“The Beginners Guide to Direct Marketing Meat” webinar series will give participants the opportunity to learn about the do’s and don’ts of direct marketing. Webinar host and owner of High Five Meats Sarah Hollenbeck shares more.

As the spring wheat planting is close to wrapping up here Montana, there is a lot of farmers' minds. I spoke with the Montana Grain Growers President Vince Mattson of Chester, MT on how things are shaping up this spring.

Ranchers are stressed out and wearing thin. Folks have sent me inquiries about what a 50% mandatory negotiated cash trade will do for the cattle markets. Ag. Economist Dr. Gary Brester shared insight on cash trade, the backlog of cattle in feedlots, what prices could be for calves and risk management advice, and much more.

Montana U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines along with Congressman Greg Gianforte share their efforts to address livestock market issues ranging from MCOOL, packer investigations to removing red tape on meat processing and more.

Montana Attorney General Tim Fox sent a letter to U.S. AG William Barr expressing antitrust concerns involving meatpackers within the cattle industry. His efforts to help cattle producers along with ranchers voicing their concerns in the countryside have prompted President Donald Trump to ask the Department of Justice to investigate the meatpacking industry.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, farm fairs which would be teeming with eager students have been nixed, but the Montana Farm Bureau is holding a virtual farm fair to bring the educational ag-related topics directly to your home. MFBF’s Promotion & Education Committee Chair Bonita Cremer shares how Montana Farm Bureau’s Virtual Farm Fair is scheduled to run on social media beginning May 11 and throughout that week.

https://www.facebook.com/events/541601436546147/

Montana Farm Bureau President Hans McPherson took a break from calving to talk cattle prices, COVID-19, anxiety in the countryside.

With a consensus that we are in or heading into a recession in the aftermath of the coronavirus, what impact will it have on the cattle markets? Ag economist Dr. Anton Bekkerman gives insight to the marketplace and looks to past recession trends on what may occur. Dr. Bekkerman is an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics at Montana State University.

Click here for the full article: http://ageconmt.com/economic-recession-impacts-on-cattle-markets-lessons-from-2008/

Montana Attorney General Tim Fox is president of the National Association of Attorney Generals. This week he spoke on the phone with U.S. Attorney General William Barr. They discussed price gouging and consumer protection in the wake of the coronavirus. Fox also brought up the livestock markets and concerns livestock producers have with meatpacker profits.

Montana Stockgrowers Association Exc. VP Jay Bodner shares an overview of MSGA's efforts during the COVID-19 situation, a new job opening with the association and plans for the 2020 Summer Business Meeting.