Finding a formula to determine exactly what your cow herd is producing compared to your inputs is essential to maximizing your operation’s profits.

Through mid-October 2025, excitement built across the live sectors of the beef industry, with high-price records sometimes being reset daily for many classes of cattle. Though drought conditions persisted through the Great Plains and much of the West, the fundamentals supported rising prices.

Pricing of feeder calves is based on weight as well as their expected future performance. Feedlot owners and managers are tracing superior as well as inferior animals to the previous owners, and future bids depend on animal quality.

Whether you’re pursuing a new opportunity or responding to a crisis, financial resilience provides a healthy foundation for thriving amid uncertainty. With a solid vision and goals, a clear view of your organization’s value and a plan to address risk – your business can be ready for just about anything.

Whether the market is as strong as it has been recently or in a slump, the health and growth of calves are critical to long-term success. Producers need to adapt their strategies to ensure they maintain profitability as best possible.

On July 4, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law following swift passage by both the House and Senate. This sweeping legislation brings significant changes to individual, business and nonprofit tax planning – many of which take effect in 2025 or 2026.