For those who see the opportunity to expand, if they use their data and invest where they get the biggest return, they stand the highest chance of success. Will the beef cow herd continue to shrink, or will we see some expansion? Only time will tell.

As the majority of the cow herds enter the late-gestation stage of production with rapidly increasing nutritional requirements, the lasting impacts of drought conditions become a priority and major influence on supplementation strategies.

It’s surprising how quickly winter can creep up on cattle producers each year. Many times, it appears in force, while cattle-handling equipment, pens, alleys and related infrastructure remain either in a state of disrepair or only partially complete.

In this podcast episode, Managing Editor David Cooper sits down with Jay Theiler, executive vice president of AgriBeef, and discusses the opening of a new packing plant in Jerome, Idaho, and the supply and demand dynamics that make or break a packing plant. Also, catch a preview of the November issue, and find out what the podcast crew considers must-haves for Thanksgiving dinner.

I’m grateful for my life in agriculture and can’t imagine a career not connected to this industry. But I’ve come to realize the journey for others into today’s agriculture industry is much more diverse than the fairytale story that I’ve experienced.

While cow-calf operations, feedlots and packing plants grab the most press and media coverage, the North American beef industry performs well largely because of consistent value-based contributions from those in unheralded sectors.

While drones and imagery are flying along, the evolution of soil testing seems to be moving at an earthworm's pace.