Rancher
A historic lack of winter moisture and drying water sources are forcing Wyoming and Nebraska producers to make gut-wrenching choices. At Torrington Livestock Markets, sales volume has surged to nine times its normal seasonal average.
Despite record-high cash costs of $780 per head, surging calf prices pushed average profit margins up by $614 in 2025.
As fed cattle weights hit historic highs, a surplus of fat trim is creating an unprecedented need for lean blending beef, pushing cull cow values to new records.
With a wall of fire racing at up to 70 mph, three ranch families describe the desperate fight to save their herds and homes, the courage of children on the front lines and the network that rose from the ashes.
With more than 800,000 acres burned, a grassroots network of ranchers helping ranchers is providing a lifeline of hay and hope for Nebraska beef producers.
Here are resources for those looking to donate to ranchers recovering from recent wildfires in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
USDA’s annual report reveals the smallest total herd since 1951, with beef cow numbers falling to 27.6 million despite a slight uptick in replacement heifers.
Terrain’s Dave Weaber says placements of cattle into feedlots will continue to shrink, long-feared beef slaughter capacity reductions have arrived, and the beef cow herd hasn’t begun to expand.