After World War I, meat prices shot up and President Wilson ordered an investigation into price fixing at packing plants. That led to the Packers and Stockyards Act, a law that's been reshaping how livestock gets bought and sold ever since.
Toppenish held a special feeder cattle sale Tuesday with nearly 1,700 head on the block. Stocker steers moved steady to $12 higher, while the market showed mixed signals on heifers depending on weight.
Southeast Washington's wolf pack struck again this month, injuring a calf and forcing wildlife officials to weigh tough choices about the animals' future.
Over the past three years, the quantity of beef produced from domestic cattle decreased year-over-year while domestic beef consumption increased year-over-year.
The USDA launched a $500 million initiative to prop up beef processing in rural Idaho, where midsize packers have historically struggled to compete for investment.