Drovers

In a policy shift aimed directly at the U.S. cattle industry, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, designed to rebuild the U.S. cattle herd. These actions target four critical operational areas: reducing predator threats, pursuing mandatory country-of-origin labeling (mCOOL), strengthening packer competition and expanding grazing opportunities.

July exports of U.S. beef climbed 6% year-over-year in value while volume was steady, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Although restrictions related to a finding of pseudorabies virus (PRV) were removed in mid-to-late July, pork exports – especially pork variety meats – were still significantly impacted, which contributed to July results trending lower than a year ago.

“Time is money” is an expression most of us know well — and for the cattle industry, that phrase has taken on even greater meaning over the past decade. As feedlot operations grow increasingly complex, labor availability, reliability, and cost have become key drivers of management decisions and closeout success.

Ag markets were lower early Friday, except cattle. Cattle Bounce, But is the Recovery Real? Cattle futures were higher again on Friday morning after a strong finish Thursday with lower corn and improving cash news. The question is was the bounce just short profit taking heading into the holiday or does it have staying power technically and fundamentally? Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the market is very oversold and due for a bounce but the long term charts have been damaged.

New Holland is giving producers the ability to capture real-time kernel processing scores with the ForageCam on its lineup of FR Forage Cruisers. The technology enables producers and operators to monitor live crop flow and quality while optimizing performance to achieve target kernel processing scores in real time.

I am currently feeding beef-on-dairy calves on a large commercial feedlot in Ireland, and the pens in front of me demonstrate a simple fact: the dairy’s breeding decision, not the buyer’s paperwork, determines what eventually shows up at the bunk. The Holstein side contributes frame, organ mass and a later-maturing growth pattern. The beef sire should add muscling, carcass yield and earlier maturity, but how much it adds depends on the individual bull.

Harvesting corn for silage may be a good option to consider each year and now is the time to be planning for either grain or silage harvest. Having the experience and facilities to put up silage is an important consideration. When evaluating whether to harvest a field for silage or grain, the issue of how to price and value the corn is often a point of uncertainty and is subject to variability.

As the world recognizes 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF), the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) continues to highlight the women whose dedication, resilience and leadership are shaping the future of agriculture. This month, we are proud to spotlight Emily Fulstone, a seventh-generation rancher whose journey reflects a deep commitment to land stewardship, continuous learning and the grit required to sustain both a legacy and the environment it depends on.

When a pregnancy ends early and unexplained, the search for answers usually begins with the mother. Lacey Luense wants to know what the father’s sperm might have to do with it. Lacey Luense, an assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science, is studying the male role in early pregnancy loss. (Courtney Sacco/Texas A&M AgriLife) “We know that maternal issues can be involved,” Luense says.

When extreme summer heat waves hit, the immediate focus is keeping livestock hydrated and cool. However, the reproductive consequences of heat stress often linger long after the weather cools down. According to Jessica Drum, South Dakota State University Extension beef reproductive physiology specialist, the impact can be highly deceptive.