Grazing season is just around the corner – a welcome break from cold weather, muddy lots and delivering feed to cows. As springtime approaches, it may be worthwhile to think about ways to improve your grazing system.

The 2018 Cattle Raisers Convention wrapped up on March 25 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Attendees from across the state and country gathered to hear industry experts, engage in educational opportunities, connect with other ranchers and browse an enormous trade exposition featuring the latest and greatest products available to cattle raisers.

So far in 2018, beef production is higher year over year as expected, with increased cattle slaughter and carcass weights. Beef demand has continued strong, carrying forward momentum from 2017. Cattle prices, both feeder and fed, along with wholesale and retail beef prices have generally been higher year over year so far this year.

Time. We all wish we had more of it. It slips through our fingers. We start a project and it takes longer than anticipated; the cows move slowly or the barn is dirtier than we thought. Now in springtime we're checking calves, building or repairing fences, and lining up irrigation equipment: We're busy.

Good ideas don’t always take root the first time around. Nowhere is this truer than with the returning debate over traceability and animal ID in the beef industry.

Cliven Bundy, a Nevada rancher, has received significant media attention in his ongoing dispute with the federal government regarding grazing on federally owned land in Nevada. There are a number of legal issues and lawsuits surrounding Bundy, making understanding exactly what has happened and the current situation confusing.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its semi-annual Cattle report. The number of cattle and calves estimated on Jan. 1, 2018, reached 94.4 million head, which was 0.7 percent higher year-over-year and the fourth year of expansion.

For some livestock producers, fly season is not that far away. Many different fly control options are available to livestock producers.

Flies are a pest problem in feedlots and dairies – they not only reduce animal performance but can also make confinement operations a pest to their neighbors.