Child labor laws help ensure that workplace responsibilities and conditions for minors are safe. Because many farmers and ranchers employ minors to help with various agricultural tasks, it is critical that producers be aware of these laws and know what children can and cannot do.

When I was in the Texas Christian University Ranch Management Program, long-time program director John Merrill referred to the unchanging absolutes in cow-calf production as “hitching posts.” Below are a few that apply directly to this article.

When a livestock producer living in a “fescue belt” state goes to the doctor, even for routine health care, what happens?

Some will call it curious timing. Others will say the stars lined up out of kismet and good fortune. But just days before Brazil would light the Olympic flame for the first time on South American soil, the USDA extended its own peace offering to the world’s fifth-largest nation.

Our K-12 and college students are starting another year of their educations. You will soon see announcements for winter educational sessions. In this article we stop and reflect on “learning.” In order to look ahead, let’s first look back.

Unfortunately, the majority of the Southeast has summered through a substantial drought. Needless to mention, the region is going through some rough times. As many have tried to restock herds over the last two years, many are now culling hard and have probably weaned spring calves a month or more earlier than normal.

For those in the West, this time of year is when much of your lush green grass – so abundant during the early months of the year – has peaked and either reached the end of its life cycle or come really close to it.

Weaning season is here. Critically assess udder quality, temperament and structure of cows while calves are still at their side. Proper heifer selection starts with assessment of her dam.

Weaning time is approaching quickly for spring-calving cow herds, which raises many questions. When should my calves be weaned? If the cow herd is in suboptimal body condition, weaning earlier and increasing the number of grazing days prior to frost should increase condition and reduce feed costs through the winter.

The Choice/Select spread, which is the difference in value between the Choice beef cutout and Select beef cutout, provides indications of the underlying supply and demand fundamentals in the beef complex over time.