Record Low Hay Stocks Seen in Top Producing States

January 26, 2023 - Two years of drought have severely depleted U.S. hay stocks. The recently released December 1 hay stocks from USDA showed total stocks of 71.9 million tons, 16.4 percent below the p...

Bipartisan American Beef Labeling Act Reintroduced in Senate

January 24, 2023 - U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have reintroduced the Ame...

Columbia Grain Helping Farmers Maximize Profits with Producer Solutions

January 24, 2023 - Columbia Grain International (CGI) is ready to help farmers in 2023 maximize their profitability with it's new Producer Solutions platform. During the Montana Grain Growers Associat...

Corn Growers Praise Biden Officials for Stance on Biotech Corn

January 24, 2023 - The development came during a meeting between Mexican officials and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor and the Office...

Wyoming’s Brad Boner Becomes President of American Sheep Industry Assoc.

At the conclusion of the 158th American Sheep Industry Association annual convention in Fort Worth, TX Brad Boner of Glen Rock, WY became president of the association.

American Lamb Board Releases FY22 Report and New Strategic Plan

January 20, 2023 - The past year has been challenging for the U.S. Lamb industry, between price inflation, labor challenges and the economic downturn, added to the lingering Covid pandemic. The Americ...

Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and Colorado State University’s AgNext Recipients of the NFWF RESTORE Grant to Improve Resiliency of Grasslands

The Colorado State University’s AgNext and Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) have announced they are the recipients of more than $668K to develop and implement science-based grazing management pr...

New Effort Launched to Address Wildfire Crisis

January 19, 2023 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced expanded efforts to reduce wildfire risk across the western U.S. These $490 million investments were made possible through President...

Another round of USFS sniper operations presented to remove cattle

According to the release, 756 cattle have been removed either through lethal or nonlethal means over the course of nine contracts for their removal. Howes notes that for every animal led out of the Wi...

Fankhauser presented with CCA's top honor

Colorado Cattlemen’s Association’s (CCA) wrapped up its 2023 Mid-Winter Conference earlier this week at the Renaissance Central Park Hotel in Denver. This year’s event capitalized on CCA’s engaged mem...

Strengthening Organic Enforcement Final Rule Published

January 18, 2023 - The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) has previewed the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule. This update to the USDA organic regulations strengthens oversight and e...

USDA Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Strengthen Animal Disease Traceability Regulations

January 18, 2023 - The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a proposed rule today to amend animal disease traceability regulati...

Pickup stolen from Montana Galloway breeder at NWSS

Another vehicle has been reported stolen by a NWSS exhibitor, this one a Galloway breeder from Montana.

New Big Bud Tractor Coming in March for Farmers

January 17, 2023 - This week the buzz in farm country has been the news that Big Equipment Company in Havre, Mont. has partnered with Rome Agricultural and Construction Equipment in Cedartown, GA to b...

FOUND! Stolen Pigs and Rig End Last-Year Exhibitor's NWSS Trip

January 16, 2023 - Monday morning 19-year-old Myles Lee should have been checking his two market hogs in to show at the National Western Stock Show, but instead he’s without pigs and without a rig aft...

Breakevens Reach Highest Level for Cattle Feeders Since 2015

January 12, 2023 - Cattle feeders are finding profits early in the New Year, but costs of production continue rising. Cattle placed on feed last week project to have the highest breakeven price since...

Stanko, Whitten announced as new Regional Assistant Ag Commissioners

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is announcing the hiring of Jo Stanko and George Whitten as Regional Assistant Commissioners of Agriculture. In their new positions, they will serve as lia...

MOU with John Deere Creates Workable Solution on Right to Repair for Farmers and Ranchers

Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) is very pleased with the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today between American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and John Deere that will ensure farmers’ and ra...

Vilsack announces major program improvements, progress, and investments to benefit American ag producers

Today, at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced several major developments at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will benefit farmers,...

Farm Bureau Names 2023 Farm Dog of the Year

January 9, 2023 - The winner of the 2023 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year award is Tough, a Border Collie owned by Kansas Farm Bureau members Denny and Donna Ashcraft. AFBF, with support from Nestlé P...

Scrambled: HPAI cases and a new egg bill create troubles for consumers

The bill, HB20-1343, sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts and Sen. Kerry Donovan (D-Vail) requires a farm owner or operator to confine chicken, turkey, duck, goose, or guinea fowl hens in only cage-free sy...

Record Sales and Land Values to Continue in 2023

January 6, 2023 - The land market momentum that began in late 2021 accelerated into 2022 and was driven by competition for high quality cropland; it resulted in both record sales and overall increases...

U.S. Custom Harvesters to Celebrate 40th year at Annual Convention in Omaha

January 6, 2023 - U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. (USCHI) will host their Annual Convention in Omaha, Nebraska, February 2-5, 2023. This year USCHI celebrates its 40th anniversary as an organization that...

Farm Credit Stockholders Vote to Form New Association in the West

January 5, 2023 - Stockholders of both Northwest Farm Credit Services and Farm Credit West have overwhelmingly approved a merger of their associations to form AgWest Farm Credit – a new association se...

American Angus Association Partners with IMI Global

January 5, 2023 - For today’s cattle producers, it is more important than ever to be able to differentiate their cattle in the marketplace. Two of the leading third-party verification companies, IMI G...

KLMR Set to Make a Comeback

January 4, 2023 - KLMR first took to the airwaves in 1948 and after falling silent in September of 2022, the Giant of the High Plains is poised to return to the air. Riverside Communications, LLC, a p...

Western Ranchers Launch Effort to Raise Climate-Smart Beef

January 3, 2023 - Country Natural Beef is a cooperative with more than 100 members, operating on 6.5 million acres of rangeland in 11 western states, comprising the largest network of family ranches i...

Cattle Analysts are Bullish on 2023 Market

January 2, 2023 - Cattle prices will be higher in 2023. That’s the consensus of market analysts across the industry. How those higher prices translate into rancher profitability is yet to be determine...

EPA Releases Final WOTUS Rule

December 30, 2022 - The final rule, released Friday, keeps a controversial "significant-nexus" test in place when determining jurisdictional waters and codifies for the first time a number of long-sta...

Cattle Rustlers Steal 80 Bred Cows in Baca County, Colorado

December 28, 2022 - There is a report of stolen livestock in Baca County. It has been reported that approximately 80 head of bred cows are missing. The cattle are mostly black and predominantly have b...

Fast-Food Chains Allege Price Fixing By Big 4 Packers

December 27, 2022 - Sonic, Arby’s, Burger King, Whataburger, Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. filed a 94-page complaint against Cargill, Tyson, JBS and National Beef Packing Co., claiming that the four have be...

North Dakota Entrepreneur Brings Carpet Farming to a New Level for Kids

December 26, 2022 - Carpet farming is serious business. If you don't believe it, look to a new business started by Nathan Faleide. The North Dakota entrepreneur turns satellite images of farm landscap...

"Mad" Jack Hanks passes at 82

It was from the O-NO that he began his career as a cowboy poet, humorist, cartoonist, and artist. His column Tales from the O-NO Ranch by Mad Jack Hanks became a fixture in The Fence Post Magazine abo...

Gianforte Appeals APR Grazing Decision

December 23, 2022 - Montana’s governor argues that the BLM lacks the authority to issue permit, failed to assess impacts, and didn’t provide sufficient comment opportunity.

Alfalfa Cube Recall Issued for Horse Products Which Could Cause Illness or Death

December 20, 2022 - The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned horse owners not to feed alfalfa cubes that are part of a manufacturer recall. On Dec. 16, Manzanola Feeds of Manzanola, Col...

University of Wyoming Extension Reports Insecticide Resistance in Alfalfa Weevil

December 19, 2022 - A new publication released by the University of Wyoming Extension assesses insecticide resistance in alfalfa weevil populations in Wyoming, Montana and Utah. Suggestions for preven...

American Lamb Board Receives $5 Million USDA Sustainability Grant for Prescribed Grazing

December 19, 2022 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced its investment in 71 projects under the second funding pool of Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. This included a grant aw...

Governor Gianforte Contributes Salary to Montana 4-H Foundation

December 15, 2022 - Joined by 4-H youth members, volunteers, and staff, Governor Greg Gianforte contributed a quarter of his annual governor’s salary Wednesday to the Montana 4-H Foundation, a youth d...

It's Time for the Chase Hawks Rough Stock PRCA Rodeo

December 14, 2022 - For 27 years, the Chase Hawks Memorial Association (CHMA) has delivered rough stock rodeo fans an early Christmas present with it's Rough Stock Invitational in Billings, Mont. CHMA...

Podcast Dives Into Complicated Issue of Wolf Management

December 13, 2022 - "Working Wild University" talks with ranchers, historians, biologists, and agency personnel about finding a shared vision for wolf recovery.

Will USDA's Climate Funding Reach You?

December 13, 2022 - See a state-by-state breakdown of where over $3.1 billion has been awarded under the "Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities" effort.

New Bill Designed to Mitigate Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland

December 12, 2022 - A piece of legislation introduced by Republican Congresspeople is designed to make foreign farmland ownership more transparent. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rick Crawford (R-AR)...

Montana Stockgrowers Kick Off Annual Convention in Billings

December 8, 2022 - The Montana Stockgrowers Association kicked off it's 138th Annual Convention Wednesday in Billings with meetings for the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation, Montana Public Lands Counci...

Cattle Contract Library Rule Finalized

December 7, 2022 - Cattle producers will have more details starting in 2023 about the financial arrangements large meatpackers make with feeders in marketing contracts. USDA's Agricultural Marketing S...

Proposed Merger: Senate Judiciary Committee, Antitrust Subcommittee hosts Kroger-Albertsons grocery store merger hearing

December 6, 2022 - A conversation between Senators, grocery chain CEOs, an economist, and more, over a potential grocery store merger sounded eerily like discussions about meatpacker consolidation. Th...

Renegade Plastics Helping Farmers to a More Sustainable Future

December 7, 2022 - Sustainability is a huge topic these days in Agriculture. As the original environmentalist, America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to passing their land to the next generation...

Montana Farmers Union Elf on the Farm Photo Contest

December 5, 2022 - Alright, all you crazy elves: The Montana Farmers Union is on to you! Send MFU a photo of your Elf on the Shelf's farm/ranch shenanigans, and you can win a holiday prize basket!

Wyoming Young Farmers & Ranchers donate time and funds to provide 8,235 meals

During the state annual meeting Nov. 10-12 in Casper, county Farm Bureau Federations and Wyoming farmers and ranchers donated money to help the food bank in their work with hunger-relief programs acro...

If imposed upon agriculture, new rules proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission would require agriculture producers to report greenhouse gas emissions.

If imposed upon agriculture, new rules proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission would require agriculture producers to report greenhouse gas emissions. The 2021 climate disclosure proposal w...

U.S. Wheat 2022 Crop Quality Videos Available

December 1, 2022 - U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has posted video presentations at a dedicated website, cropquality.uswheat.org to support the organization’s report on 2022 U.S. wheat crop qua...

Necropsies say Blackleg not present in dead cattle in Colorado, wolf presence investigation continues

November 30, 2022 - In an update on the apparent wolf depredation and cattle losses found in Meeker on October 4, Lenny Klinglesmith said the ongoing investigation continues to move forward slowly wit...

NCBA thanks administration to avoid rail disruptions

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recognized the Biden Administration for taking quick action to avoid rail disruptions.

Vilsack Talks Biotech Corn in Mexico

November 30, 2022 - In a statement following the meeting, Vilsack commented, "We must find a way forward soon and I emphasized in no uncertain terms that – absent an acceptable resolution of the issue...

Montana Farmers Meeting in Great Falls for Joint Convention

November 30, 2022 - The Montana Grain Growers Association's Annual Convention is underway in Great Falls. This year it also includes the Northern Pulse Growers Association and PNW Canola Association....

Radio Host Shaun Haney Kicks Off Montana Grain Growers Association Convention

November 29, 2022 - Helping to kick things off this year was Shaun Haney with Real Agriculture and the host of Real Ag Radio from Lethbridge, AB who actually attended his first MGGA convention several...

North Carolina Turkeys Pardoned by President Biden

November 24, 2022 - National Turkey Federation Chairman Ronnie Parker presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey named "Chocolate" to President Joe Biden during the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presen...

NFU Releases 2022 Farmer’s Share of Thanksgiving Food Dollar

November 24, 2022 - The National Farmers Union released the 2022 Farmer’s Share of the food dollar for several items typically served for the Thanksgiving holiday.

USDA Announces Section 32 Purchase of American Lamb

November 23, 2022 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans for a Section 32 purchase of American lamb products for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs, as reques...

CPW hears from producers in Gateway

The commission heard an update about possible wolf depredation near Meeker from Regional Manager Travis Black, who called the incident perplexing. The initial number of calves found dead in October wa...

NCBA Welcomes Comment Extension for Packers and Stockyards Act Rulemaking

November 22, 2022 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a 45-day extension of the comment period for the proposed rule titled, “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the...

UW Sheep Extension Specialist Excited About New Lamb-A-Year Program

November 22, 2022 - University of Wyoming students will learn firsthand about the feeding, finishing and harvesting stages of lamb production. The program will also offer Lamb-a-Year donors with infor...

The Montana Beef Enhancement Program

November 21, 2022 - Delegates at the Montana Farm Bureau recently passed policy to support The Montana Beef Enhancement Program. The purpose of the proposed program is to enhance profit opportunities...

NCBA and PLC Denounce ESA Listing of Lesser Prairie Chicken

November 18, 2022 - “We are deeply disappointed by the Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to impose redundant bureaucracy and punitive restrictions on the very same people that we have to thank for...

Three Small Tanks with a Large Impact

November 18, 2022 - In the face of drought, ingenuity and collaboration lead to increased water access for one Montana rancher.

Kupfner to Lead Montana Wheat & Barley Committee

November 17, 2022 - The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) is pleased to announce Kent Kupfner has been chosen as the new Executive Vice President.

Thanksgiving Dinner Price Rockets Up 20%

November 16, 2022 - Farm Bureau’s 37th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10, which is $64.05 or less than $6.50 per person.

UW and Wyoming Wool Initiative Launch Inaugural Lamb-a-Year Program

November 15, 2022 - Thanks to the generosity of 25 Wyoming producers and NexGen Feed Solutions, 143 lambs, 10,000 pounds of feed and several cash donations have made it possible for UW students to lea...

MT Farm Bureau Graduates 2022 ACE Class

November 14, 2022 - Learning how to advocate for agriculture and support local communities has been a one-year endeavor for seven enthusiastic Montana Farm Bureau members who graduated from the ACE (A...

Columbia Grain a Proud Supporter of Women in Agriculture

November 14, 2022 - Like other industries, women play a very important role in Agriculture. And this week women from across Western Ag Network country will be gathering in Fort Benton, Montana for the...

Podcast: Joe Goggins and Jerry Connealy on the Future of the Cattle Business

November 13, 2022 - Podcast: As U.S. cattle producers battle drought, high input costs and all the issues that impact agriculture, leaders in the cattle business are optimistic about the future. Monta...

NCBA Hails White House Focus on Protecting Food and Ag Sector

November 11, 2022 – Thursday, NCBA hailed the signing of the National Security Memorandum to Strengthen the Security and Resilience of U.S. Food and Agriculture, which will allow the federal governmen...

Brucellosis Suspect in Wyoming's Sublette County

November 11, 2022 - The Wyoming State Veterinarian has been notified by the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL) that blood from one cow has suspect results to tests for Brucellosis. Additional...

USFWS Sued Over Lesser Prairie Chicken Listing

November 10, 2022 - An environmental group filed suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the agency’s failure to issue final rules by the June 2022 deadline regarding the listing o...

Beef Industry Leader by Day and Sugar by Chaley at Night

November 10, 2022 - As the Montana Beef Council’s executive director, Chaley Harney helps ranchers promote beef but in her spare time bakes professionally. She says her love for baking and spending ti...

Agriculture and 2022 Election Results

November 9, 2022 - Republicans didn't wake up to a red wave of victories from Tuesday's election, but control of the House of Representatives is still within their grasp. The Senate right now looks li...

New Leadership elected to the American Angus Association Board of Directors

November 7, 2022 - The 139th Annual Convention of Delegates assembled November 7, 2022, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Five directors were elected to the board of directors, as well as a president/chairman...

Promoting Beef, Feeding the World: Angus Convention 2022

November 7, 2022 - Certified Angus Beef ® brands Nicole Erceg shares an update on maintaining trust with consumers and National Jr. Angus Association board members Nicole Stevenson and Kathryn Colman...

Perspectives on the Cattle Business - Angus Convention 2022

November 6, 2022 - Ranchers Joe Goggins and Darrell Stevenson share their perspectives on the state and future of the cattle business during Angus Convention 2022. AgRisk Advisors shares insight on to...

Angus Convention Underway in Salt Lake City, UT

November 4, 2022 - The 2022 Angus Convention is officially underway in Salt Lake City. Lane Nordlund reported live from the tradeshow floor with Kurt Kangas, regional manger for the association. He sh...

Farmers Hold Off, Fertilizer Companies Remain Bullish

November 4, 2022 - Nutrien Ltd intends to follow through with plan to expand production capacity for potash and nitrogen.

Hard Red Spring Crop Makes Strong Recovery

November 3, 2022 - The 2022 U.S. HRS crop recovered from last year’s historic drought. This crop has many positive attributes, including higher supply levels, strong grading characteristics, little to...

Satellite Smartphones Could Answer Call for Rural Connectivity

November 3, 2022 - Smartphones with satellite connectivity could eventually prove vital for rural communities, delivering voice, data and broadband to Americans living in underserved markets. Advancem...

Heineken Int’l & State of Montana Announce Barley Purchase Agreement

November 1, 2022 - Governor Greg Gianforte and Montana Department of Agriculture Director Christy Clark today announced a letter of intent for Heineken International Cerveceria Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (H...

National Western Stock Show Announces Dr. Temple Grandin as 2023 Parade Grand Marshal

November 1, 2022 - The National Western Stock Show is excited to announce renowned author, speaker, and professor of Animal Science, Dr. Temple Grandin, as Grand Marshal for the 2023 Stock Show Kick-O...

NASDA Elects Miyamoto of Wyoming as President

November 1, 2022 - At the recent National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Annual Meeting, NASDA members elected the next cohort of officers for 2022-2023. Wyoming Director of Agricultu...

Montana Halts Bison Grazing on APR State Leases

October 31, 2022 - In a letter obtained by the Western Ag Network, the State of Montana has notified American Prairie Reserve (now known as American Prairie) that they are not authorized to graze biso...

Angus Convention Headed for Salt Lake City

October 31, 2022 - Come explore new avenues, more opportunities and your potential at the 2022 Angus Convention, Nov. 4-7 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. As cattlemen head west of conventional,...

America's Sugar Farmers Keep Halloween Sweet

October 31, 2022 - Despite the inflationary rise of candy prices, the sugar in it still only accounts for a couple cents per treat. In fact, a recent study by the University of Tennessee confirmed tha...

U.S. Pumpkin Production on Full Display

October 31, 2022 - The production of pumpkins, from classic orange Howdens to new varieties like Cinderella, is widely dispersed throughout the United States, with all states producing some pumpkins....

Second Rail Union Votes Down Contract Tentative Agreement

October 28, 2022 - To avoid a strike, all 12 rail unions must approve contracts with the railroads.

Montana Farmer Sells Wheat for a 50-Cent Per Bushel Premium with Columbia Grain's Producer Solutions

October 27, 2022 - It's been a rollercoaster ride for farmers this year when it comes to market swings for commodities like corn, soybeans and wheat. Columbia Grain International (CGI) is trying to he...

Hours-of-Service Exemption Extension for Livestock Haulers Not Renewed

October 26, 2022 - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hasn’t renewed the hours-of-service exemptions for U.S. livestock haulers. Even though an emergency declaration exempted haulers over...

Raylee Honeycutt Tapped to Lead the Montana Stockgrowers Association

October 26, 2022 - The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) Board of Directors has named Raylee Honeycutt as its new Executive Vice President. Honeycutt will serve as the first female Executive Vic...

High Plains Journal Getting New Look

October 25, 2022 - High Plains Journal’s subscribers will soon see a change in its look and a commitment to retaining value with a new design. The new-look HPJ will start in November. The printer of H...

Now's the Time to Estimate Winter Hay Needs

October 24, 2022 - The first step is to get an accurate count or measurement of bales harvested. Bales should be grouped by lot, which is defined as similar species harvested from the same field withi...

Western Sugar Growers Harvest Another Sweet Crop

October 24, 2022 - Another harvest is winding down for Western Sugar growers across Colorado, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming. And despite another year of challenges from Mother Nature, this year’s suga...

Income Up? What Makes Sense to Pre-Purchase?

October 21, 2022 - It’s a volatile time! If you’re going to be pre-purchasing inputs for 2023, is there one area where you’ll get the most bang for your buck?

Russia Points Food Crisis Finger at U.S.

October 21, 2022 - Moscow, reportedly ready to boost food and fertilizer exports, says the United States stands in the way.

NILE Merit Heifer Program Preparing the Next Generation of Cattle Producers

October 21, 2022 - The future of agriculture ultimately depends on our ability to keep our young people interested and involved with farming and ranching. And the Northern International Livestock Expo...

NILE Stock Show Hosts Mountain States Stockdog Association Trials

October 20, 2022 - Stock dogs not only make great companions for ranchers, they’re also important when comes to handling and moving livestock. This year at the NILE Stock Show and Rodeo in Billings, M...