Sort & Cull

Although light support has slowly developed in the cash and futures cattle markets and beef cutout values have eroded from historic highs, a huge gap remains in market direction, driven by boxed beef prices.

Seeing that packers bought over 100,000 head of fat cattle last week, all for delivery in the next one to 14 days, raises some questions for the cash market in upcoming weeks.

While last week saw an exciting rally in prices, this week has begun with trade anywhere from $2.00 to $3.00 lower in both live cattle and feeder cattle contracts.

Last week was a week that will go down in history and, sadly, not in a good way.

The problems that the industry is currently facing are bigger than we feared and longer lasting than we'd like to admit. Getting packing plants up and running is critical for the beef industry.

Packers serve as a "bridge" between the livestock industry and consumers. The latest closures of packing and meat processing plants, due to outbreaks of coronavirus, have created a wide gap with limited ways to get meat from the farm to the dinner plate.

How we deal with the challenges before us will involve blending different strengths and attitudes of those who survived and learned from tough times in the past.

Last week, beef slaughter totaled 536,000 head -- 90,000 head less than the previous week and 102,000 head less than a year ago. It's essential to keep consumers' trust, but also to keep packing plants open and product moving to market.

Ranchers are used to challenges beyond their control, yet they realize they have go on about business in the most normal fashion possible.

Being the backbone of America is a lot of responsibility, hard work and sacrifice. Farmers, ranchers and others involved in agriculture continue to meet the challenge and earn a nation's gratitude.

If keeping up with the ever-changing marketplace feels like herding cats -- you're not alone!

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, livestock and dairy producers have done an excellent job of producing high-quality meat and milk, and the transportation industry has done an equally outstanding job of getting those products to consumers around the country.

Two of the most challenging things during this uncertain market period are having patience and letting time run its course.

Cattlemen know that the market is trending lower, but have they looked at boxed beef prices lately?

2019 was an unprecedented year in the marketplace, and though 2020 is expected to yield more prosperity, the first quarter has been a tough start.

Making sense of the pressure currently seen in livestock markets.

Information is great but knowing how to manage it is critical.

Little changes can make the biggest differences if implemented in the right season.

This time of year is accompanied by annual stock growers meetings and industry conventions. Map out your schedule to be able to travel to a few key events each year.

Attendees of a cow-calf short course in Atlantic, Iowa learned about calving assistance practices, using some hands-on -- and arms-in -- experience.