It is generally accepted that cattle vaccines should be stored at temperatures between 35° F and 46° F. But what happens if they aren’t?   “Exposure to temperatures beyond the optimal range has the potential to negatively impact the effectiveness of both killed and modified-live vaccines,” says Dr. Catherine Dowling, a beef technical services veterinarian with Zoetis. “The extent of that impact will depend on a variety of factors — including the vaccine type, for how long and to what extreme the vaccine has been exposed.”  What happens when vaccines are exposed to freezing temps?  “Vaccine freezing presents some unique hazards,...

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This winter has been similar to last winter in terms of snow and potential moisture for this spring. Much of the North Dakota received below-average fall and winter precipitation, leading to below-average soil moisture. Currently, 55% of the state is experiencing some level of drought, and an additional 12% is abnormally dry. The western North Dakota forage and grazing outlook differs significantly from central and northeastern North Dakota, according to Kevin Sedivec, NDSU rangeland management specialist. A forage and grazing outlook for 2025 is based on the previous fall’s moisture and moisture received in May and June. Although snow is...

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By Donnie Leddy, publisher As we say goodbye to Winter and hello to Spring it is fun to reflect back.  The cattle market has been setting records week after week.  Last Fall, our sale barns sold calves higher than they have only to sell them higher in December, January, and February.  Right now, grass cattle have been setting all-time records, I will not be surprised if we see pairs bring over ,000 in the next few weeks.  The rumors of big drafts of calves selling for ,000 a head this Fall is getting closer to reality. That equates to a...

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By Ryan Evans, Agricultural Economics, UNL Nebraska’s agricultural land values decreased by 2% in the past year, with an average value of ,935 per acre as of Feb. 1, according to preliminary findings of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 2024-25 Farm Real Estate Market Survey. This is the first decline in the non-inflation-adjusted market value of Nebraska agricultural land in six years and follows a record high of ,015 per acre in 2024. The survey’s preliminary report was published March 12 by the university’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, based in the Department of Agricultural Economics. It provides current estimates of agricultural...

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The third week of March has been designated as National Ag Week.  So whether you are in the middle of calving, preparing equipment to start farming, or finishing up at your office so you can get home and feed hay, you are part of this week’s celebration.  Agriculture is the backbone of our rural communities providing food, fiber, and fuel for the nation. American farmers and ranchers can be proud of their efforts feeding our fellow Americans and others worldwide.  It is said that every American farmer feeds more than 165 people an impressive increase from 25 people back in...

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By Hannah Baker, M.S. State Specialized Extension Agent - Beef and Forage Economics Range Cattle Research and Education Center University of Florida / IFAS Extension 2025 is expected to be another year of high cattle prices as a result of, primarily, tight supplies. Average weekly prices for 500-600-pound steer calves across the country have increased by roughly 10 percent with fed steer prices also increasing 10 percent year over year. Week to week, there has been some volatility, but overall, prices have remained strong during the first few months of 2025. Prices for weaned heifers, replacement cattle, and cull cows...

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LENEXA, KAN. - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced today that EPA will work with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to deliver on President's Trump's promise to review the definition of "waters of the United States." The agencies will move quickly to ensure that a revised definition follows the law, reduces red-tape, cuts overall permitting costs, and lowers the cost of doing business in communities across the country while protecting the nation's navigable waters from pollution. Given the U.S. Supreme Court's watershed decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, it is time for EPA to...

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As Current Conditions Improve on U.S. Farms By Michael Langemeier and James Mintert, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture Farmer sentiment rose again in February, with a big improvement in farmers’ appraisal of current conditions on their farms providing the impetus for stronger sentiment. Strengthening crop prices, positive returns in the livestock sector and expectations for receipt of disaster payments from USDA all combined to make the current situation on U.S. farms better. The shift in sentiment regarding the current situation on their farms also appeared to encourage more producers to say this is a good time to make large investments...

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By Kelly Brandlee Brianna Duerre’s journey to becoming the National Shorthorn Lassie Queen is a story of dedication and a lifelong connection to cattle. Growing up on her family’s sixth-generation farm south of Bristol, South Dakota, she was surrounded by a diverse operation that included a commercial cow/calf herd, Shorthorns, pigs, sheep, and crops. Helping on the farm wasn’t just a chore—it was a way of life. She and her siblings, Jessica, Nathan, and Allison, spent summers assisting with daily farm tasks and calving season. “I didn’t have a job in town; my job was to help after school and...

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If you follow along, you know how high the current cattle market is!  From feeder cattle to grass cattle to bred cattle and weigh up cattle, the market is good, real good. We are seeing 700# and 800# cattle bringing over a pound!  I saw where a group of open replacement heifers weighing 895 sell for 9.00!  That’s ,765.55 a head with the load of cattle costing 5,933. Many of our commercial cattle producers will start calving in the next few weeks and the speculation for next fall is very exciting. At current levels, producers who sell 600# steers...

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