The routines in spring calving, typically done in rigorous winter weather, always create a physical demand on producers through late nights and pulling calves.

Let me start this year’s Thanksgiving column by admitting that our family won’t be cooking a traditional meal come Nov. 25. The household has thinned over the years, and my wife and I have soured over the commitment to cook for eight hours only to eat together for 30 minutes.

The USDA announced Oct. 4 an additional $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to help private lending for the expansion of meat and processing capacity, in addition to other food supply chain infrastructure.

The cattle cycle – wherein inventory goes from lows to a recovery to herd highs, followed by liquidation, and then repeats itself – lasts about eight to 10 years.