Sort & Cull

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.

It's important to avoid getting tunnel vison and thinking that the cattle industry revolves within its own world.

Between the phase-one trade agreement between the U.S. and China, and cash cattle trade, producers had a lot of balls to juggle staying up to date on last week's business.

The board may have been questionable last week, but by no means was the strength in the cash cattle market questionable.

During the week of Thanksgiving, the cash market jumped $2 to $4, and during this past week of Christmas, the market rose $2 to $3 higher.

As cattlemen reflect upon 2019, many look to 2020 with hope and pray that the upcoming year's market is more fruitful than the last. It's also a good time to give thanks to those who keep the cattle industry alive.

Emotion can easily rally the market just as quickly as it can shatter a market. When market rallies are fueled by nothing but emotion, market participants need to be cautious.

Is $1 higher on last week's weighted average prices good, bad or indifferent?