Marketing

Demystifying third-party verification while adding value and opportunities

jmoore@wherefoodcomesfrom.com — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Today, we’ll dive into how third-party verification programs enhance credibility, market access and consumer confidence in beef production.

Match your bull purchase with your ranch production goals

shannonw@uidaho.edu — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Choosing the correct bull(s) for your operation is extremely important. The cows in your operation influence one calf per year, but a bull has the potential to influence up to 25 or more calves per year.

Maximizing profits: Strategies for marketing a successful calf crop

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Cattle producers invest a massive amount of time, effort and money in raising the best calves possible. Whether selling at the local auction barn, a value-added sale, from the farm site, to a nearby feedlot or via another method, the results of their long-term investments depend on many factors.

Tips for smaller cow-calf operations to optimize profit and build market appeal

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Making a calf crop stand out to buyers is critical for profitability and long-term success, regardless of an operation’s size. While smaller farms may feel disadvantaged by these efforts, they can significantly enhance their calves’ appeal and secure higher prices using simple but often overlooked methods.

Adding value without reinventing the wheel

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Adding value to cattle may seem like a no-brainer. However, when conversations begin about entering value-added or verification programs, the process can seem daunting, especially to producers who may be less familiar with these programs or under the impression they will need to completely revise their management protocols.

[Podcast] Direct-to-consumer marketing and herd health planning – with Kara Lee and Russ Daly

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In this podcast episode, Progressive Cattle Editor Carrie Veselka speaks with Kara Lee, director of producer engagement at Certified Angus Beef, to discuss direct-to-consumer marketing and the CBA Ranch to Table program. Editor Abby George meets up with Russ Daly, South Dakota State University Extension Veterinarian, at Range Beef Cow Symposium to talk about herd health planning and steps producers can take to protect their cow herd.

Hitting the consumer target

burt@rangeviewstrategies.com — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Michael Uetz, co-founder of the meat-oriented marketing firm Midan Marketing, encouraged Wagyu breeders to understand their consumer target to better market their beef.

British Whites and grass-fed beef: A match made in the pasture

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Grass-fed beef is a growing niche market in the U.S. Consumers are also showing an increased interest in learning where their food comes from. Combining this niche market with direct marketing creates a great opportunity for beef producers.

Focusing on adding value regardless of market trends will equal long-term benefits

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 15:50:29 -0400

“I’ve noticed it before, not just in this cycle,” says Kenny Burdine, extension professor in livestock economics at the University of Kentucky. “There is a tendency with some producers, when prices are high, to almost become satisfied and to be less focused on adding value when they feel like they are getting a pretty good price for their calves.”

Production sales can reap profits for the right type of operation

Fri, 26 May 2023 14:49:44 -0400

Among other options, some producers may choose to put on a production sale. While this option can work for some, the overhead and labor involved with this type of marketing can be a turnoff for others.

[Podcast] Idaho Cattle Women with Maggie Malson

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Maggie Malson joins us to talk about the Idaho Cattle Women and their activities to promote the beef industry in Idaho.

The challenges and rewards of creating a USDA slaughterhouse

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:33:53 -0500

With the price of cattle and beef often in flux, wise producers are always looking for ways to build financial resiliency. One way to capture the most value out of cattle is to process them and market the meat directly to customers.

Is an online sale option right for you?

abby@agproud.com — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

A business’s goal – of any kind – is to make a profit. This is no different for beef producers. An online option for bull sales may be the way to do this for some producers.

The decision to implant cattle lies in how they are marketed

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Researchers suggest utilizing growth-promoting implant technologies for cattle marketed live and taking advantage of branded programs like NHTC that may benefit grid-based marketing schemes.

South Central: Factors affecting calf sale weight

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 15:43:03 -0400

For many cow-calf producers, fall means calves have recently been sold or will be sold in the coming months, so this is a good time to evaluate how the calves did or are doing.

Cooperator herds: A way for cattlemen to collaborate

abby@agproud.com — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 15:21:39 -0400

By definition, to “cooperate” means to work jointly toward the same end. This is the idea when it comes to the development of cooperator cattle herds.

3 marketing decisions to increase profitability this fall

bwilder@uidaho.edu — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:35:15 -0400

Cattle markets continue to be strong, with all classes of cattle trading above year-ago and five-year average historical prices. High farm gate prices can lead to exciting marketing opportunities across the value chain, but they can also lead to complacency.

In the News: Walmart invests in proposed Nebraska packing plant

tyrell@agproud.com — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 13:17:44 -0400

Walmart announced on Aug. 31 that it had signed an agreement to acquire a minority stake in Sustainable Beef LLC, a rancher-owned company based in North Platte, Nebraska.

How to top the sale: Blending marketing and risk management strategies

abby@agproud.com — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 17:16:30 -0400

In a webinar hosted by NCBA, Elliott Dennis, assistant professor of livestock marketing and risk management at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, discussed how to top the cattle market by effectively marketing and managing price risk.

Hide color: Does it really matter?

abby@agproud.com — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:11:49 -0400

It’s no secret black-hided cattle have topped the market in price for many years. While there are no exact answers, it is an interesting topic to discuss.

Manage shrink when marketing cattle

paul.beck@okstate.edu — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 11:42:20 -0400

All along the marketing chain of beef cattle, shrinkage of beef calves is a concern. Both sellers and buyers are constantly seeking information on shrink and weighing conditions of calves, feeder cattle and fats.

Key considerations before starting a direct beef sales business

cassidy@agproud.com — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 13:22:34 -0400

During the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) convention, Justin Benavidez, assistant professor and extension economist at Texas A&M University, encouraged producers to consider their “why” before starting this new venture and provided some answers to questions that often arise when getting started.

What makes a good website?

robin@focusmarketinggroup.net — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 15:00:01 -0500

“Where do we start?” A common question that runs through most folks’ minds when they decide their operation is ready for a website. Websites can be intimidating but, with a little planning and guidance, a website can be the most pivotal marketing tool a cattle operation can utilize.

Developing a direct sales beef program: Considering management and logistics

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 15:00:01 -0500

Producers have been growing and finishing calves to put in the freezer as long as there have been freezers. This has been a common process for years, especially in areas where the rural, cattle-owning population was greater than it is today.

What are video auctions telling us about expectations for feeder cattle marketed this fall?

elliott.dennis@unl.edu — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 19:03:47 -0400

There have been large amounts of price movement for feeder cattle this spring and summer due to a variety of factors, including strong domestic retail and export beef demand, meat processing issues, a run-up in feed prices, worsening drought conditions and the loosening and retightening of local COVID-19 restrictions.

Marketing feeder cattle via video auction: Is it right for you?

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 17:39:08 -0400

Lights, camera, auction! Many producers would agree they are more comfortable with their daily ranch duties than they are in marketing their product. While traditional auction barn sales will always have their place in the cattle business, video auctions may be the ticket to boasting cattle on a broader screen.

How to pick a feedyard

aburnett@certifiedangusbeef.com — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 16:39:34 -0400

Have cattle to feed? Avoid the cookie-cutter plans, says Warren Rusche, extension feedlot specialist at South Dakota State University. Not every ranch, pen or feedlot is alike or ideally suited to handle the same class of cattle.

Strategies to market calf-feds earlier

gapr@novonesis.com — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:52:55 -0400

Every year, around the end of fall harvest, cattle producers contemplate what to do with their freshly weaned calves: either hold ’em or sell ’em.

Dairy Farmers of Canada: Two new DFC campaigns turning heads

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:06:51 -0400

In June, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) launched two dynamic new marketing campaigns. The first, Dairy Farmers of Tomorrow, highlights the next generation of Canadian dairy farmers and their work towards our shared future.

I don’t have a green thumb

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 00:17:32 -0400

Consumer relationships are just like anything else we produce. Cultivating them requires focused time, intentional effort and a great deal of patient stewardship.