Daily Headlines
Market Wrap-Up: Tuesday, June 2
Cattle futures closed lower amid rumors of the New World screwworm moving closer to…
Jun 2, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
News Archive
Latest News From Western Livestock Journal
A streamlined archive of the most recent reporting and updates from across the site.
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Monday, June 1
The CME Group’s annual price limit reset for live cattle and feeder cattle contracts…
Jun 1, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Friday, May 29
“The livestock complex is trading lower into Friday's noon hour as the market simply…
May 29, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Environment
Southwest Kansas wildfires char 120K acres
Wildfires started by dry lightning and fueled by drought conditions in Meade and Clark…
May 29, 2026 · By Jennifer Carrico, DTN senior livestock editor
Community
Wexford Ranches to receive Texas Leopold Conservation Award
The Wexford Ranches of South and West Texas are the recipient of the 2026…
May 29, 2026 · By Sand County Foundation
Environment
Final plans approved for KID Infrastructure Modernization Project
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Oregon has issued a Finding of No…
May 29, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Health/Nutrition
Dry, dusty conditions can increase pneumonia risk in cattle
Recent rains have provided some needed relief from dusty conditions across much of North…
May 29, 2026 · By NDSU Extension
Environment
Forest fuel treatments reduce wildfire spread, prevent $2.8B in damage
Every dollar spent on forest fuel treatments saves about $3.75 in wildfire damages, according…
May 29, 2026 · By UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Environment
Public land groups sue Montana FWP over corner-crossing position
Two public land access groups filed a lawsuit May 14 challenging Montana Fish, Wildlife…
May 29, 2026 · By Amanda Eggert, Montana Free Press
Health/Nutrition
Finding the right cow size for your herd
On a recent episode of the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute “Cattle Chat”…
May 29, 2026 · By K-State Research and Extension
Environment
Greens sue USFWS over protections for pygmy rabbit
Western Watersheds Project and WildEarth Guardians sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in…
May 29, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Daily Headlines
WY releases new tool to analyze sage grouse
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is rolling out a new tool designed to…
May 29, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Livestock
CME cattle futures price limits to increase in June
The CME Group is resetting price limits for live cattle and feeder cattle contracts…
May 29, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Environment
Risk management strategies to consider for your herd
Record-high cattle prices may be creating optimism across the beef industry, but Kansas State…
May 29, 2026 · By K-State Research and Extension
Beef
USMEF conference concludes with focus on factors impacting US red meat supply
The U.S. Meat Export Federation wrapped up its Spring Conference in Oklahoma City, OK,…
May 29, 2026 · By USMEF
Daily Headlines
Committee meets to advise DWR on CA water plan
An advisory committee to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) held its first…
May 29, 2026 · By California Farm Bureau Federation
Environment
Drought remains in much of Texas’ rangelands
Most of Texas’ rangelands remain under drought conditions, but timely spring rains in some…
May 29, 2026 · By Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Beef
Beef variety meat value reaches new high in March
While March beef exports were below last year—largely due to the lockout by China—the…
May 29, 2026 · By USMEF
Health/Nutrition
Bull selection, growth, feed efficiency and carcass outcomes
Bull selection is one of the most important long-term decisions in a cow-calf operation.
May 29, 2026 · By Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle nutrition specialist
News
Logan’s Comments: Grilling season attention
Over the last year, the meat industries have seen more and more headlines surrounding…
May 29, 2026 · By Logan Ipsen
News
Guest Opinion: How food and agriculture power the US economy
Every year, the Feeding the Economy report offers one of the most complete pictures…
May 29, 2026 · By AFBF
Markets
Futures drift sideways, lower as cash trade stays quiet
During the Memorial Day-shortened trading week, futures traded mostly sideways and cash trade sales…
May 29, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
News
ND feedlot owner responds to carcass disposal controversy
Nathan Smith, owner of a cattle feedlot near Surrey, ND, says allegations surrounding improper…
May 29, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
Wyoming wolf population remains above recovery goals
Wyoming’s gray wolf population remained above federal recovery goals in 2025, marking the 24th…
May 29, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Beef
DOJ reaches settlement in Agri Stats antitrust case
In early May, the Department of Justice filed a proposed settlement to resolve the…
May 29, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Environment
WA authorizes killing of one wolf after suspected cattle attacks
Washington will permit the killing of a single gray wolf in the state’s northeastern…
May 28, 2026 · By Aspen Ford, Washington State Standard
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Thursday, May 28
Cattle futures closed lower as traders look for direction from the cash trade and…
May 28, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Community
Cargill beef plant lockout continues into second week
On May 20, more than 1,700 workers at Cargill Meat Solutions in Fort Morgan,…
May 28, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Community
Beef Checkoff calls for program funding requests
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board invites all eligible beef industry organizations to submit funding requests…
May 28, 2026 · By CBB
News
Weekly Drought Report: May 21-27
Mostly dry weather and above-normal temperatures dominated the Western Region during the week, sparking…
May 28, 2026 · By UNL Drought Monitor
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Wednesday, May 27
Cattle futures closed sharply higher on limited cash trade.
May 27, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Tuesday, May 26
Cattle futures closed mixed, reacting to a bearish Cattle on Feed report.
May 26, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Friday, May 22
The market closed mostly lower heading into the Memorial Day weekend.
May 22, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Health/Nutrition
North Dakota ranchers face a potential forage shortage
Spring conditions are creating challenges for ranchers in the 2026 grazing season.
May 22, 2026 · By NDSU Extension
Livestock
The importance of China in global and US beef markets
The role of China in global beef markets has changed rapidly in the past…
May 22, 2026 · By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
Livestock
USDA updates livestock insurance programs for 2027
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced a series of updates to the Livestock…
May 22, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Markets
Cattle futures fall amid placement, processing concerns
Cattle futures closed lower as uncertainty ahead of USDA’s Cattle on Feed report weighed…
May 22, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
Genetic considerations and breed differences when restocking the cow herd
When considering the proper genetics needed to rebuild the cow herd, it is important…
May 22, 2026 · By Dr. Bob Hough, WLJ correspondent
News
Trump-Xi summit signals new momentum for US agriculture
President Donald Trump’s recent trip to China and meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping…
May 22, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
Lawsuit challenges McDermitt Caldera lithium exploration
After the Bureau of Land Management approved the expansion of lithium exploration on public…
May 22, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
News
Logan’s Comments: The devil’s in the details
Over the past few months, the White House has made several “major” announcements, all…
May 22, 2026 · By Logan Ipsen
News
United We Stand with Doris Mold
As the world recognizes the International Year of the Woman Farmer, it is an…
May 22, 2026 · By Doris Mold, CEO of Annie’s Project, St. Paul, MN
News
Guest Opinion: Water is the lifeblood of ranching
In recent months, a case was brought challenging the constitutionality of Montana’s exempt groundwater…
May 22, 2026 · By Raylee Honeycutt, MSGA executive vice president
News
Guest Opinion: A step forward on the farm bill
After years of economic pressure, farm families need the stability and certainty that comes…
May 22, 2026 · By Zippy Duvall, AFBF president
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Thursday, May 21
“Today’s sell-off has been very dramatic, especially considering there have been no ‘headlines.'”
May 21, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
News
Weekly Drought Report: May 14-20
Temperatures across the West ranged from the mid-30s in northern and high-elevation areas to…
May 21, 2026 · By UNL Drought Monitor
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Wednesday, May 20
Cattle futures were mixed as traders worried over a variety of topics.
May 20, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Tuesday, May 19
Cattle futures closed higher Tuesday, with deferred feeder cattle contracts gaining more than $4…
May 19, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Monday, May 18
The livestock complex closed mostly lower as traders looked for stronger fundamental support.
May 18, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Friday, May 15
Cattle futures reacted to favorable cash trade, closing higher, but remained lower on the…
May 15, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Health/Nutrition
Infrastructure considerations when restocking the cow herd
The beef industry is currently receiving record prices when marketing livestock, and current market…
May 15, 2026 · By Bob Hough, WLJ correspondent
Environment
BLM rescinds Biden-era public lands rule
The Bureau of Land Management has issued a final rule fully rescinding the Biden…
May 15, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
BLM revokes American Prairie bison grazing permits
The Bureau of Land Management on May 8 revoked grazing permits held by American…
May 15, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Markets
Volatile week ends with lower cattle futures
It was a volatile week for cattle markets as reports that beef import tariffs…
May 15, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
Kevin’s Comments: A victory for Montana ranchers
May is always my favorite time of year living in Montana.
May 14, 2026 · By Kevin Murnin
Beef
Deadline extended in wage-fixing settlement case
Workers involved in a wage-fixing class-action lawsuit against major red meat processors now have…
May 14, 2026 · By WLJ
Community
AFBF farm dog contest open
The American Farm Bureau Federation is accepting nominations for the 2027 Farm Bureau Farm…
May 14, 2026 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
Halter expands virtual fencing with satellite
Halter has launched direct-to-satellite connectivity for its smart cattle collars, removing the need for…
May 14, 2026 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
ASA research targets heart failure risk
The American Shorthorn Association is working with Simplot Land and Livestock to study bovine…
May 14, 2026 · By WLJ
Health/Nutrition
Whitepaper highlights screwworm threat, preparedness
A new whitepaper released by the United States Animal Health Association in partnership with…
May 14, 2026 · By WLJ
Livestock
ND feedlot owner sues county over carcass case
A feedlot owner near Surrey, ND, has filed a civil lawsuit against Ward County…
May 14, 2026 · By WLJ
Beef
Texas A&M expands meat center on campus
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved a $133.36 million investment in…
May 14, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
CPW report shows Colorado wolf population growing
Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported continued growth of the state’s gray wolf population during…
May 14, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
USDA updates rainfall data for crop insurance programs
USDA’s Risk Management Agency announced it will transition several federal crop insurance programs to…
May 14, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Health/Nutrition
NDSU Extension urges livestock water testing
Due to low spring runoff and below-average precipitation, access to adequate, good-quality water will…
May 14, 2026 · By NDSU Extension
Beef
U.S. beef packing industry structure
In 2025, total cattle slaughter was 29.252 million head, down 6.4% year over year…
May 14, 2026 · By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
Beef
Dittmer’s Take: The antitrust fallacy
Let’s examine what harm would come to both the beef industry and consumers from…
May 14, 2026 · By Steve Dittmer, WLJ columnist
Beef
Trump delays plan to waive beef tariffs
After reports that President Donald Trump would suspend tariffs on beef imports from all…
May 14, 2026 · By Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Thursday, May 14
Cattle futures began the trading day higher, but closed mostly lower.
May 14, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
News
Weekly Drought Report: May 7-13
The West was characterized by unseasonable warmth and widespread dryness across the Pacific Coast…
May 14, 2026 · By UNL Drought Monitor
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Wednesday, May 13
Cattle futures closed higher after a rough start to the week.
May 13, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Tuesday, May 12
Despite a pause in plans to waive beef import tariffs, cattle futures still closed…
May 12, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Monday, May 11
Cattle futures closed mixed after dropping on the news that tariffs on imported beef…
May 11, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Community
From the battlefield to carving a path for veterans in ag
Jeremy Clark didn’t grow up on a ranch. He didn’t inherit land, cattle or…
May 11, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Livestock
Major considerations when rebuilding the cow herd
As the nation’s beef cow herd has reached a 70-year low—resulting in the industry…
May 11, 2026 · By Dr. Bob Hough, WLJ correspondent
Community
Ranching the land, not just the cattle
When you view land as a community, then you start to learn to love…
May 11, 2026 · By Hannah Jackson
Community
Building a legacy in the high country
At nearly 8,000 feet above sea level just outside Steamboat Springs, CO, a young…
May 11, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Friday, May 8
“Unfortunately, that’s sometimes how ‘the cookie crumbles’ when the market’s technical influence has more…
May 8, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Thursday, May 7
Despite some higher cash trade, cattle futures closed lower amid a sell-off.
May 7, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Markets
Cattle futures ease resistance, trade steady early week
After a slight pullback late the prior week and into Monday, cattle futures closed…
May 7, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Beef
Maintaining a healthy range, value-added feeds for restocking the cow herd
After the past drought, the beef herd was decimated and we have dropped to a 70-year low…
May 7, 2026 · By WLJ
Beef
DOJ confirms antitrust probe into meatpackers
The Department of Justice (DOJ) officially confirmed it is investigating the nation’s largest meatpackers for possible antitrust violations.
May 7, 2026 · By Anna Miller Fortozo
Health/Nutrition
House passes farm bill, advances livestock priorities
The U.S. House of Representatives on April 30 passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act…
May 7, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
9th Circuit upholds cancellation of AZ grazing permit
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has affirmed a lower court ruling upholding…
May 7, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Beef
FAIR Labels Act reintroduced into Congress
The Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels (FAIR Labels) Act was reintroduced into the House and Senate,…
May 7, 2026 · By WLJ
Livestock
BLM approves grazing in NV allotment
The Bureau of Land Management issued a decision for the Flanigan Grazing Allotment Grazing Permit Renewal Environmental…
May 7, 2026 · By WLJ
Beef
Lexington to acquire some Tyson Foods assets
The city of Lexington, NE, is pursuing a deal to acquire and manage some of Tyson Foods' assets, according to the April 28 meeting…
May 7, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
Rollins releases wildfire memo ahead of fire season
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins issued a new Secretarial Memorandum and letter on April 29 directing the…
May 7, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
BLM seeks input for NV horse management areas
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public comment on the proposed management of wild…
May 7, 2026 · By WLJ
Environment
Grazing allotments open in the Book Cliffs area
The Bureau of Land Management field office in Vernal, UT, is accepting applications through July 31 for…
May 7, 2026 · By WLJ
Community
PRCA HQ move to WY approved
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Trustees recently voted in favor of moving forward with relocating the PRCA offices and the ProRodeo Hall…
May 7, 2026 · By WLJ
Opinion
Logan’s Comments: Food security is national security
It was a very interesting week in the headlines as two major stories broke in agriculture, signaling…
May 7, 2026 · By Logan Ipsen
News
Weekly Drought Report: April 30-May 6
Widespread soaking rains fell across Texas and the Deep South, bringing a much-needed moisture…
May 7, 2026 · By UNL Drought Monitor
Daily Market Wrap Up
Market Wrap-Up: Wednesday, May 6
Cattle futures closed slightly higher, extending their uptrend and setting a new high for…
May 6, 2026 · By Charles Wallace
Environment
UW-led institute releases films highlighting invasive grass management
The University of Wyoming’s Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems has released two…
May 6, 2026 · By UW Extension
Environment
Utah heading into an ‘especially dangerous’ wildfire season
Conditions are ripe for an intense summer of wildfires, state leaders say, with blistering…
May 6, 2026 · By Annie Knox, Utah News Dispatch
News
New study details changing US irrigated ag, viability strategies
A new study by researchers at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at…
May 6, 2026 · By University of Nebraska Extension
Beef
US beef featured at prominent beef festival in Thailand
Despite tariff disadvantages for U.S. beef, several factors point to expanding opportunities in Thailand,…
May 6, 2026 · By USMEF
News
Scammers are selling farmers’ land without their knowledge
Colorado farmer Casey Kimbrell picked up the phone one day in early April, and…
May 6, 2026 · By Todd Neeley, DTN environmental editor