When you visit any seedstock producer, be it in the Rockies, the Southern Plains or the Midwest, the conversation usually wanders into a friendly invitation. Will you be back for the upcoming production sale?

The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF) and the United Stockgrowers of America have likely survived a motion to dismiss their case against USDA challenging the beef checkoff and obtained an injunction against the Montana Beef Council (MBC) to prevent it from spending money received from the federal beef checkoff board on promotion.

After several years of strong net farm income, the recent decline in commodity prices, slow-to-adjust input expenses and falling net farm income is uncomfortably similar to the conditions producers faced in the 1980s, a period often referred to as the “farm financial crisis.”

The Cattle on Feed report released by the USDA on Nov. 18, 2017 – reported 5 percent year-over-year lower cattle placements in October. The reduced pace of placements is likely to slow beef production increases in the first half of 2017.

Even though this year’s NFL draft is two months away, sports pages and sports talk shows are buzzing with speculation about draft choices. Why do NFL teams spend millions of dollars preparing for the draft and football fans become almost fanatical about it?

The IRC Section 1031 Exchange has been a very valuable tax-saving and wealth-building tool for agricultural families for nearly 100 years. Upcoming tax reform threatens to eliminate the 1031 exchange. Your input could help to preserve this important financial tool.

Every new year brings with it a New Year’s resolution, and this year, mine would be to earn an extra $300 per cow. Think about it. Why not make it happen? I would anticipate trying would be better than simply griping.

Commercial cattlemen may be dropping the ball when it comes to utilizing genomic data within their operations.

The use of genetic selection tools by cattle breeders has resulted in significant changes within the majority of major breeds over the last 30 years. With only a few exceptions, the overwhelming genetic trend for milk and mature weight over that time has been for more.

Growth-promoting implants are the most cost-effective management practice available to cattle producers in all sectors of the industry. Implanted cattle typically have improved weight gains of 5, 15 and 20 percent in nursing calves, stocker cattle and feedlot cattle, respectively, with a typical cost of approximately $2 per head.