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.

With winter just around the corner, are you prepared for the upcoming time change? As we prepare to "fall back" with the end of daylight saving time on Nov. 3, many of us have already noticed the earlier arrival of evening darkness.

Whether they’re man-made or natural disasters, emergencies such as tornados, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, severe winter storms, severe dust storms, etc., may put people, property and animals at risk.

Imagine this: You get a call today from your video sale rep, and they say, “We can offer you $275.93 per hundredweight (steers and heifers) for your 2025 calf crop.”

In cattle feeding, effective risk management is crucial for maintaining profitability and long-term success. Traditionally, many cattle feeders have relied heavily on fundamental analysis for their marketing strategies.

So many of us were still waiting, hoping and assuming that the turn of summer into fall would bring the only thing we could practically fathom: higher market prices for beef cattle.

In the realm of cattle feeding, navigating a bullish market can feel much like riding a bull – thrilling, swift and inherently risky. But for those equipped with the right financial tools and strategies, this volatility can be beneficial.

The exact location and intensity of summer thunderstorms is somewhat unpredictable. Don’t allow the frequency of storm watches lull you into complacency. Severe weather – such as a tornado – can form quickly and turn deadly in just moments.

When a dry spell arrives, producers scramble to make the best decisions for grazing pastures, buying hay and caring for livestock. Running stockers as a drought safety valve could be a smart idea.