifers, even if only enough to replace natural attrition in the cow herd, as a step toward gradual herd rebuilding in tight supply conditions.
Use Price Protection Tools. He emphasizes the importance of locking in profit floors using risk management tools such as Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance , futures or options contracts, encouraging producers not to wait for the highest prices but to protect profitability when opportunities arise.
Maintain Long-Term Perspective. Despite recent market corrections, he urges producers to keep a long-term view; demand is strong, and rebuilding will be slow, so planning for sustained higher prices is key.
Stay Vigilant and Informed. He recommends producers remain watchful for profit opportunities in the market, be proactive in their strategic decisions and stay informed about both market trends and policy changes.
Be Cautious, Not Reactionary. He suggests not overreacting to political headlines or media narratives, emphasizing that day-to-day operational fundamentals should guide decisions rather than short-term noise.
Prepare for Continued Volatility. He encourages resilience and adaptation strategies as the industry faces persistent uncertainty from trade policy and disease threats such as New World screwworm .

Your Next Read: Did the Administration’s Plan to Lower Beef Prices Wreck the Bull Run in the Cattle Market?

Beef Industry Chaos: Tight Supplies, Strong Consumer Demand and Political Interference

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 20:04:16 GMT

The current state of the cattle market and beef industry has been described as chaotic. “There’s chaos in cattle,” as Chip Flory, AgriTalk host, put it.

The industry turmoil follows recent statements made by President Donald Trump regarding the need to lower beef prices as well as his request for the Department of Justice to immediately begin an investigation into meatpackers for driving up the price of beef.

Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist from Oklahoma State University, affirms these are unique times, emphasizing while political factors have always indirectly influenced agriculture, it’s unprecedented for the cattle and beef markets to be at the center of direct political debate.

On a recent AgriTalk segment, Peel points out the inherent biological and production constraints of the cattle industry — particularly the fixed timeline to raise cattle — make quick fixes impossible. Both Flory and Peel stress that no political policy can shorten the cattle production process; any effective supply response requires patience and long-term adjustment.

Packers Under Fire

The concept of industry consolidation and foreign packer ownership has long drawn scrutiny with frequent government investigations. Peel says highly concentrated industries such as beef packing have been targets for skepticism and regulatory attention for over a century, to the point suspicion of packers is almost “a cultural thing” within segments of the industry.

He characterizes the latest call as another attempt to target convenient scapegoats rather than addressing deeper systemic realities of supply and demand.

“The reason we have the industry structure we do is because the economies of size and cost efficiencies are such a powerful economic force,” Peels explains.

He confirms researchers have long studied market power, and while concentration does have a small negative price impact for producers, the efficiency and cost-savings from large-scale firms more than compensate. These benefits, he says, keep cattle prices higher for producers and beef prices lower for consumers than they would be with a less efficient structure.

Dissecting the economics of margin markets Peels explains why price changes in different parts of the beef supply chain — cow-calf, feeders, packers and retailers — don’t move in lockstep. He uses a “bungee cord” analogy to illustrate the complex, dynamic and time-lagged interactions linking cattle prices at the farm with retail beef prices.

“All cattle prices and beef prices are ultimately connected, but they’re not connected with a stick or a chain,” Peel summarizes.” They’re connected with a bungee cord. There’s just an enormous amount of dynamics in this thing.”

Regarding the foreign ownership debate, Peel says there is no evidence foreign ownership alters packer behavior within the U.S. marketplace. He emphasizes foreign firms have made large investments in U.S. facilities and continue to operate them by the same market logic that would govern domestic ownership.

He also points out it is unclear who else would be in a position to make such significant investments if these foreign companies were not involved. This pragmatic view suggests the ownership issue might be less important than is commonly believed, at least concerning everyday operations and market outcomes.

A Lot Hinges on Rebuilding the Cow Herd

In his latest article, “ All Bets are Off ,” Peel says: “The latest edition in the torrent of recent political attentions directed at the cattle and beef industry includes allegations of market manipulation against the beef packing industry. Beef packers are the one segment that has been most negatively impacted in the current market, incurring huge losses due to poor margins and limited cattle supplies.”

(Meat Institute)

Peel reports packers have been losing enormous amounts of money for about the past 18 to 24 months. According to the Meat Institute, packer margins slipped into the red in September 2024. Through the week ending Oct. 4, 2025, packer margins were a negative $126.50 per head, up slightly from a year earlier at a negative $125.65 per head, according to Sterling Profit Tracker. The outlook for the year is a negative $165.96 per head packer margin.

“There’s just simply not enough cattle for them to operate at cost efficient capacities,” Peel explains.

This negative trend was anticipated — the reduced supply of cattle has made it difficult for packing plants to function at cost-efficient capacities, leading to the accumulation of operating losses. Peel points out the combination of low unit margins and insufficient cattle supplies challenges the economic viability of packers, further illustrating the complexity of the current environment.

This decline in inventory is not the result of a single factor but is driven by several years of drought and other market pressures. It is clear high beef and cattle prices are a result of these tight supplies and, according to Peel, these high prices are likely to persist for several years. The industry simply cannot turn around production levels quickly, and it will take time — a matter of years, not months — for conditions to normalize.

“Using logic that only works in the office of a politician, packers are supposedly wielding unacceptable market power while paying record high cattle prices and artificially raising beef prices … but not enough to avoid losing a couple hundred dollars on every animal they process — certainly many millions of dollars,” Peel says. “If beef packers had any significant ability to exercise market power, I am certain that we would not have record high cattle prices and packers would not be losing money.”

Peel suggests the federal government attacks on beef packers are aided and supported by a vocal minority of the cattle industry and a few sympathetic politicians who view packers as a perennial villain and always worthy of attack anytime the opportunity is presented.

“The timing of such attacks this time is particularly puzzling as dismantling the packing industry would certainly jeopardize current record high cattle prices and the best economic returns most producers have ever enjoyed,” Peels says. “I guess some cowboys just can’t stand prosperity.”

R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says the cattle market is fundamentally broken citing years of an inverse relationship between falling cattle prices and increasing retail beef prices when the only ingredient in beef is cattle. Read more about his perspective.

Patience not Politics

Beef and cattle prices, Peel notes, are historically high, a result of industry-wide low cattle inventory. Rebuilding the nation’s cow herd will be a long, slow process, keeping prices elevated for an extended period. And Peel says there is no definitive evidence producers are saving heifers to start the rebuilding process.

“2025 may prove to be technically the cyclical low, but 2026 is going to be barely bigger, if it is, and no growth in 2026 and probably none in 2027 ... it’s 2028 into 2029 before that turns into increased beef production,” Peel predicts.

He summarizes neither regulatory nor political action will can speed up the rebuilding process. It will take years of concerted effort, market healing and stability before the industry can expect a meaningful rebound in herd numbers and production — a reality that requires patience across the industry.

“There is absolutely nothing anybody can do to make beef prices go down, or cattle prices, other than maybe tear up the industry completely,” Peels says. “And if we tear up the industry, it’ll make cattle prices go down, but it won’t make beef prices go down. It’ll make beef prices go even higher for consumers and the only way to fix this is to give the industry time to rebuild, and that’s going to take two to four years if we ever get started.”

He says a majority of cattle producers understand the beef industry is extremely complex and all segments are critical and essential.

“Though the outcome of current political actions is uncertain, the potential for long-term harm to the industry is substantial,” Peel says. “Anytime politics trumps economics, the strong supply and demand fundamentals that have determined the outlook for the industry to this point become irrelevant. Expectations for prices and production going forward are now completely clouded…therefore… all bets are off.”

Your Next Read: You Be The Judge: The Big Bad Beef Packers Are On Trial

$4 Feeder Cattle: Dream or Reality?

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 19:37:12 GMT

As October draws to a close, U.S. officials are reportedly going to meet with Mexican counterparts this week to talk about reopening the border . The possibility of trade resuming, coupled with President Donald Trump’s comments on lowering beef prices and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ announcement to “fortify the beef industry,” sent the cattle market spiraling in recent days.

Despite the downturn, the fundamentals haven’t changed: reduced supply and strong consumer demand are fueling record-high market prices.

“The reduction in available supply and robust beef demand to-date has clearly provided price support,” says Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University professor of agricultural economics. “Tied to that is the biggest risk in my opinion — beef demand. Anything that erodes beef demand strength, most likely macroeconomic and consumer income in nature in my opinion, will put downward pressure on cattle of all weight classes.”

Tonsor says he never gave $4 much thought until the past couple of years.

“If we adjust for inflation or consider production costs, $4 feeders aren’t what they used to be. It takes $4-plus feeders to generate the net returns we used to get from lower prices,” he explains. “These are profitable prices for ranchers — and it’s about time.”

Tonsor predicts feeder cattle prices to continue under current conditions but does not predict increased profitability due to increasing operating costs.

“The 2025 bull market has been exceptional by every measure,” summarizes Lance Zimmerman, RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness senior beef industry analyst. “500-lb. steer prices are now more than 50% higher than last year, and 800-lb. steer prices are nearly there at just under a 50% price increase year-over-year.”

As a frame of reference, the CME feeder cattle cash index, which captures the average 700 lb. to 899 lb. steer price, averaged $367.08/cwt. the week of Oct. 20. This fall, livestock auction markets across the country have reported lightweight feeder cattle surpassing the $4 mark.

“I think it is entirely possible for feeder cattle to get to $4,” says Don Close, Terrain Ag senior animal protein analyst. “However, I think it will be late summer and fall 2026.”

According to Close, there are three critical components for feeder prices today:
1. Mexican border reopening
2. What disruptions could come to the beef-on-dairy supply
3. Feed prices

“Of that list, Mexico border closure is the real wild card,” he explains. “I don’t see a measurable disruption to beef-on-dairy or feed costs in the near term.”

When Will We Hit the High?

Oklahoma State University’s Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist, explains the highest average prices are likely a year or more after heifer retention begins.

“We don’t have any confirmation heifer retention has started to any significant level in 2025,” Peel says. “We have already pushed off any signs of herd rebuilding by one to two years longer than I earlier expected, and we are looking at extending it another year if heifer retention does not start in the fourth quarter. Because the response has been much slower this time than previous cattle cycles, prices have certainly gone higher than I would have expected a year or two ago — though I did expect record-high prices.”

Peel predicts the next expansion phase will be different than the 2014-19 expansion cycle.

“The 2014-19 herd expansion was historically rapid, this current one is historically slow,” he says. “It is a combination of a lengthy list of factors that combine to make this a slow response, and it looks like it will remain a slow, lengthy process.”

Close shares his thoughts on the complexities of the current cycle:

Drought and economic stress. “As an industry, we didn’t fully recognize the severity of the drought as well as the degree of economic stress to the sector,” he says. “The fallout of the 2014 to 2015 price drop is still fresh on producers’ minds, so they have been using the prices of the past three years to get balance sheets in order, pay down debt and now are starting to make capital improvements.”
Producer age. “The average age of cow owners is a factor, so many have used current prices to liquidate and retire,” he says.
Female costs. “Replacement female prices that range from $3,000 to $5,000 restricts and scares some away,” he says. “That is only compounded with the addition of current interest rates.”
Cow size. The escalation in average cow size limits how many cows can run on a given unit of pasture.“
Land. “You hear producers make comments on the difficulty to find additional pasture in order to expand,” he says.

“This cycle has been driven or limited from a combination of all the above,” he says. “Our view is we need to rebuild by 2 to 2.5 million head. Keep in mind, given the escalation in carcass weights, we don’t need as many cattle to produce an equal quantity of beef.”

Close adds his thoughts regarding the impact of last week.

“Given all of the turmoil over the past week it is going to be even more difficult to trigger expansion,” he says. “There is no work around for destroyed producer confidence. I think current market action will further delay expansion.”

Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor Predicts Bull Market to Continue

Cattle prices are expected to stay high well into 2026, according to the latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor from Farm Journal. Nearly half of agricultural economists surveyed (47%) believe the current bull market in cattle could continue another 19 to 24 months, while another 27% say it could last 13 to 18 months. Only 7% expect prices to peak within the next six months.

“This run isn’t over,” one economist wrote. “At current prices we will see no or little herd expansion.” Another adds the fundamental supply side remains tight: “Clear signals that domestic beef production is increasing may be the key catalyst for a market top.”

“This is a nature of biology to some extent, it takes a while once you even start to retain a heifer for that heifer to produce a calf that then becomes a feeder calf that then becomes a fed calf that then becomes beef at the grocery store itself,” says Ben Brown, an Extension economist with the University of Missouri. “I don’t think we’ve seen necessarily the top of this cattle market yet.”

Even if cattle prices are close to seeing a top, that doesn’t mean prices will crash, he adds.

October Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

What Could End the Rally?

When asked what might trigger a peak in cattle prices, responses to the Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor were mixed — but demand destruction and herd rebuilding topped the list. Economists were asked to choose between five options, including:

The reopening of the U.S./Mexico border to Mexican feeder cattle imports
U.S. economic concerns with fallout from trade tensions with China
Removal of tariffs that would resume high levels of beef imports from Brazil
Demand destruction in the U.S. market

One respondent notes, “All of the above are relevant, but clear signals that domestic beef production is increasing may be more important.” Others pointed to a slowing U.S. economy or producers “beginning to hold back replacement heifers” as potential turning points.

“I have no idea what creates the top, but at current prices, we will see no/little herd expansion,” adds yet another economist.

“Beef Prices Can Stay High Longer Than Most Expect”

Economists agree the U.S. cattle market remains fundamentally strong, supported by limited supplies, robust export demand and solid retail prices. However, they caution the same forces keeping prices high — tight herds, high feed costs and inflation — could eventually cool the rally.

As one economist sums it up: “Beef prices can stay high longer than most expect — until consumers finally say ‘enough.’ That’s when we’ll see the turn.”

Be Aware: Dangerous Asian Longhorned Tick Continues Migrating West

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:42:46 GMT

The Asian Longhorned Tick (ALHT) poses a serious threat to cattle health. ALHTs carry Theileria, which is a protozoan parasite that infects red and white blood cells. It can lead to anemia and, in some cases, death.

ALHTs are native to eastern Asia, eastern China, Japan, the Russian Far East and Korea but were introduced to Australia, New Zealand and western Pacific Islands. In other countries, it can also be called a bush tick, cattle tick or scrub tick.

In the U.S., ALHT was first detected in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has spread to more than 20 states with recent confirmations in Illinois , Michigan and Iowa .

According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ALHTs are known to carry pathogens, which can cause disease and may also cause distress to the host from their feeding in large numbers. For example, a dairy cow may have a 25% decrease in milk production after becoming a host.

A female can reproduce without a mate and lay up to 2,000 eggs at a time. This can cause great stress on a heavily infested animal and result in reduced growth and production. A severe infestation can kill the animal from excessive blood loss.

Asian longhorned tick life stages and relative actual size.

(Photos of unfed ticks by Centers for Disease Control. Photos of engorged ticks by Jim Occi, Rutgers, Center for Vector Biology.)

What does it look like?

Unfed ALHTs range from a light reddish-tan to a dark red with brown, dark markings. While the adult female grows to the size of a pea when full of blood, other stages of the tick are very small — about the size of a sesame seed.

Adult females are a grey-green with yellowish markings. Male ticks are rare.

APHIS reports it only takes a single tick to create a population in a new location.

The above photos are of a AHLT engorged (on the left) and an adult AHLT not engorged.

(New Jersey Department of Agriculture)

ALHTs need warm-blooded hosts to feed and survive. They have been found on various species of domestic animals — such as sheep, goats, dogs, cats, horses, cattle and chickens — and wildlife. The tick has also been found on people.

What are the health risks?

APHIS says ALHTs are not known to carry Lyme disease, but they can cause tickborne diseases affecting humans and animals such as:

Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Heartland virus
Powassan virus

APHIS says those diseases have not been confirmed outside of a laboratory setting in the U.S. In addition, U.S. ALHT populations can transmit U.S. Theileria orientalis Ikeda strain (Cattle theileriosis) in the laboratory.

In an Iowa State University release , Grant Dewell, Extension beef veterinarian and associate professor, says cattle affected by Theileriosis will show signs of lethargy, anemia and difficulty breathing. They may develop ventral edema, exercise intolerance, jaundice and abortions.

“Although signs of Theileriosis are similar to anaplasmosis, younger animals and calves often display more severe signs compared to mature cows and bulls,” he says. “Due to anemia from both tick infestation and Theileria, the risk of death can be elevated. If cattle producers suspect either Theileria or ALHT, have a veterinarian collect appropriate samples and submit them to a veterinary diagnostic lab.”

According to an Oklahoma State University press release , under laboratory conditions ALHT is a competent vector of numerous pathogens that can cause disease in humans, including Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), Heartland Virus and Powassan Virus.

In “ Clinical Infectious Diseases, ” Bobbi Pritt, MD, MSC, with the division of clinical microbiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., reported a human bite that occurred in New York in 2019. She says though the report of a human bite isn’t surprising, it proves the invasive longhorned tick continues to bite hosts in its newest location.

“This is extremely worrisome for several reasons,” she writes. “One reason is Asian longhorned ticks can carry several important human pathogens, including the potentially fatal severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus and Rickettsia japonica, which cases Japanese spotted fever. While these pathogens have yet to be found in the United States, there is a risk of their future introduction.”

Also, Pritt says several other human pathogens have been detected in the ticks, but it’s not clear if the ALHT species are able to transmit them to humans. They include Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Borrelia species. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.

She warns the organisms are present in states where ALHTs have been found and that it’s possible the tick — known to be an aggressive biter— might be able to transmit Heartland virus given its close relationship to SFTS virus.

How to Tackle Ticks

According to APHIS, various strategies effectively mitigate tick populations on hosts and in the environment.

Regular tick treatments should be effective against ALHTs. Consult your veterinarian or agriculture extension agent about which products to use.
Check your livestock for ticks regularly.
Safely remove ticks from people and pets as quickly as possible. If you think you’ve found an ALHT, seal it in a zip-top bag and give it to your veterinarian for identification.
Habitat modifications can help prevent ticks on feedlots and pastures. This may include mowing grass, removing trees, reducing shade by thinning trees, understory removal and placing mulch barriers.
Apply acaricide using label instructions to tick habitats, such as woodland edges and grassy patches, during times when ticks are most actively seeking hosts. Although it varies by year, ALHTs are generally active from March to November. Consult your state and local regulations for approved acaricides.

“Cattle producers should aggressively control external parasites this summer,” Dewell summarizes. “Insecticide ear tags alone are not enough to control ticks. Consider incorporating a back rubber or regularly applying a pour-on during the summer. Pyrethroid-based products are also available that include a tick control label. If an increase in tick infestations is observed, an avermectin pour-on may be the best intervention.”

Your Next Read: 1,500-lb. Carcasses the New Normal, Not the Exception

Fast Delivery, Competitive Prices and Simplicity Drives FBN Customer Satisfaction

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:13:34 GMT

A one-stop shop for farm and ranch input needs, Farmers Business Network (FBN) serves more than 13,000 livestock producers from across the U.S. FBN is expanding its livestock offering to include Ridley Feeds, Farmers First Mineral, fencing supplies, equine products as well as pet care.

Crop and cattle producer Kyle Burk, Burk Land & Cattle in Marionville, Mo., has been a customer of FBN for two years. Initially using FBN for its competitive chemical pricing, Burk now purchases approximately 90% of his mineral products for his livestock through the company.

“We background a lot of cattle for Joplin Regional Stockyards,” Burk says. “I feel the cattle have gained tremendously better with the FBN mineral program, whether it be fly control or other attribute.”

Burk manages a 2,000-acre farm primarily focused on feed production for his family’s stock cows, dairy and grow yard. He says FBN has become an integral part of his agricultural strategy — providing not just products, but comprehensive support across purchasing, financing and consulting.

“The website is extremely easy to use,” Burk explains.

The platform’s intuitive design allows him to quickly locate and order the exact items he needs for his diverse operation.

Customer service is another key to Burk’s FBN experience. He appreciates how the company proactively contacts customers within 24 hours of an unusual order to confirm it’s correct.

Beyond product ordering, Burk has also utilized FBN’s financial services. After an accident last year, he turned to FBN classifieds to purchase a replacement silage truck and secured financing through FBN within a day. The rate, he says, was more competitive than his local bank.

Burk says he recommends and appreciates the FBN professionals who have helped him with purchasing decisions. When drought led him to switch to conventional corn, he worked FBN’s chemical specialist for product support.

“It’s probably the cleanest corn we’ve ever had,” Burk says.

Expanding Livestock Catalog

Livestock is FBN’s fastest-growing segment, powered by producer trust in speed, value and reliable delivery. According to Emily Zollinger, FBN director of livestock, the platform’s latest offerings include:

Ridley Feeds (a division of Alltech) : Sweetlix mineral and tubs now available with live, daily pricing
Farmers First Mineral : A new, simplified line of cattle mineral dynamic pricing and clear online descriptions
Fencing Supplies : Including barbed wire, woven wire, pipe, cable and other fencing tools
Equine Care : Products for grooming, nutrition, deworming, hoof care and vaccinations
Pet Health: Vaccines, parasite control, nutrition, and prescriptions filled with vet approval

“We’re building a marketplace where ranchers and livestock producers get not only great prices, but convenience and service they can count on,” Zollinger says.

(FBN)

Why Producers Choose FBN

Initially founded in 2014, FBN expanded into livestock in 2020. Today, the platform is designed to make purchasing fast, transparent and farm-friendly.

Key features include:

Free membership
Build your own online order
Fast shipping (typically two business days)
Nationwide logistics network across the U.S. and Canada
Flexible support ranging from self-service to dedicated account reps
Educational tools including blogs and resource hubs
Financing options with competitive rates
Prescription support working directly with your vet to verify orders

Zollinger says FBN’s mission is to deliver prosperity to family farmers and ranchers through every season, every segment and every challenge.

“We’re not just selling inputs,” she summarizes. “We’re giving farmers and ranchers a platform — with tools, pricing transparency and support they can build a business on.”

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Calving Tips: Dealing with Protective Moms

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 21:48:39 GMT

As spring calving season continues, producers continue to monitor and assist when needed as their next calf crop hits the ground. Dealing with protective moms can be a challenging situation, two industry leaders and a producer share their tips on how to prevent and cope with the situation when faced with an unruly cow.

The first 24 hours is a key time in the newborn’s life. Ron Lemenager, Purdue beef specialist, says calves older than 24 hours are typically hard to catch, so if you plan to process the newborn, it should be done as soon as possible after birth.

“Outside of colostrum, I don’t often talk about some of the other chores that might need done in that time period,” says AJ Tarpoff, Kansas State University Extension veterinarian. “Simply because it’s different for every operation.”

Work as a team: It’s hard to know if you are in danger without someone watching your back. One person can entertain the cow, while the other can tag or accomplish what is needed.”

(Angie Stump Denton)

Depending on your management program, producers may choose to perform some of these tasks in the first 24 hours: tagging, castrating, dehorning, taking birth weights, giving selenium injections or recording calf information in a calving book.

It might be necessary to use nutritional supplements/injectables depending on the operation and cow status. Tarpoff encourages producers to discuss proper products and protocols to use at calving with your veterinarian prior to the first calf hitting the ground.

Commercial cattle producer Tyler Tobald, JTAC Farms, Glasco, Kan., shares his process for newborn calves.

“In the first 24 hours after calving, I will usually put ear tags into the calf,” he says. “If the calf is a bull, I band it. Then, I give the calf some oral vitamin A, D, E, B12 gel while I use a leg band to get its weight. We rotate our calving areas in different parts of the pasture and attached field. After I’m all done tagging, I enter the calf into CattleMax and record any other notes about the cow and calf that I deem important to know for the future.”

Obviously, cow behavior can be a factor when processing a newborn. Just like the video published with this story, sometimes a protective mom decides she is not happy with a producer touching her calf. Tobald says his goal is to keep a cow’s stress levels down as much as possible.

“I check the pair out on a side-by-side,” he explains. “When I roll up, I try to be as quiet as possible and not just zoom up on them. After that, I try to be as quiet as I can. I don’t hoop, holler, talk or anything that will add stimulation to an already stressful situation. I also always keep the cow in front of me as best as possible. The last thing I want is for an amped up 1,300-lb. animal behind me where it can sneak attack me.”

Tobald says his philosophy on dealing with cows, even the over-protective ones, is using the most important of the Roadhouse Rules: Be nice until it’s time to not be nice.

“Thankfully this is a very rare occurrence,” he says. “I make notes of any cow that is over-protective, so I know what I’m dealing with when I approach them in the future. But if the cow gets more aggressive the next year, then the calf doesn’t even get tags and gets loaded into a trailer with the cow and they go to the sale. Life is too short for crazy or mean cows.”

Lemenager explains that right after a cow gives birth, her hormones are raging.

“That’s part of the process that helps her bond to that calf,” he says. “She also needs to stimulate the calf, so it gets up and nurses. If any part of that natural process is interrupted, the cow can become very aggressive.”

Tarpoff shares these tips for dealing with overly protective mother cows.

Have some type of physical separation from mom. This might be a fence, panel, gate, truck, side-by-side. “The only truly safe location is to have a physical barrier between you and the cow while working with the calf”
Work as a team. “It’s hard to know if you are in danger without someone watching your back. One person can entertain the cow, while the other can tag or accomplish what is needed.”
Be efficient and thoughtful with the calf manipulation. “It only takes one painful bellow from the calf to set the cow off. Save potentially painful manipulations until last (ear tags or castration).
Be smart. “Don’t assume cows are faking a threat. When in doubt, always take the safe approach. The chore can always be completed later if the cow is on the fight. Keep records and plan to handle the situation when she calms down.”
Stay safe. “If we get injured, we put stress on the rest of our family and operation.”

Different strategies can help keep the producer and calf safe during newborn processing.

“Some ranchers use a cage on the side of their ATV,” Lemenager explains. “This allows for bringing that calf into the cage while handling it. Another option is to have two people working with the calf. One to care for the calf and the second to keep the cow away.”

If you are going to try to move a calf to another location, an option is a polypropylene plastic sled or a calf carrier on an ATV (calf sling). Lemenager says a cow will typically follow because she can smell and see her calf.

“Ideally, when working with a cow-calf pair, I try to keep the calf between me and the cow,” Lemenager says. “Most, but not all cows, are calmer and less aggressive when they can see and smell their calf.”

Lemenager summarizes a key to improving your cow herd behavior is to consistently use low-stress handling to help desensitize cattle to the presence of people.

Follow Tobald or JTAC Farms on Facebook or TikTok for more examples of low-stress handling and cow management.

Your Next Read: Calving Signs in Cows and Heifers

March Storm Challenges Midwest Beef Producers

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 21:07:30 GMT

Midwest producers enjoyed springlike temperatures the past few days, but old man weather decided it was time for one last blast of winter before the first day of spring, March 20. As of 11 a.m., Interstate 70 in Kansas is closed west of Salina to the Colorado border and Interstate 80 in Nebraska is closed from Lincoln to North Platte.

Kristian Rennert, a cattle rancher from Elm Creek, Neb., says extreme winds and a blizzard rolled in late last night after a warm, pleasant day yesterday. He explained the wind and blowing snow challenge he faced getting to his calving facility 2 miles from his house.

“I had to bring a couple calves into a shed to warm them up, and now I need to get them back out with their mothers once the weather improves,” Rennert says.

Rennert and his neighbor manage their Charolais cattle operations together, calving around 400 cows. They are about two-thirds done calving.

“It was absolutely a beautiful day yesterday. The last couple days been phenomenal,” Rennert says. “A couple days ago it was 80 degrees. It’s just amazing that from four o’clock in the afternoon it was 60 some degrees and then two o’clock the next morning it was a full out, raging blizzard. It’s crazy that we can go to such extremes in such a short time.”

Nebraska rancher Kolby Van Newkirk from Oshkosh was also calving Tuesday night in the blizzard.

“We didn’t get much moisture with the storm,” he says. “We maybe got 1 or 2 inches, but since probably 5 p.m. Tuesday night, I would say the sustained wind has been 30 mph plus with gusts of 50 plus.”

Van Newkirk Herefords pair up first-calf heifers and keep in larger areas to watch for health after calving.

(Van Newkirk Herefords)

The Van Newkirks are located on the southern edge of the Nebraska Sandhills. They started calving the first of February and are about 90% done.

He says the key to the calf survival and success is getting the newborns up and nursing.

“It is important the calves get colostrum and a good start to life,” he adds.

Van Newkirk also stresses the importance of closely monitoring the calves to ensure they are getting up and nursing multiple times per day, especially during and after severe storms.

Along with calving and feeding cows, these swings in weather also affect bull sales. The cold weather snap in February had a negative impact on his bull sale reducing attendance, Rennert says. Likewise, several Kansas and Nebraska bull sales scheduled for today, March 19, have been postponed due to the weather.

Kristian Rennert, Nebraska producer, brings calves in the barn to warm up during a March blizzard.

(Rennert)

Looking ahead, Rennert says he is most concerned about potential health problems in the newborn calves, such as enterotoxemia, scours and pneumonia. They group the pairs into smaller groups of around 50 to better manage their health. While the current temperatures are not extremely cold, the sudden weather change is still a challenge.

“After this storm, and then dealing with the wind, you just have to keep a really close eye on these calves,” Van Newkirk summarizes. “Make sure they’re getting up and sucking, at least twice a day. Keep an eye out for scours or dehydration.”

Rennert is hopeful the weather will improve in the next few days, with temperatures expected to rebound into the 50s and 60s.

Your Next Read: Weather Swings Bring Mud and Concerns About Calf Health

Livestock Report by Ben DiCostanzo

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 20:17:34 GMT

Live Cattle

On Monday August 13, 2018 the October Live Cattle contract broke down below the 112.25 – 108.175 trading range, trading to a low of 107.65 and settling at 108.15. It settled below the key level at 108.65 and the 108.175 low. It couldn’t get below the 107.35 support level on the break down however, so support is containing the selling. A break down from here could lead to a test 0f support at 106.025 and then 104.85.A recovery above 108.65 could see price move towards resistance at 110.80. On Friday, trade and demand was moderate in the Texas Panhandle. Compared to last week live purchases traded 3.00 lower at 111.00. Trade was light on light to moderate demand in Kansas, the Northern Plains and the Western Cornbelt. In Kansas compared to last week, live purchases traded mostly 3.00 lower from 110.00-111.00, bulk at 111.00. In the Northern Plains live traded unevenly steady compared to Thursday from 110.00-111.00. On Thursday in Nebraska, dressed cattle traded at 175.00. In the Western Cornbelt compared to Thursday, purchases traded unevenly steady with live ranging from 109.00-112.00, bulk from 109.00-110.00. Dressed ranged mostly from 174.00-176.00. On Monday negotiated cash trade was mostly inactive in all major feeding regions. Monday afternoon beef cutout values were higher on good demand and moderate offerings. Choice was up 1.82 at 208.43 with Select up 1.89 to close at 199.66 on 103 loads. The choice/ select spread narrowed to 8.77. The hide and offal value from typical fed cattle for today was estimated at 9.23 per cwt live, unchanged from Friday’s value. The estimated cattle slaughter for Monday was reported at 118,000.

Feeder Cattle

The September Feeder Cattle contract continued its consolidation within the August 8th trading range (150.25 – 147.20), making its 3rd inside candle in a row as it traded between 149.45 and 148.00. The coiling in Feeder Cattle could lead to a directional move once it breaks out of the consolidation. A break down could see price test support at 146.20 and 145.05. Support then comes in at 144.20. A breakout higher could see resistance tested at 150.90 and then 151.55. Resistance is then at 152.30.

Lean Hogs

The October Lean Hogs contract rallied early in the trading session, testing resistance at 53.80 as it made its high at 53.775. It broke down It broke down from here, testing support at 51.80 and settling just below it at 51.65. It formed an inside candle and trading below the 50.80 low could see price test support at 49.925 and then 48.725. Support then comes in at 47.40. A rally from settlement could see price revisit the high. Resistance then comes in at 55.475.

For those interested I hold a weekly grain (with Sean Lusk) and livestock webinar on Thursday, August 16th at 3:00 pm. It is free for anyone who wants to sign up and the link for sign up is below. If you cannot attend live a recording will be sent to your email upon completion of the webinar.

Sign Up Now

**Call me for a free consultation for a marketing plan regarding your livestock needs.* *

Ben DiCostanzo

Senior Market Strategist

Walsh Trading, Inc.

Direct: 312.957.4163

888.391.7894

Fax: 312.256.0109,

bdicostanzo@walshtrading.com

www.walshtrading.com

RISK DISCLOSURE: THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS IN FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRADING. THIS REPORT IS A SOLICITATION FOR ENTERING A DERIVATIVES TRANSACTION AND ALL TRANSACTIONS INCLUDE A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS. THE USE OF A STOP-LOSS ORDER MAY NOT NECESSARILY LIMIT YOUR LOSS TO THE INTENDED AMOUNT. WHILE CURRENT EVENTS, MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SEASONAL FACTORS ARE TYPICALLY BUILT INTO FUTURES PRICES, A MOVEMENT IN THE CASH MARKET WOULD NOT NECESSARILY MOVE IN TANDEM WITH THE RELATED FUTURES AND OPTIONS CONTRACTS.

Ode to an Old Horse

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 20:17:45 GMT

The neighbour’s called in the early afternoon. Pony was down, and trying unsuccessfully to get up.

Here we go again, I thought. A few months ago, the same thing had happened. The OSU vets were on their way out. Dr. Meacham told us to roll him over on his other side, and see if that helped. It didn’t appear to do anything, at least not right away. I went to the barn for his blanket, as it was getting cold, and when I stepped out of the barn, there he was, standing there yelling that his chow was late.

He turned 35 in May. We got him when he was 13. Most people thought he was about 15, more or less. He was something of a butt. He was loud, always had to be in the middle of everything, and not usually in a good way. If we tried to do something with his sheep, he did his best to thwart our plans by not only getting in the way, but running the sheep around, away from us and where we needed them to go. If I was late with his chow, he’d follow me to the barn, grabbing at my hoodie in the winter, holding it just long enough to feel me pull against it, then let go, whinny and prance as I pinwheeled my arms, trying not to fall face first. In the summer, it was my hat, or worse, the back of my upper arms that became targets of his pranks.

He was a jerk.

In 12 years, we never lost a lamb or sheep to a predator. Even when everyone within 3 miles of us were losing stock to mountain lions, bears and coyotes, our stock was untouched.

He’d take his 900 pounds of skinny chested, long legged and teeth baring American Saddlebred gelding self and send 2200 pounds of bovine bullness fleeing in terror, yelling all the way. Poor Roar was simply terrified of this gangly collection of bones. All Pony had to do was look in his direction and pin his ears, and Roar immediately started the other direction, bellowing in fear.

In his younger days, he was a 5 gaited champion show horse. He also pulled a stagecoach in the Ramona Pageant, a 3 day live action, outdoor play held in Hemet I think it was. Running in harness, bandits riding horses along side, shooting blanks, he never flinched. However, let a butterfly meander by his nose, and all bets were off as to whether I could keep my seat on his back. I tried to do dressage with him, but not being much of a horsewoman, I did him no favors. However, my instructor could get on his back and have him doing all sorts of fancy dressage stuff at the Prix St. George level, whatever that is.

Damn, he looked good doing it, too. If there was one shining good thing about him, it was his ability to do whatever you asked of him under saddle.

Or, even without a saddle. One summer he spent a few weeks as a vaulting horse, with up to 5 little girls doing acrobatics on and off of him at once. The best I could do, the only adult in the class, was run around the inside of the circle, trying desperately to haul my big butt up onto his back without a mounting block, helping hand or stirrup.

Mostly, I wasn’t successful, but occasionally, the magic happened. Have I mentioned that I’m not much of a horsewoman?

In 2006, we moved him from his dusty, dry 20’X20’ pipe corral in Southern California to 50 acres of pasture in Western Oregon. The first time he met our 3 VERY pregnant ewes, he pinned those long, elegant ears, arched that neck, and ran those ewes all over the place before we finally got him under control and out of their pasture. I just knew they’d all abort or deliver stillborn lambs.

Eventually, they all lambed normally, and Pony found his calling as flock guardian, and chaser of cattle. Something that Saddlebreds are NOT known for. But, something that he showed an inane talent for, much to everyone’s surprise.

We leased a pasture to a neighbor for his 50 momma cows and a bull that first summer we were here. The pastures were way overgrown, some of the fencing was a bit on the iffy side, and we didn’t have the electric fencing up yet, so we tried to keep them corralled in one pasture at a time, to eat it down and to give us a chance to fix things up in the next pasture. One day, I had left a gate open between the south pasture and the maternity pasture, and the next thing I knew, 50 momma cows and a bull were streaming into the already mowed down maternity pasture - the one without a main gate, which had been removed to replace a broken post.

I just knew this was going to end badly, and with no time to go get a dog, I ran down to the gate they were coming through, trying to stop and turn them around.

Imagine, an ant trying to prevent a steamroller from making ant pancakes out of her sisters. That’s about how it was going, when out of nowhere, Pony charged through the stream of cows at the gate, whirled around, and took the side opposite me.

Holy crap, are you KIDDING me? No. That horse read what I was doing, and between the two of us, we got those lead cows turned around and started back through the gate, doubletime. And, the last last one through got a little love bite from Pony, as if he was driving home the point. He followed her through, and then looked back as if to say ‘hey, that was FUN!’.

We moved him out of the south pasture as soon as we got the gate rehung. Not our cows, and didn’t feel like buying them. We did admire how that Angus bull always seemed to keep the mommas between him and Pony, however.

He hated his blanket. Growing up in SoCal, he never needed one. He tended to grow enough hair to look like a yak in the winter, no matter where he lived. But when it was single digits and icy, he’d stand there and shiver, icicles hanging off his belly and chin, and dance away from any attempts to put a blanket on him. When we’d finally get it on, his only goal was to remove it, any way possible. He’d shred them on the barb wire, the trees, the barn and people. He’d roll, and shake, trying to get the straps to pop off. I’d tie wrap the straps to their keepers to prevent that, as he got good at it.

He never, EVER kicked. He’d dance for the farrier, until he or she made it clear that his feet would be done, whether he liked it or not, then he was pretty much okay with them. When we first got him, his first farrier worked for 2 years, with corrective shoeing, to get his feet out of Saddlebred show trim and into normal, and then finally barefoot trim. For almost 20 years, he never wore shoes.

I think he liked that. I also think part of his grief with farriers might have been the thought of wearing those awful show shoes again.

He was one of the prettiest pasture ornaments you could want. When he got all het up and started first his prancing gait, and then galloping in that Cadillac smooth gallop that felt like you weren’t even moving, that the air was just rushing past your face as you watched the scenery fly by from your comfy seat in that Cadillac convertible, people would stop and watch his fluid beauty in awe. Nothing rides like a Saddlebred, especially a finely bred, 5 gaited one, and nothing looks as effortlessly elegant in full stride. He was gorgeous, a deep, golden red chestnut, with a flaxen mane and long tail, and he LOVED to show off. Tail in the air, chin tucked, neck arched, I always wondered if he thought he was back in the show ring, the crowd cheering him on, front and back feet nearly reaching his chest and belly as he gaited around the ring.

We went out to the pasture, with a bucket of his grain and a halter, and rolled him over, just as before. Put the bucket just out of his reach. Stood back, and waited, then rolled him back. Over and over, we did that. Over and over, he tried to get his rear legs under him. He was a tad on the chunky side, and that probably wasn’t helping, but he tended towards rewarding that expensive, senior horse chow with plenty of padding.

I called Dr. Vanegas. He’d just left the dairy down the road, and now he turned around and head out to the ranch.

Still, Pony tried to get up. But, it just wasn’t happening.

22 years is a long time to own a horse, especially one already in his teens when you got him. In that time, I learned a lot about horses. What colic was, how to identify choke. How NOT to tighten the cinch on a western saddle. How to tranquilizer a horse and STILL not be able to get him into a trailer. I still wasn’t a horsewoman, but I had one, so I had to try to be the best non-horsewoman I could be. There were times when I wanted to just shoot him, like the time the vet was coming out to do an exam, and he decided that was a fine to to rip the lead rope out of my hands and lead us all on a merry chase for 45 minutes all over the place, his sheep in tow. And, when Cricket was dog breaking the lambs, and he was running around the outside of the round pen, screaming at us and scattering lambs all over the pen, in spite of Cricket’s best attempts to keep them together. Or when, in a fit of pique, and for absolutely no reason, he yanked the rope out of my husband’s hands so hard, it broke two of his fingers.

Then there were the days, when my old girl Jazzee, 14 at the time, Pony, and I would walk out to count noses in the frosty morning air, 3 old farts enjoying the solitude and quiet of a winter’s morn, none of us needing to make a sound other than 10 feet crunching through the frost or snow. The dogs trying to work the goats, whom Pony loved with all fo his big heart, the goats who gathered under his belly, where they knew the dogs wouldn’t go, even though Pony never, ever kicked at dog in his life.

Dr. Vanegas and his 2 students arrived. We rolled him again, and Jorge examined him carefully, testing his rear legs for feeling.

He didn’t flinch.

He listened to that heart, and shook his head slightly. I think that’s when I knew it was over. No murmur was detected on the last exam just a few months before, but there was one now, and it was bad. Coupled with the lack of reaction to his legs being pinched, what came next was not unexpected. He had likely ruptured a disc in his back when he went down, probably to roll, trying to get his fly mask off (he hated those too). His heart was too damaged, too weak, to pump enough blood to his rear legs.

I asked Jorge and the students for a few minutes. They graciously went back to the truck to prepare the necessary items.

Just two months ago, we lost Twyla, our beloved old ewe. Old Pogo, the ancient Navajo-Churro and Twyla’s best pal, adopted Twy’s two little girls. The last picture of Pony I have is of him hanging out with the trio, sensing that they might need him more than usual, at least for a while.

Pony May 1983 - July 6, 2018

I sat by his head, and saw that he was tired. He lay quietly, and that horse just didn’t do quietly. We had taken the hated fly mask off, and for that, he was grateful, I’m sure. I watched him, and talked to him a little. Just nonsense, for what I recall. What do you say to an animal you’ve had for so long, really?

I looked at Jorge, and nodded. I moved to the other side of Pony, fitting into the curve of his back, nestled in comfortably, and just stroked his chest. I watched the pulse by his elbow, until it faded away.

Don brought his backhoe over, and we buried him in the south pasture, down where his beloved goats rested. This fall, I’ll toss some red clover seed on the bare dirt. He loved him some fresh red clover, he did.

Pony was a son of the Hulse’s great Champagne Fizz, and a great grandson of the immortal Wing Commander. He did his pedigree proud, and for the last 12 years of his life, found his calling as a flock guardian, cattle wrangler and Prince of the Pastures.

He was, and now he’s gone. It’s quiet now, no horse prancing and screaming at me in the morning, watching me feed the dogs and not being happy to be second in line. That annoyed me to no end.

I’m being honest here. I don’t miss that part of him.

But, I do miss him.