Ag News

Colorado Supreme Court Agrees that Livestock Initiative 16 (PAUSE) Can’t Proceed

June 21, 2021 - In a 7-0 decision, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled today that the State Title Board incorrectly gave a green light to Initiative 2020-21 #16, an unprecedented measure that will crimin...

Colorado Cattlemen's Association 154th Annual Convention Kicks Off Today in Grand Junction

June 21, 2021 - Colorado Cattlemen’s Association’s (CCA) Annual Convention kicks off today! It’s shaping up to be an event you won’t want to miss, with a lot happening between now and Wednesday. There...

Superior Livestock Corn Belt Classic Exceeds Expectations

June 17, 2021 - The first test of the 2021 calf market was held in South Sioux City, Nebraska as Superior Livestock Auction held its annual Corn Belt Classic Sale.

NAWG CEO Tours the Snake River in the Pacific Northwest

June 17, 2021 - This week, the National Association of Wheat Growers CEO, Chandler Goule, joined other national farm industry leaders on a tour hosted by Idaho Farm Bureau Federation and Idaho Grain P...

USDA Launches Grant Program to Help Expand Regional Economies and Create High-Wage Jobs in Distressed Rural Communities

June 15, 2021 - United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal today unveiled a new grant program to help rural communiti...

Gov. Gianforte Issues Executive Order Declaring Disaster in Five Eastern Counties

June 15, 2021 – Governor Greg Gianforte today issued an executive order declaring a disaster in five Eastern Montana counties: Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Richland, and Roosevelt.

End to U.S.-EU Aircraft Trade Dispute: Welcome News to Wheat Growers

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) congratulate the Biden Administration and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai for resolving the long-running World...

USDA Announces Additional Aid to Ag Producers and Businesses in Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative

June 15, 2021 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today additional aid to agricultural producers and businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Earlier this...

Watch the Celebration of Life for Evan Slack

6.13.21 - On Saturday June 12th, a Celebration of Life was held for the founder of this radio network, Evan Slack. The Hall of Fame Farm Broadcaster passed away this past fall at the age of 86 on Sept...

Bipartisan Meat Packing Special Investigator Act introduced

On Friday, U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Charles Grassley (R-IA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) teamed up to introduce legislation that would amend the Packers and Stockyards Act to establish the Office o...

Retirement of Wyoming State Veterinarian Jim Logan

June 11, 2021 - The Wyoming Livestock Board held a meeting on June 9, 2021, in their Cheyenne offices. The Board announced they had accepted the upcoming resignation and retirement of State Veterinari...

Emergency Grazing of CRP Open in Most North Dakota Counties

June 11, 2021 - Emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres is open in most North Dakota counties. CRP participants in counties that are in a D3 or D4 drought status, or a D2 drought...

Sheep Industry Announces Trailblazers Tour

June 10, 2021 - The American Lamb Board (ALB) is partnering with the National Lamb Feeder's Association (NLFA) and the American Sheep Industry (ASI) to blaze a new trail for young producers in the she...

JBS Paid $11 Million In Ransom to Cyber Criminals

June 10, 2021 - JBS USA said it paid an $11 million ransom to cyber attackers that shut down operations in the U.S. and Australia last week. In a press statement, JBS said the vast majority of the com...

Biden Administration to Reverse New WOTUS Rule

June 9, 2021 - The water regulatory pendulum swung the other direction Wednesday, as the Biden administration announced it was working on a proposed change to the navigable waters definitions in the C...

Superior Livestock Summer Auction Schedule Update

June 8, 2021 - Superior Livestock would like to commend all our hard-working consignors, committed buyers, devoted Representatives and faithful industry partners as they have continued to persevere th...

NCBA Echoes Growing Demands for DOJ Investigation Results

June 8, 2021 - Today, Representative Mike Guest (R-MS-3) and Representative Darren Soto (D-FL-9) led a bipartisan group of 52 lawmakers in pushing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to complete thei...

New Video Series Got Sheep? Offers Practical Advice for Producers

June 8, 2021 - The GOT SHEEP? series has made its debut on YouTube in an effort to assist American sheep producers with management considerations for their flocks. The videos take an interactive appro...

Governor Gianforte Proclaims June 6-12, 2021 Noxious Weed Awareness Week

Established through a joint resolution (HJ17) during the 2021 legislative session, the first full week in June is an opportunity to highlight the important work taking place across the state to protec...

The 20 Millionth Angus Registration Assigned

June 7, 2021 - The 20 millionth registration number was purchased by Tom Burke of the American Angus Hall of Fame at the 2020 Angus Annual Meeting for $10,000. The registration number was recently ass...

Noxious Weed Awareness Week Weed Pull Event Scheduled for June 9th

In observation of Noxious Weed Awareness Week, the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is hosting a weed pull and trailhead clean-up event at the Old Shooting Range Adopt-A-Trailhead location in H...

PLC Renews Call for Wild Horse Management

June 7, 2021 - The Public Lands Council (PLC) has renewed the call for responsible, proactive management of horses and burros managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Recent activist efforts to...

Biden Administration Looking to Reverse Trump's Endangered Species Act Changes

June 4, 2021 - The set of proposed actions follows Executive Order 13990, which directed all federal agencies to review and address agency actions during the last four years that conflict with Biden-H...

Protect Cattle From Heat Stress

June 4, 2021 - Being proactive is the best way to deal with heat stress in cattle, according to North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists. Extreme temperatures are expected, with m...

Entries Kick Off for the 2021 World Forage Analysis Superbowl

June 4, 2021 - Entries are open for the 38th annual World Forage Analysis Superbowl. The 2021 contest, held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo, is set to award over $26,000 in cash prizes, made poss...

South Dakota State University Center of Excellence for Bison Studies Approves Eight Research Projects

June 4, 2021 - A new era in bison research formally began this week as the recently established Center of Excellence for Bison Studies funded eight projects to study topics ranging from ecosystem impa...

FSA Loan Interest Rates Out for June

The USDA June 1 announced loan interest rates for June 2021, which are effective June 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start...

Governor Noem Announces $5 Million for South Dakota Meat Processors

Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced $5 million for small South Dakota meat processors. The funding is made available through the state’s Coronavirus Relief Meat Processing Grant program.

Coors Banquet kicks off noir 'Stolen, Smuggled and Sought After' 2021 campaign with ’77 Pontiac Firebird treasure hunt

June 3, 2021 - Coors Banquet last month launched a series of spots on social and digital media. Directed by Janusz Kamiński, Steven Spielberg’s longtime cinematographer who worked on films such as "Sa...

JBS Shutters U.S. Plants in Response to Cyber Attacks

In response to cyberattacks, Brazilian-owned JBS, the largest meat packer in the world, shutdown all of its beef packing plants in the U.S. The shutdowns impacted all nine beef plants, located in Ariz...

Competitive Bidding Pushes Land Prices Higher

Interest in purchasing agricultural land has grown since a coronavirus pandemic-induced slowdown blanketed the land market last spring. Farmers are feeling more financially secure as very strong commo...

Montana Approves Use of Hemp in Commercial Animal Feed

Hemp and substances derived from hemp are now approved for use in commercial feed for pets, specialty pets, and horses in Montana, so long as they do not contain more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol, o...

President Biden's USDA Budget Scales Back COVID Aid

June 1, 2021 - The Biden administration has released its $6 trillion budget request to Congress for Fiscal Year 2022, that includes USDA's budget, which proposes an increase in discretionary spending...

USMEF Virtual Conference Highlights Market Diversification, Logistical Challenges, Trade Policy Outlook

May 31, 2021 - USMEF Chair Pat Binger, who heads international sales for Cargill Protein North America, opened the conference by discussing the importance of market diversification in achieving sustai...

State Grain Labs Important to Montana Farmers

May 31, 2021 - Montana farmers raise some of the highest quality barley, wheat and pulses in the world. And the State Grain Labs guarantee protein grade and other qualities that serve as the basis for...

New Survey Confirms that Hot Dogs are Essential for Summer Cookouts

May 30, 2021 - A new survey commissioned by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) and The North American Meat Institute, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, showed that 73 percent of America...

Lamb Market Setting Record Highs

May 28, 2021 - The lamb cutout value continues to set new record highs, with the most recent record value of $464.33 per cwt. set the first week of May. Last week, the cutout value did drop by $9.61 p...

Wyoming 4-H’ers Competing in 307 Livestock Show Series across Cowboy State

May 28, 2021 - Livestock progress shows around the state offer 4-H youths opportunities to accumulate points over the summer and be recognized at the Wyoming State Fair and Rodeo through the 307 Lives...

Columbia Grain International Discusses Soaring Commodity Prices and its Impact on American Farmers

May 28, 2021 - Commodities like corn, wheat and soybeans are at 8-year highs. And Columbia Grain is ready to help farmers take advantage of these soaring prices and to ensure their crops find a home i...

Governors Urge DOJ to Continue Investigation into Anti-Competitive Practices in Meatpacking Industry

May 27, 2021 - In a joint-letter with governors from South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Iowa, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte today urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue t...

A Welcome Rain Gives Pulse Growers Hope

May 27, 2021 - Pulse prices seem to be improving, and global and domestic markets for pulses show promise. Record high pulse stocks are decreasing as demand picks up, and the USDA have promised to pur...

USFWS Seeks Comment on Proposal to List the Lesser Prairie-Chicken under the Endangered Species Act

May 27, 2021 - After a thorough review of the best available science, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list two distinct population segments (DPS) of the lesser prairie-chicken under...

USDA Forecasts Record Farm Exports in FY 2021

May 27, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s quarterly agricultural trade forecast, released this week, projects fiscal year 2021 U.S. farm exports at $164 billion – the highest total on record...

Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame Inductees to be Honored at 2021 Cattle Industry Convention

May 26, 2021 - Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame inductees and award winners will be honored on Aug. 9, 2021, during the 12th annual banquet, held in conjunction with the nation’s largest cattle industry ga...

National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation Name Scott Stump Chief Executive Officer

The National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation named Scott Stump the new chief executive officer of both organizations, effective Monday, June 21.

Western Ag Network Welcomes Slivka as 2021 Summer Communications Intern

May 25, 2021 - The Western Ag Network has announced the hiring of Anna Slivka as a summer intern. Slivka, originally from Winifred, Montana, is a student at Montana State University-Bozeman studying A...

North Dakota Man Convicted of Unlawful Livestock Transport

May 24, 2021 - Late last week, an Edgeley, N.D., man was convicted in LaMoure County of unlawful transport of livestock. On May 20, Southeast District Court Judge Mark Blumer ordered Richard Musland t...

2021 Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame Announced

May 21, 2021 - CASPER – The Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame (WCHF)has selected 43 inductees for the Class of 2021. The WCHF State Board of Directors voted on the nominees from across the state during its...

Agriculture and Forestry Coalition Moves to Defend Gray Wolf Delisting

May 21, 2021 - This week, a coalition of agriculture and forestry groups — including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Forest Resources Council, the American Sheep Industry Association...

America's Corn Farmers to Sponsor Major League Baseball at Field of Dreams

May 20, 2021 - The game between the White Sox and Yankees will be played at a newly constructed ballpark adjacent to the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa on Thursday, August 12th and wil...

Four Universities Collaborate to Provide Beef Mineral Nutrition Course

May 20, 2021 - Registration is open for a multi-part course geared toward mineral nutrition for the beef cow herd through a partnership with the University of Wyoming, South Dakota State University (S...

Montana Farmers Encouraged to Participate in Wheat & Barley Varieties Survey

May 19, 2021 - The survey is a collaborative project among the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, Montana State University, and USDA NASS targeting specific data points that will influence future bre...

Wyoming 4-H Foundation Awards More Than $60,000 in Scholarships

May 19, 2021 - Over $60,000 in scholarships was awarded by the 4-H Foundation/State 4-H Office scholarship committee to 4-H youths attending the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college th...

National FFA Announces In-Person Convention With a Virtual Program for 2021

May 19, 2021 - The National FFA Organization announced today that they would hold their annual in-person convention this fall in the city of Indianapolis. The event, which traditionally brings more th...

U.S. Pulse Industry Reaches Out to NGOs on New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

May 18, 2021 - The American Pulse Association and USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council has been actively reaching out to NGOs (non-governmental organization) across the U.S., encouraging the use of the latest...

Funding for New Montana Wool Lab Approved

May 17, 2021 - It's a huge win for Montana’s sheep producers, securing $5 million of funding to build a new Wool Lab on Montana State University’s Bozeman campus. The remaining $1 million for the proj...

Record Packer Profits: Details emerge from closed door meeting

May 17, 2021 - On Monday, May 10, 2021, member leaders of American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Farmers Union, R-CALF USA, and the United States Cattlemen’s...

Drought-Stricken Farmers in NE Montana Remain Optimistic

May 17, 2021 - This year one of the direst areas in America is Northeast Montana. Despite this, farmers are back in the field planting another high-quality crop of cereal grains, pulses and oilseeds.

Wool Producers Reminded of 40-Cent Wool LDP Currently Available

May 17, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Assistance Loan and Loan Deficiency Payment programs could provide welcome assistance for wool producers.

Montana Senator Steve Daines Challenges USTR to Re-Engage in the Trans-Pacific Partnership

May 14, 2021 - Montana Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) has challenged U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to re-engage with the Trans-Pacific Partnership because he says TPP is important to America's...

Farmers Business Network Has Grown to 25,000 Members

May 14, 2021 - FBN, the global farmer-to-farmer network, announced that its membership community had exceeded 25,000 farmer members globally, adding over 10,000 new farming enterprises over the past s...

Cattle Industry Groups Hold Closed-Door Meeting to Discuss Price Imbalances

May 14, 2021 - The current price imbalance between the packer, the feedlot and the ranch, was at the heart of a closed-door meeting among cattle industry representatives this week in Phoenix.

Grassroots Advocacy

May 13, 2021 - Podcast: The Montana Farm Bureau is celebrating its members during the month of May. From grassroots advocacy, membership benefits and growing the Farm Bureau footprint, it is a busy ti...

Governor Gianforte Proclaims May as Beef Month in Montana at Hahn Ranch near Townsend

May 13, 2021 - On Wednesday, Governor Greg Gianforte proclaimed the month of May to be Beef Month in Montana. He made the announcement at the Hahn Ranch in Broadwater County.

Bringing Education Straight to the Ranch

May 13, 2021 - “Cattleman U is an educational platform and community for the next generation of
producers or people who want to raise livestock or crops in the near future. So many of
this generation...

Ag Producers Could See Decline in Plastic Supplies and Higher Prices for Baler Twine and More

May 12, 2021 - A shortage of resin could make plastic agricultural products such as baler twine, net wrap and silage bags harder to find or considerably more expensive this growing season.

Montana Cattle Ranchers Eager For New Veterinary Diagnostic Lab

May 10, 2021 - Livestock producers around Montana are thrilled with the recent signing of House Bills (HB) 14 and 632 by Governor Greg Gianforte. Both bills included $26 million in funding for infrast...

Commodity Trading Expert Explains Why Wheat Markets are at 10-Year Highs

May 10, 2021 - Tightening supplies and drought in the Northern Plains is helping to push wheat prices to some of their highest levels in over ten years. Jim Bower with Bower Trading says the wheat mar...

LRP Insurance Available to Help Cattle Producers Manage Risk

May 7, 2021 - Cattle futures have been getting hammered lately on the sharply higher corn prices. And that has a lot of cattlemen and women talking about how they can manage risk and protect their bot...

Producer Partnership Set to Open Processing Unit in Montana by 2022

May 6, 2021 - The Producer Partnership is more than excited to announce plans to open the first non-profit, federally inspected livestock processing facility in Montana. It will be located 12 miles ea...

UW Extension Publication Examines Fall Feeder Cattle Price Slide

May 6, 2021 - This publication can help producers understand how fall feeder cattle prices are affected by weight, feed prices and finished cattle prices, which may impact how they manage livestock in...

Record-Breaking Performance for U.S. Beef and Pork Exports in March

May 6, 2021 - U.S. red meat exports ended the first quarter on a very high note, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), with March beef and pork ex...

Dan Reimer Selected to Lead Operations at Montana State Grain Labs

May 5, 2021 - With a background in mechanical engineering, Dan has led teams throughout the world, including as General Manager of a manufacturing plant in Mexico, and most recently, Executive Directo...

Magagna & White Eagle to Receive UW Honorary Degrees

May 4, 2021 - The University of Wyoming will confer its highest award, the honorary doctoral degree, upon two individuals who will be recognized during UW commencement ceremonies May 14-15. They are J...

Ranching Groups Submit Comment on Elk Management Plan Guiding Principles

May 3, 2021 - The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), the Montana Public Lands Council (MPLC), and the Montana Association of State Grazing Districts (MASGD) submitted joint comments on Fish, Wil...

Farm Bureau Launches Farm State of Mind Resource Directory to Support Mental Health Month

May 3, 2021 - In recognition of May as Mental Health Month, the American Farm Bureau Federation launched a comprehensive, easy-to-use online directory of resources for farmers, ranchers and their fam...

Cattle Rancher to Congress: Active Management Necessary to Curb Wildfires

April 30, 2021 - This week fifth-generation California cattle producer Dr. Dave Daley testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. Daley shared his expert...

Pulse Growers Excluded from CFAP Funding Results in Urgent Call to Action

April 30, 2021 - The Northern Pulse Growers Association and USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council urge pulse growers to join them in writing to USDA and Congress asking them to include pulses in coronavirus fu...

After Four Previous Attempts, Bill on County Approval for Bison Relocation in Montana Signed Into Law

April 29, 2021 - On Thursday, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) joined Governor Greg Gianforte and bill sponsor, Representative Josh Kassmier, for the signing of House Bill (HB) 302. The pre...

Texas Ag Commissioner Sues Biden Administration Over Debt Relief Plan Discrimination

April 29, 2021 - Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is suing the federal government claiming that the Biden administration's COVID-19 relief plan passed last month discriminates against white f...

Drought: Covering Your Risk

April 29, 2021 - While we cannot control Mother Nature, many producers are sleeping easier at night because they anticipated the lack of rainfall and found a risk management tool to protect their life...

First Generation Organic Farmer Excited for New Planting Season

April 29, 2021 - Another spring planting season is finally here. As temperatures warm up and fields dry out, farmers like those in Montana's Gallatin Valley are anxious to get back into the fields.

Mexican Supreme Court Rules in Favor of U.S. Potatoes

April 28, 2021, - The Mexican Supreme Court ruled by a unanimous vote of five to zero in favor of overturning a 2017 lower court decision that prevented the Mexican federal government from implementin...

Governor’s Office Issues Montana Water and Supply Drought Outlook Report

April 27, 2021 - According to data in the report, 42 percent of the state is classified as abnormally dry, with another 18 percent of the state in severe to extreme drought conditions. May and June ar...

Tyson Announces Support for U.S. CattleTrace

April 27, 2021 - Beef industry efforts to develop a voluntary animal traceability system gained significant traction today as Tyson Fresh Meats announces its support for U.S. CattleTrace.

Dr. Maggie Baldwin Named Colorado State Veterinarian

April 26, 2021 - The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Maggie Baldwin has been named state veterinarian. In the role, Dr. Baldwin will manage CDA’s Animal Health...

UW Extension hosting Wyoming Sheep Seminar in Powell

April 26, 2021 - Industry speakers and chute-side discussions are part of the Wyoming Sheep Seminar in Powell May 10-11. A late afternoon session is at the Park County Fairgrounds Monday, May 10, then...

Columbia Grain CEO Discusses West Coast Shipping Congestion

April 26, 2021 - West Coast port congestion continues to have the attention of the U.S. agriculture industry as the container shipping crisis has severely injured food and other U.S. ag and forestry e...

Beware of Hay Scams

Western Ag Network and the Public Lands Council has received several unconfirmed reports of hay scams directly targeting the agriculture community.

AQHA Honors Wyoming Ranch with 2021 Best Remuda

Honoring a long legacy of ranching, Miller Land & Livestock is the 2021 AQHA Best Remuda winner. Since 1992, the American Quarter Horse Association has honored the contributions ranch horses have made...

May Ranch Receives Colorado Leopold Conservation Award

April 22, 2021 - The May Ranch is owned and operated by the Dallas and Brenda May family of Prowers County. The conservation practices that the Mays have implemented on their cattle ranch have improve...

USDA Expands and Renews Conservation Reserve Program in Effort to Boost Enrollment and Address Climate Change

April 22, 2021 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted...

Farmers and Ranchers Celebrate Earth Day as the Original Environmentalists

April 22, 2021 - Words like sustainability and environmental stewardship aren’t just buzz words; they’re every day action items that hard-working farmers and ranchers implement every day on their farm...

Big Win for Domestic Sheep Grazing

April 21, 2021 - Yesterday, a federal district court judge in Washington denied a request for preliminary injunction by Plaintiffs Western Watersheds Project and WildEarth Guardians to halt domestic s...

Montana Governor Announces Settlement Agreement Ending FWP Bison Plan

April 20, 2021 - In the settlement agreement, FWP and UPOM agree the Final EIS failed to adequately consider disease transmission between bison, livestock, and other wildlife, there was an inadequate...

South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources

April 19, 2021 - Governor Noem announced her plan to merge the two departments in August 2020 and, in January 2021, issued Executive Reorganization Order 2021-03 combining the two departments into DAN...

Florida Rancher and Celebrity Chef Talk Sustainability

April 19, 2021 - This past week, Blackbeard’s Ranch in SW Florida-the 2019 National Environmental Stewardship Award winner-hosted a satellite media event where rancher Jim Strickland and celebrity che...

Sheep Genetics USA Plans May 11 Webinar

April 19, 2021 - Sheep Genetics USA will offer a webinar on Improving Genetic Tools to Enhance Profitability on May 11 at 6 p.m. mountain daylight time. The webinar is part of a series of webinars spo...

Throws Spun from Wyoming Wool will Boost UW Sheep Program

April 16, 2021 - Profits from sales of limited-edition throws made from wool grown and knitted in Wyoming will be reinvested back in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources sheep and wool pro...