The federal government narrowly avoided a shutdown in the wee hours of Dec. 21, 2024, when the American Relief Act of 2025 was signed into law by President Joe Biden. Importantly for the agriculture industry, the act also includes a second extension of the 2018 Farm Bill and $2.5 billion in additional aid that will be distributed through the USDA.

It was early in the afternoon at the tail end of calving season when my dad mercifully showed up at school to pull me out of my grade 11 history class. I remember thinking what a gorgeous day it was. An unseasonably warm stretch had melted most of the snow, the grass was starting to green up and, though I wasn’t sure, I thought I may have caught a snatch of meadowlark song.

According to the USDA Cattle on Feed report published Oct. 25, total U.S. inventory of cattle on feed for the slaughter market on Oct. 1 was 11.6 million head, a slight drop from the same report in 2023.

Election Day, as I’m sure you’ve heard, is coming up. Responsible citizen that you are, I’m sure it’s been on your mind. It’s been on mine, too.

At a recent minor league baseball game, my wife and I found ourselves seated next to a lovely young couple who were pretty obviously baseball novices.