cow/calf

Cattle has been in a bull market for quite a while.  But how long can the rally last?   “You talk to some of the cow-calf folks, and yes, those feeders are worth a lot of money," said USDA chief economist Seth Meyer.  "But the decision is, do I take the cash now, or do I retain that heifer and hope that I'll make that money two years from now on, on a fed out animal? And so I talked to .

Unfortunately, misconceptions and false information are nothing new in the ag industry.  But for Will Brackett, the 2024-2025 Idaho FFA President, there are some narratives that really jump out at him that need to be addressed and corrected.   ...

According to a new economics report from the University of Idaho, 2024 was a record year for the state's Ag industry.  Earnings set an all-time high this year, but school officials were quick to note that the gains weren’t enjoyed by most food producers who raise crops.   The st...

As the 2023 fall calf run takes form, expect to see plenty of cattle pots and pickups with trailers heading down the road.

It’s important to figure out if a deworming program is working as it should.  Routine diagnostic testing can help producers figure out what’s working.   “We can find out where you are as a baseline for your individual operation, and then also be able to measure whether or not the expected performance or efficacy of your deworming program is at the level you would like," noted Dr. D.L. Step, p

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said a male wolf was trapped and killed February 4th on private land in Union County.  The wolf was trapped by USDA Wildlife Services, acting as an agent at the producer's request.  ODFW said the wolf was trapped in the same pasture where wolves had previous depredated calves.   Wolves hav...

Every farmer will tell you that the previous year, good or bad, will have an impact on the following year.  But, perhaps nowhere is that more true than in the livestock sector.  Cameron Mulrony, Vice President of the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association, said between the nine months of gestation and the 16-18 months before a cow is ready to head to processing, producers are 27 months away from seeing bre

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Cattle Industry Convention took place earlier this month down in New Orleans.  NCBA CEO Colin Woodall said it was an opportunity to do the business of NCBA.   “We have our policy committees that are meeting this week. They are producers who ar...

USDA’s January 1 cattle inventory report places the total number of cattle and calves at 89.3 million head, consistent with trade expectations for a 3% year-over-year drop.  The decline comes as cattle producers face a fourth consecutive year of contraction within the cattle cycle.  That’s a...

According to the latest numbers from NASS, all cattle inventory across the PNW slipped slightly year over year.  All cattle inventory in Idaho was estimated at 2.50 million head as of January 1st, down 2% from 2022.  Inventory of all cattle in Oregon was 1.24 million head, of...