The beef industry is segmented with most cow-calf producers marketing their calves at weaning or started feeders to either stocker grazers or finishing feedlots. Selling calves directly off the cow or after a short weaning preconditioning period has been very favorable the last several years as numbers were down, demand strong and calf prices at record levels.

Wheat remains the leading crop produced in North Dakota. Most wheat in North Dakota is either hard red spring wheat (HRSW) or durum. Small acreages of hard red winter wheat and, more recently, hard white wheat are also planted in the state. Wheat is not traditionally used as a feed grain because its milling properties make it desirable for use in breads, pastas and noodles.