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NEWS

↕️ Rising Overhead, Shrinking Profits

↕️ Rising Overhead, Shrinking Profits - Despite strong cattle prices, cheaper feed, and good hay seasons, rising overhead costs are squeezing profits in the livestock industry. While some expenses, like hay, fluctuate, overhead costs steadily increase, challenging ranchers’ bottom lines.

🌿 Grass is Gold - The cattle industry’s outlook is heavily influenced by grazing availability, with record-high prices overshadowed by droughts and wildfires. Wildfires may disrupt grazing for years, and restoring rangelands could take 4-5 years, affecting long-term cattle inventories.

❄️ Reserve Herd Days - Hugh Aljoe, director at Noble Research Institute, advocates for tracking "reserve herd days" to ensure enough forage for livestock through droughts or winter. By monitoring forage demand, supply, and regrowth, ranchers can proactively manage grazing and reduce reliance on hay.

💸 Sky-High Land Sales - Despite challenging financial conditions in agriculture, land sales in Iowa and Missouri continue to hit high prices, with one Iowa tract selling for $20,500 per acre. While farmland prices are gradually decreasing, demand and competition remain strong.

🪺 Sage Grouse Protection Plan - The Biden administration's final proposal for greater sage grouse protection aims to balance conservation with land uses like solar energy. It covers 69 million acres of public land, seeking to safeguard the species while supporting development.

📈 September Surge - U.S. pork and beef exports rose in September, with pork exports up 8% in volume and 6% in value, driven by growth in Central America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Beef exports increased 5% in volume and 6% in value, boosted by strong demand in Asia and Mexico. Both sectors are on track to set new records in 2024.

RANCHING KNOW-HOW

Weight Per Day of Age and Average Daily Gain

This week, we explore the differences between two key growth measures in beef production: Weight per Day of Age (WDA) and Average Daily Gain (ADG), using data from Angus calves at the OSU Purebred Beef Cattle Center.

Starting With A Clean Slate

In this episode, Allan Crockett returns to discuss how to "Reset" in ranching—whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or facing plateaued profitability. He shares insights on company culture, adapting to change, and strategies for revitalizing your business.

CATTLE COMMUNITY

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

READER POLL

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

THOUGHTS FROM VOTERS

Impact of Election Policy

• “Election in regard to tariffs, isolationist policies, global cooperation, and climate issues that are impacting agriculture on an ever-increasing scale.”

Other

• “Regulations based on faulty assumptions, especially the so-called 'climate crisis.' These regulations can affect rural transportation, management of herds, forage and vegetation, etc. in many indirect, as well as direct ways.”

• “Packer and feedyard concentration.”