Last spring we had an unusual amount of rain, for Montana anyway. I personally loved it. It was so good for our fields, and it really took some pressure off of irrigating.

The newest tractor on the place is 40 years old. We call the 2003 Ford the “new pickup.” The closest thing we have to a side-by-side ATV is the ’93 Chevy 3/4-ton with a modified flatbed we use to feed the cows.

In the midst of Covid-19, one of the deepest psychoses is loneliness. “Social distance,” sliding takeout tacos under the door, being served pizza across the counter like a Frisbee, having to carry a measuring tape and whip it out like Marshall Dillon to confirm 6 feet every time some masked stranger comes your way … all to prevent civil discourse and staying friends.

There are problems lurking in every cattle-handling system that can create a headache on your operation – or totally ruin your system. Luckily, there are some simple fixes that can solve any problems you might find in your cattle-handling system. Whether you are investing in a new system or trying to improve your current one, spend a little time making sure it works for you by avoiding or fixing these common pitfalls.

My, oh my, how fast things can change. It’s hard to think a few short months ago, the word “coronavirus” only made us think about calf scours and masks were something you only wore on Halloween. I’ll tell you what, for all those folks last December who were making jokes about 20/20 vision, I can say they sure didn’t see this coming.

A large area of low-level drought is building in the West from western Kansas to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Some of the worst drought areas are in Colorado and surrounding regions and in Oregon.

COVID-19 began impacting workers at beef packing plants in early April. In the last five weeks, cattle slaughter decreased by an average of 27%. This compares to the previous five weeks in March, when cattle slaughter averaged 5.5% higher than year-ago levels.

When it's time to work cattle, most ranchers bring the cattle to the corral, not the other way around.