A few years ago during a visit on Christmas Day, my dad and I started talking about holidays long gone by. After an hour or so of his familiar yarns, I asked what Christmas was like in the Army.

The September Cattle on Feed report released by the USDA estimated cattle in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000-plus head totaled 10.1 million head, up 1 percent from the previous year. Placements of cattle on feed during August totaled 1.88 million head, up 15 percent from the same period last year.

2016 was quite a year for agricultural law. From the FAA passing UAS regulations, to a major water law decision by the Texas Supreme Court, to Congress passing a GMO labeling bill, a lot has happened in the past 12 months. This article will recap some of the highlights of the past year.

As the calendar year comes to a close, it’s a natural time to reflect on the past year.

Over the years, we’ve had a number of Christmas visitors here at our ranch on Withington Creek in the mountains near Salmon, Idaho, and the most memorable were baby calves.

Still have questions regarding implementation of the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) as it takes effect on Jan. 1, 2017? Be sure to check out those topics and points raised in the “VFD Bulletin – Understanding the Veterinary Feed Directive,” authored by Dr. Dee Griffin, director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Center partnership at Texas A&M University.

We are heading into another busy season in the cattle business: feeding, calving and much more. This is a time to put the finishing touches on readying the facilities and equipment for the demands of the winter months ahead.

Amount of money invested in equipment and tools by a beef cattle producer is usually significant; however, it is common to dedicate very little time for keeping these items in good working condition.

It is no secret that handling cattle can be stressful for both bovine and humans alike. When considering ways to incorporate key infrastructure systems aimed at reducing stress during handling, flooring is almost always on the list of things to think about for producers.

Christmas sparkle is in the air. Lights shimmer in the snow, and the stores are filled with the trappings of gifts and enticements to buy, buy, buy. Our pocketbooks grow lean and our credit card balances expand as we try to out-gift our friends, family members and co-workers.