Improvements in U.S. Pasture and Rangeland Conditions

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Equine, Livestock, Pasture, Sheep-Goats

Both ends of the nation’s pasture and rangeland condition ratings reveal year over year improvements within the final condition report for 2023. Rod Bain has the story. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey looks at states with notable good to excellent pasture and rangeland conditions for the period ending this past week. Rippey also discusses regions of the country where there are …

Alabama Cattlemen Looking at All Aspects of the Current Drought

Dan Alabama, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA), Beef, Cattle, Pasture

It’s dry across the Southeast and conditions are getting worse in many parts of Alabama. The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Vice President, Erin Beasley, told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman they are looking at all aspects of this drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the lack of rain has led to worsening drought conditions in Alabama. Extreme drought conditions are being noted in the …

Two Positive HPAI Cases in Iowa

Dan Avian Influenza, Poultry

The Iowa Ag Department and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed two positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in that state. One of the sites is a commercial turkey flock, and the other is a mixed species backyard flock. Both agencies remind commercial and backyard owners to prevent contact between their flocks and …

Beef, Poultry Production and Price Forecast Update

Dan Beef, Cattle, Marketing, Poultry

How does USDA’s October outlook on beef production connect with its price forecasts for this year and next? Rod Bain has more on that, along with a look at broiler and turkey production and price forecasts, which indicate tighter supplies but mixed prices received by producers. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata …

USDA Conducting Sheep Study in 2024

Dan Sheep-Goats, USDA

USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) conducts a national sheep study approximately every ten years, and will do so again next year. The Sheep 2024 Study will support industry groups and research efforts with new information on sheep health and management. The study consists of two phases and includes biological sampling and two questionnaires. A random selection of almost …

Early 2023 Hog and Cattle Weights Lagged Behind 2022

Dan Beef, Cattle, Marketing, Pork

Live weights of both hogs and cattle ran below year-earlier weights for the early part of 2023. Hog live weights averaged 284.9 pounds through the week ending on July 8, 2023, compared to 287.3 pounds during the same time in 2022. That’s an average difference of over 2.4 pounds. Lower weights this year are likely because of producer losses caused …

New Animal Disease Early Detection Partnership

Dan Avian Influenza, Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Equine, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, This Land of Ours

There’s a new partnership for early detection of animal diseases. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. It’s a new partnership among the nation’s animal health and biodefense facilities to improve early detection of emerging animal diseases. This is Christy Loiacano, coordinator of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service …

ALB Promotes Lamb at Consumer, Influencer Events

Dan Economy, Sheep-Goats

The latest consumer research funded by the American Lamb Board (ALB) indicate a majority of consumers associate lamb with flavor, tenderness, freshness and quality, but only 33 percent of consumers agree that lamb is a nutritious meat choice. So, building awareness about lamb’s nutrition benefits and positioning lamb as part of a healthful diet and lifestyle is an opportunity to …