Drought - Articles - Page 4

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Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium to focus on post-drought rebuilding

The free event hosted by the Red Angus Association of America is open to all beef cattle producers and will take place Sept. 13.

July 31, 2023

Amy Wampler

Over the past two to three years, the heart of cattle country experienced extreme drought conditions. Many producers have faced difficult decisions concerning their cow herd health and maintenance on top of the financial pressure of managing through a difficult weather event.

Total feedlot placements up 5% in May

Strong demand and dry weather are being viewed as reasons for the increased number of cattle being put on feed.

June 30, 2023

Tyrell Marchant

The USDA released its monthly Cattle on Feed report on June 23, indicating a 3% decrease from year-ago levels. On feedlots with more than 1,000 head of capacity, 11.6 million cattle are on feed for slaughter in the U.S. Feedlot placements for the month of May totaled 1.96 million head, up 5% from 2022, with net placements at 1.88 million head.

Beware of green fever

Producers should be careful to avoid catching “green fever” as grazing grounds rebound from drought.

June 26, 2023

Casey Spackman

It would be easy to be lured into the idea that more grass means more livestock and profits. Caution is warranted to prevent falling into a “green fever” trap.

Improving pasture conditions bolster feeder calf demand

June 19, 2023

Russell Knight and Hannah Taylor

With generally improving pastures and lower expected feed costs this year, the demand for feeder calves is well supported.

Toxic algae that isn’t algae

Cyanobacteria (often called blue-green algae) can be a scary thing to see in your cattle’s water source and can be the cause of mysterious health issues. Here’s what to know about it to keep your cattle safe, especially in areas experiencing severe drought.

May 23, 2023

Woody Lane

By midsummer last year, many streams were just a series of stagnant pools. When livestock crowded the streambanks for water, state and local officials issued stern warnings again and again.

Drought improves but impact lingers for beef producers

May 23, 2023

Russell Knight and Hannah Taylor

Since October 2022, drought conditions have improved for much of the country, to the point where less than 24% of the U.S. is under drought conditions.

Before rebuilding the cattle herd, focus on rebuilding pastures

Even the most pessimistic prognosticators point toward favorable conditions in the cattle market through the coming years. Now is the opportune time to get your pastures back in shape.

May 20, 2023

Jeff Clark

Herd rebuilding or expansion must start with enabling grazing land to support the additional animals over the long term.

Forage Market Insights: The hay market heats up

May 9, 2023

Joy Hendrix

As the weather warms up, the demand for hay is also warming. While producers anxiously await the ability to turn cattle out to graze, the slow exit of winter weather is demanding more hay to be bought.

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Minimize waste, maximize genetics through management

An investment in superior genetics combined with prioritizing nutrition could pay dividends for cattlemen.

May 1, 2023

Lindsay Graber Runft

Ranching brings rewards, but it’s not all “sunshine and rainbows.” With drought and high input costs in the balance, it takes sharp management decisions to keep black ink on the bottom line.