Despite all the hot weather we had in July and August, the cattle have come on well and look great. Returns on the cattle we have sold continue to show they are performing and grading very well.

Prices for every class of cattle are over-the-moon high and the only question I hear is, “When will this bubble burst?” The answer of course is, “Who knows?”

The moderate drought we are back in has hastened the row crop maturation and held back everything else needing a drink.

Washington became the first state to ban octopus farming in 2024, followed by California, which also outlawed the sale of farmed octopus.

Your data is constantly flowing — from the milking parlor to the feed bunk to the breeding pen.

Judicious use of antibiotics is tremendously important for the future of beef and dairy production.

The annual Orr Beef Research Center Field Day will take place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program is seeking nominations for its FARM Farmer Advisory Council, uplifting farmer voices and helping shape the future of the FARM Program.

There’s something deeply gratifying about reporting on 4-H and FFA members who are raising animals, showing livestock and learning responsibility through hands-on work.

I’m hustling to keep up with the grass growth and mow under the fence to keep the volts up and my high school help went back to school.

Nathaniel will be marketing his first-ever pastured organic broiler crop as his entrepreneurial debut.

The United States’ suspension of live cattle imports from Mexico hit at the worst possible time for rancher Martín Ibarra Vargas, who after two years of severe drought had hoped to put his family on better footing selling his calves across the northern border.

Becoming a trained observer of livestock can help producers evaluate the nutritional value of their pastures.

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery announced that two of its artisanal cheeses have been awarded bronze and silver medals at the 42nd American Cheese Society annual conference in Sacramento.

The Trump administration is suing the state of California to block animal welfare laws that it says unconstitutionally helped send egg prices soaring.

From canning vegetables to volunteering at Taste From Indiana Farms at the Indiana State Fair, Mindy Orschell is enjoying the final few weeks of summer on — and off — the farm.

World Dairy Expo Virtual Farm Tours have brought some of the best dairy operations from near and far to Madison for over 20 years.

We think now in our second rotation that things are improving, not just from better practices from us, but from the steers perhaps having less anxiety about what and where they are grazing.

My father-in-law farmed in Stark County his whole life and for many years worked at the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office out measuring bins and acres for the various government programs.

U.S. cattle producers with an interest in strengthening the economic position of their individual farms and ranches and in ensuring the health and safety of their livestock herd would not knowingly support policies that conflict with their own interests and goals.

The herd at the University of Illinois dairy farm provides animals for research projects, as well as an opportunity for students to learn about dairy herd management.

All the feed for the University of Illinois farms — including poultry, beef, dairy and swine — are formulated at the Feed Technology Center.

While bovine viral diarrhea virus presents serious challenges, producers have reliable tools like vaccination, testing and biosecurity to manage it.

People working in the maternity area of a dairy farm provide a specialized type of care for the animals.

Evaluating cattle productivity often focuses on common benchmarks such as body condition, weight and feed consumption.

Not all teat dips are created equal. With milk quality being a constant priority and teat dip being a key input cost on a farm, understanding what sets one product apart is more important than ever.

Purdue University researchers now have developed an innovative, paper-based diagnostic test for rapidly detecting avian influenza, the main cause of recent high egg prices.

It never ceases to amaze me how otherwise rational adults can turn into combative middle schoolers the moment certain hot-button topics hit the table.

We should be back in the sheep barn this year with some lambs my granddaughter is bringing for the 4-H show.

This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 243 veterinary shortage areas across 46 states — the highest number recorded.

Even small Midwestern farms can harness the power of AI to boost productivity without breaking the bank.

A young family from California recently stopped at the Ropp Jersey Cheese store where they shared some of their common along with unique experiences with Ken Ropp.

Chris Hoffman is president of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. He is a first-generation hog and chicken farmer.

“Summertime, when the livin’ is easy.” That line from a well-known song couldn’t be further from the truth.

With the record prices being paid for fat cattle I am trying to get them to eat and gain as fast as possible so we can take advantage of this crazy-high cattle market.

By having the HeatSiecker patches on this year, it allowed for digital alerts of estrus and not having to spend as much time visually observing the cows in person.

Cow comfort, especially in the dry period, is the most important part of mastitis management, said Ben Smith, owner of Cool Lawn Farm.

Farming is all about being resilient, and Mindy Orschell and her family have had to be just that as weather challenges impacted planting this spring.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced strong support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plan to build a New World screwworm sterile fly facility at Moore Air Base in south Texas.

The Secure Beef Supply website has been redesigned to better serve the growing number of users seeking new, updated and classic biosecurity resources.

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program is accepting nominations for its annual FARM Excellence Awards, spotlighting program participants who embody the program’s mission of continuous improvement.

A wise-old rancher told me last year, “I can lead you to knowledge, but I can’t make you think.”

Four FFA students were named Stars over Indiana for their exceptional Supervised Agricultural Experiences.

This is the second in a series of columns featuring conversations with state Farm Bureau presidents about current issues in agriculture.

A biosecurity plan will be different for every cattle operation.

I cannot emphasize enough how wet it is in southern Illinois. The row crop guys were able to jump in and get some planting done, but may be wishing they hadn’t.

This cattle market is crazy good and has me wondering how long it can last.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition has worked successfully through the tension of whether it would still have grant funds for events after the days of DOGE.

Four members with outstanding projects that include cattle, flowers, sheep, auctioneering and hay production were presented the prestigious star awards during the 97th Illinois FFA State Convention.

The Jersey cows are lined up waiting their turn for the afternoon milking as Ken Ropp and Brett Yoder readied the parlor equipment.