CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday he's optimistic the federal government can come to agreement with the state of Wyoming on how to lift federal protections for wolves in the state -- a dispute that has sparked years of bitter litigation.

The corn market, along with most other commodity and financial markets, was negatively impacted by the uncertainty created by the natural disaster in Japan and on-going conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East. The Japanese situation is especially important for corn since Japan is the largest importer of U.S. corn.

Corbitt Wall's USDA Livestock Grain Market News feeder cattle report for March 18.

January exports of U.S. beef were well above year-ago levels, though they took a step back from the totals recorded in the previous month, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Ranch Management University, a four-day program targeting novice landowners, is scheduled April 12-15 at Texas A&M University in College Station.

The latest research and educational information on ticks and how they affect cattle and wildlife production will be presented at a two-day conference March 23-24 at the Embassy Suites in Laredo, Texas.

Corbitt Wall's feeder cattle report for March 4

USDA concluded its Agricultural Outlook Forum last week. Feed grain and oilseed projections suggest little relief from high feed prices. For 2011 corn, soybean, and wheat plantings are projected at 92.0, 78.0, and 57.0 million acres, respectively.

On Feb. 28, 2011, the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium recorded the state’s millionth Radio Frequency Identification Number (RFID), a milestone in Wisconsin animal identification. RFID, also known as electronic ID, is an ear tag that has a unique number which can be read both visibly and electronically.