Cattle News

New World screwworm arrives in the U.S., import restrictions span North America

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service officials confirmed the first U.S. case of New World screwworm on June 3, found in a 3-week-old calf in southern Texas. As of June 9, six cases have been confirmed – five livestock in Texas, and one dog in New Mexico.

2027 beef production to decline slightly year over year

russell.h.knight@usda.gov — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The outlook for beef production in 2027 is forecast at 25.31 billion pounds, a 0.9% decline from 2026. A slight decline in production next year is based on fewer cattle slaughtered that is only partially offset by heavier anticipated carcass weights.

New World screwworm confirmed in southern Texas

david@agproud.com — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) officials confirmed Wednesday night the arrival of New World screwworm in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County of southern Texas, making it the first confirmed case to arrive across the Mexico border.

May 2026 USDA Feed Outlook report

abby@agproud.com — Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The May Feed Outlook report shows global coarse grains supply in 2026-27 is projected at 2,156 million metric tons (MT), 15 million MT lower than 2025-26. Spurring the projected supply decrease are expected declines in production, particularly in the U.S. but with notable declines in other major producing countries, including the European Union and Argentina.

Corn price raised to $4.40 per bushel, up 25 cents

abby@agproud.com — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed the 2026-27 U.S. corn outlook is for reductions to supply, total use and ending stocks with higher expected prices. The corn crop is projected at 16 billion bushels, down 6% from a year ago on declines to both area and yield.

What’s in the 2026 Farm Bill?

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Thu, 14 May 2026 17:56:18 -0400

The Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, the next iteration of the farm bill, was passed by the House of Representatives with a vote of 224-200 on April 30.

Slower pace of slaughter partially offset by heavier weights

russell.h.knight@usda.gov — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Overall, the 2026 beef production forecast is lowered to 25.79 billion pounds, only 20 million pounds below last month’s projection. Compared to last month’s expectations, the pace of steer and heifer slaughter was slower in March.

April 2026 USDA Feed Outlook report

abby@agproud.com — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The April Feed Outlook report shows global coarse grains production is raised for 2025-26. The foreign 2025-26 coarse grains supply forecast is raised slightly this month, driven primarily by an increased production forecast, with slight increases to beginning stocks and imports.

Corn price raised to $4.15 per bushel

abby@agproud.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The April World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed this month’s 2025-26 U.S. corn outlook is unchanged relative to last month. Feed and residual use is unchanged at 6.2 billion bushels reflecting reported disappearance during the December-February quarter as indicated in the March 31 Grain Stocks report.

JBS Greeley plant back to full operations

david@agproud.com — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The agreement puts 3,800 workers back on the job after a strike starting March 16. The Greeley plant slaughters approximately 6,000 head a day, for 5% of U.S. beef-producing capacity. The strike forced JBS to shift cattle deliveries to its other locations in the U.S., which were already not at full capacity during the low cattle supply.

March 2026 poll results

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Check out the poll results from the March 2026 Progressive Cattle newsletters.

Industry preparing for NWS as path approaches U.S. border

david@agproud.com — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While NWS is currently not present in the U.S., speakers and officials at the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Convention in Fort Worth, Texas, March 28-29, gave indications the spread is being successfully kept at a distance away from the U.S. – for now. But plans are in motion for its arrival, possibly as early as this summer.

Forest Service to move headquarters to Salt Lake City

tyrell@agproud.com — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:14:43 -0400

The USDA announced that the headquarters of the U.S. Forest Service will be moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, as part of a sweeping restructuring of the agency.

Production slightly down on slow pace of slaughter

russell.h.knight@usda.gov — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This month’s outlook for 2026 beef production is down 110 million pounds from last month to 25.81 billion pounds. This is the result of a slower than previously anticipated pace of cattle slaughter in February and early March that is partially offset by heavier than previously expected carcass weights. The projection remains about 1% below 2025 levels and 9% below the record high set in 2022.

Cattle industry groups bust mystery feedlot virus

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A rumor started on March 14 claimed an unidentified Texas feedlot virus “sparked panic across southern cattle markets.” Multiple organizations within the Texas beef industry have rebutted this claim as false.

February 2026 poll results

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:38:26 -0400

Check out the poll results from the February 2026 Progressive Cattle newsletters.

‘Farm Bill 2.0’ advances out of committee

tyrell@agproud.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Early on the morning of March 5, after more than 20 hours of deliberation, the U.S. House of Representatives’ agriculture committee advanced the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 – often referred to as Farm Bill 2.0 – to the House floor. The legislation now moves to the full House for consideration before the Senate starts working on its own farm bill proposal.

January 2026 poll results

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Check out the poll results from the January 2026 Progressive Cattle newsletters.

JBS packer workers strike at Colorado plant

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Plant workers walked out of a JBS packing facility in Greeley, Colorado, on Monday, March 16, putting a major dent in beef production at a time of high demand and high prices.

March 2026 USDA Feed Outlook report

abby@agproud.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The March Feed Outlook report shows global coarse grains production is raised for 2025-26. Foreign 2025-26 coarse grains production forecast is raised slightly this month, with gains expected across barley, corn, oats and sorghum and small reductions expected for millet and rye. The largest increase is for corn production – particularly Ukraine.

Soybean price unchanged at $10.20 per bushel

abby@agproud.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The March World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed this month’s 2025-26 U.S. corn outlook is unchanged relative to last month. The season-average corn price received by producers is unchanged at $4.10 per bushel.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delists lesser prairie chicken

tyrell@agproud.com — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

On Feb. 26, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) finalized removal of protections for the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), putting into effect a ruling made in a U.S. district court in Texas in August 2025.

Insiders outline impact of Iran conflict on gas prices, fertilizer

david@agproud.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Far away from the Strait of Hormuz, the new oil crunch prices are hitting closer to home.

Zoetis to acquire Neogen’s animal genomics business

tyrell@agproud.com — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Zoetis Inc. and Neogen Corporation announced on March 2 that the companies had entered into a definitive agreement for Zoetis to acquire Neogen’s global animal genomics business for $160 million.

U.S. cattle herd further contracts

russell.h.knight@usda.gov — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:47:34 -0500

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released its semiannual Cattle report on Jan. 30. The total of all cattle and calves on Jan. 1, 2026, was estimated at 86.155 million head, a year-over-year decline of 316,900 head, or 0.4%.

Cattle health at the forefront of CattleCon presentations

abby@agproud.com — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

With U.S. cow herd size at a 75-year low and with no reprieve in sight, it’s never been more important to protect your cattle and operation. Farmers and ranchers should consider how to protect their animals and operation before it is too late. Here are a few of the topics shared at Cattlemen’s College during NCBA’s CattleCon 2026 in in Nashville, Tennessee.

Corn price unchanged at $4.10 per bushel

abby@agproud.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The February World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed this month’s 2025-26 U.S. corn outlook is for greater exports and lower ending stocks. Exports are raised 100 million bushels to 3.3 billion, reflecting sales and shipments to date.

CattleFax: Record demand and tight supplies shape the U.S. beef outlook