For years, cattle feeders have relied on the “cattle crush spread” as a hedging strategy. This involves buying feeder cattle and corn while selling fat cattle. The idea has been to manage costs and stabilize returns.

Another year has come and gone, and now it's 2025! A common process for many of us is to set goals or resolutions to strive for in the new year. A new year is a new beginning – a time to reflect on what has worked so far and what may need some adjustments.

I felt I needed to discuss the role a small producer plays in the beef industry’s economic impact, both directly and indirectly, in shaping the future of the beef business and the industries that support it – and, maybe more importantly, how the small producer provides a social and cultural fabric for many Americans.

Virtual fencing implements GPS tracking and collar-based deterrents to allow ranchers to manage cattle without the need for physical fencing.

Sustainability seems to be the word of the decade lately, especially in the agriculture industry.

An important and often overlooked ingredient for skilled and engaged employees is investing in their growth and development.

Recent record prices paid for fed cattle, feeder cattle, and cull cows and bulls have a lot of industry folks talking and thinking we are at the bottom of the “10-year cattle cycle” and that we could see expansion in the future.

For many farm and ranch families, creating a succession plan can feel like reaching the finish line of a long and challenging process.

Just as the steam engine and mechanization revolutionized agriculture during the first and second industrial revolutions, today's digital technologies are ushering in what some call the third industrial revolution.

Smaller producers often simply accept as fact that their production costs are going to be higher than their larger counterparts. However, there are ways to become more cost-effective and profitable.