The older I get the more I realize some of life truths have to be understood and honored.

We have been going hard with AI synchronization and breeding, both cows and heifers.

The university extension services in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin are teaming together to offer the Driftless Region Beef Conference to educate beef producers.

With cattle herds at historic lows and input costs high, Jim Henry predicts beef prices will remain elevated for the foreseeable future.

If you’re shopping for a new family pet this holiday season, beware of scams.

With harvest complete and cover crops planted, work at Riskedal Farms is focusing on repairing machinery and deciding what changes they will make for the 2026 growing season.

Winter weather isn’t just tough on producers — it’s tough on cattle, too.

For beef producers using benzimidazoles — commonly known as white dewormers — getting the application right is just as important as choosing the right product.

After experiencing the biggest cattle industry event of the year, CattleCon 2026 attendees are encouraged to stay a little longer to see Tennessee cattle country firsthand.

Clay Geyer celebrated the end of another successful year on his farm in northern Indiana.

The past few years have tested even the most seasoned farmers. Facing rising input costs, unpredictable market access and many other challenges, farmers and ranchers are working harder while margins grow thinner.

Zinpro Corporation, the world’s leading innovator and manufacturer of high-performance organic trace minerals and animal nutrition solutions, has launched the Zinpro Sow Excellence Index — the swine industry’s first data-driven benchmarking system.

I am getting everything ready in the barn for winter. We do not have a lot to do since we do not lamb in the winter.

Ropp Jersey Cheese has transitioned from using milk produced on-site to milk from another family farm for its cheese products.

The goal of the Building a Better Cow project is to improve dairy cow productivity, profitability and wellness.

Illinois Beef Association staff have long been the premier planners of cattlemen’s meetings across Illinois. This November and December will prove no different.

At 92, Mom had outlived all her siblings and all her classmates, but her passing has left a big hole to fill in all the love she poured into all the friends and family that were lucky enough to know her.

We never quit trying to solve problems and figure out what could we have done better.

A California animal rights activist who took four chickens from a major Perdue Farms poultry plant was found guilty of felony conspiracy, trespassing and other charges and faces several years in jail.

When mastitis occurs, antibiotics are often an important part of getting cows back in the milking string. But not every case needs treatment, and that’s where good decision-making comes in.

With the warm, dry conditions, harvest is almost complete at Riskedal Farms, where some corn and sunflowers remain to be picked.

A virtual version of Stockmanship & Stewardship will be held Nov. 18-19. Cattle producers can register for this unique educational experience, which will take place 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

A heifer that calves late in her first breeding season is already behind — and likely to stay that way.

Seeing a fistulated cow at a young age triggered Delana Erbsen’s interest in research that has led her to develop FFA award-winning projects.

Matthias Hefty, a current Purdue University student and former DeKalb FFA Chapter member, is one of four finalists for the American Star in Agriscience award at the National FFA Convention.

The 2026 Redbook from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is now available.

Mexico activated emergency controls after detecting a new case of New World screwworm in cattle in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon state, the closest case to the U.S. border since the outbreak began last year.

The ducks are pretty messy with their water, but their funny walks and greetings make them fun to have in the barn.

A new tool for dairymen is designed to provide technology to drive efficiency and profitability in their herds.

Effective probiotics can reduce antibiotic use in dairy herds.

Seedstock breeders should be identifying bulls they plan to consign to the 2026 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale.

I would like to find some time for some more brush control projects, but I’m concerned that the dry weather may have rendered the target plants less receptive to absorb the chemical than would be ideal and I don’t want to waste the herbicides or the time to apply them.

With the shutdown of the government, there is uncertainty in knowing when we will receive our cost-share funds from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The first case of eastern equine encephalitis in Indiana since 2020 was confirmed by the state Board of Animal Health.

Since an early April low, live cattle prices took an upward turn that continued through September, but there are other concerns the industry is facing.

CattleCon 2026, the largest cattle industry event of the year, is heading Feb. 3-5 to the heart of downtown Nashville.

Greg Thoren is using a virtual fencing system to graze cattle in various areas of his farm as part of his regenerative agriculture plan for his operation.

Successfully breeding cows and maintaining pregnancy is always financially beneficial.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition has released a new “How-To” Video Series designed to give livestock producers quick, practical tools to improve grazing systems and pasture management.

Bovine respiratory disease is one of the greatest threats to young calves and gaining protection through vaccines isn’t always straightforward.

We are looking for innovative ideas to strengthen our communities and bring the next generation to the farm to ensure our nation continues to have a safe, healthy food supply.

From precision monitoring systems to real-time automation, new tools are streamlining tasks, supporting animal health and giving producers something increasingly rare: peace of mind.

In today’s competitive dairy environment, herd genetics are more than a science — they’re a strategy.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is a U.S. Department of Agriculture agency that helps landowners fix natural resource concerns on their land.

Many of us are still reeling from the recent tragic murder of Charlie Kirk. His legacy as a staunch defender of his Christian faith, as well as his defense of truth, has inspired thousands of people, young and old, around the world.

There’s no doubt that an introduction of New World screwworm, which is advancing northward from Central America and through Mexico, would have a devastating impact on America’s livestock, wildlife and people.

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.