Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service personnel will soon begin assessing recovery needs for livestock producers and pet owners as residents grapple with ongoing flooding along the Gulf Coast.

Most Progressive Cattleman readers said they received good rain and good grass this summer.

Fire ants, as their colonies begin to flood, can join feet or tarsi to form water rafts, and they are more aggressive once in the floating formation, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologists. But other insect pests can also pose human threats in flood conditions, they said.

Healthy cattle require nutrient-rich pastureland on which to graze. Forage health is directly related to soil health. With these relationships in mind, it makes sense for soil management best practices to be in place at your operation. AgAmerica Lending recently explored a few of the top techniques and how they can increase soil fertility and quality, improving and sustaining the overall health of your cattle. Many farmers are turning to methods like soil remineralization and rotational grazing as ways to reduce the impact of livestock on soil while also improving its quality.

Current and expected fed cattle prices have declined by approximately $10 per hundredweight (cwt) over the past five weeks. This decline has eroded the projected profitability for feedlots through the rest of 2017.

The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) is excited to announce the release of Zoetis’ HD50K/i50K Version 2 genomic test along with the release of the Fall 2017 EPDs. Representing a recalibration of Zoetis’ original genomic test, Version 2 provides Red Angus breeders with a significant improvement in genetic prediction accuracy.

The August USDA Cattle on Feed report shows an Aug. 1 feedlot inventory of 10.604 million head, 104.3 percent of last year. This is the largest August feedlot inventory since 2012.

Having grown up on a ranch, I never gave much thought about what ranch life looks like to a kid. To me, it was just life – I didn’t go to daycare as a kid, and my parents both worked on the ranch.

What makes a man who grew up in the San Francisco Bay area choose the life of a cattleman in eastern Oregon? A passion for the beef industry and a knack for the business to make it all work.

Throughout my 13-year career, I’ve had the opportunity to consult with many grazing land managers on management decisions.