The three-year lament appears to be ending as readings in the Pacific Ocean portend warming waters in 2023. El Nino weather patterns, when warming Pacific waters create moisture in much of the West and Midwest states, have been missing since 2019. La Nina, the uglier twin sibling of El Nino, where colder ocean temperatures lead to warmer and less water, has hung around since then worsened the Western drought.

On Jan. 24, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced it filed notice of intent to sue the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) over the listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act.

On Jan. 18, USDA-APHIS announced a proposed rule to amend animal disease traceability regulations. The public comment period regarding the proposal is open through March 22, 2023. If the proposal becomes law, official USDA tags would be defined as those that are both visually and electronically readable.  

Producers can expect to hear the latest on production management and beef technology and get the latest industry market outlook at the 2023 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans, Feb. 1-3.