Most Progressive Cattleman readers said weather was the main cause of calf mortality this calving season.

Who are public land ranchers? We often know them as those who graze their cattle on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). But do we know the characteristics that define public land ranchers and do we know how diverse they really are?

As expected, drought conditions continued to expand last week after rains two weeks ago resulted in a brief halt to worsening drought in Oklahoma. The latest Drought Monitor indicates that 34.8 percent of Oklahoma is in D3 (extreme) and D4 (exceptional) drought, including 10.7 million acres of D4 conditions in western Oklahoma and the panhandle.

This year has already started out with a blaze as Oklahoma yet again battles flames and other fires crop up across the country.

Pesticides and dung beetles couldn’t seem more different when it comes to making a fly management plan, but they definitely are connected in the big picture of pest control.

Sometimes, you don’t just need a plan, you need plan A, B and then even C, especially when it comes to water resources for your livestock. There is nothing quite like drought conditions to really drive that point home.

Strong March results capped an excellent first quarter for U.S. red meat exports, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), as beef exports set a new monthly value record in March and pork export value reached the second-highest level on record. The U.S. is exporting a strong share of its beef and pork production at higher prices – a clear sign of solid international demand.

Branding cattle is a tradition (and practical measure) that dates back as far as the ancient Egyptians, but for most Americans the tradition is immortalized in Western movies as a symbol of the Old West.

The latest Drought Monitor shows rapid expansion of the exceptional drought (D4) area to include about 38 million acres with another 126 million acres of D3 (extreme drought) conditions. Parts of the drought region received some rain in the past 10 days – enough to slow expansion of drought conditions, but not enough to reduce drought without additional moisture.

Agricultural land prices remain remarkably healthy and growing, despite repeated downturns in commodity prices and a dismal 2018 outlook on farm incomes from the USDA. Most ag experts scratch their heads at the buoyant land values. Some believe the year-to-year gains in land values will soon disappear.