Latest News From Drought

Even with USDA's higher forecast of 2013 beef production, lower expected corn yields and higher prices continue to stem growth in the U.S. beef herd.

The House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources today advanced the Grazing Improvement Act to improve the livestock grazing permitting processes on managed lands.

Many ranchers in the Texas Panhandle have been forced to cull their herd, just waiting for the three-year drought to pass.

Nebraska's pastures are starting to grow again, but the effects of last year's drought linger and might cause complications for producers.

Much of the Texas’ warm-season grass pastures have yet to recover from damage suffered during the 2010 drought.

The next two to three months are critical to determine the forage prospects for the remainder of the year.

After last summer's record drought, farmers and ranchers are preparing for the possibility of another dry year.

Changes in Mexican domestic beef consumption and beef trade have significant implications for the U.S. cattle industry in the coming years.

Even after storms dumped many inches of snow in February, water shortages and dirt-dry pastures across the Great Plains are shrinking herds.

The drought has had lasting effects on farmers across the country—cattlemen in particular.

The second major snowstorm in a week for the southern Great Plains is delivering moisture to U.S. wheat crops.

From South Dakota to Ohio, farmers are preparing to plant the most corn in almost eight decades after drought ruined last year's harvest.

The drought has had lasting effects on farmers across the country. Here's how three cattle producers have changed management practices to survive.

U.S. feedlots bought 0.5 percent fewer cattle in December compared with a year earlier, the government said.

Slaughterhouses will pay $1.32 a pound on average on cash markets for spot supplies, up from $1.23 last year, the broker's chief strategist says.

Dwindling cattle supplies cited as cause for halting production at the Plainview, Texas, facility.

There’s interesting speculation about when and how the nation’s cowherd will start rebuilding.

The individual choice to expand cow numbers is a complex, multi-year decision made difficult by high and volatile input prices.

The cattle market still anticipates peak prices for 2013 in nearly every segment of the industry, but it all depends on the weather.

Each year Pro Farmer usually picks an individual for their Ag Person of the Year, but this year they selected a group-- cattle producers.

Some long-term changes have begun that will have significant implications for the beef cattle industry.

Drought cuts deep for livestock farmers

There is ample capacity to rebuild the cowherd according to the demands of the market, but how it will be done is likely to be different.

Persistent drought conditions in sections of the U.S., rain in Argentina and export levels all are contributing factors.

Winter wheat could still present good grain opportunities for farmers, experts say, but a lack of moisture has stressed pastures.

Though farmers may be disappointed in not having a wet winter, there’s some good news mixed with the bad.

USDA projects the feeding of wheat will account for 12.7% of total use of U.S. wheat during 2012, up from the 9.1% average.

Poor weather conditions have resulted in high feed costs and big financial losses, Purdue Extension agricultural economist Chris Hurt says.

The impacts of the 2012 drought continue to play out in a beef industry discouraged by high feed prices and large cattle feeding losses.

While more optimistic, Texas ranchers remain extremely cautious when it comes to rebuilding herds and holding onto forage stocks.

Know the nutrients and dangers that cornstalks contain.

Know the nutrients and dangers that cornstalks contain.

USDA dropped feed usage by 725 million bushels in its August WASDE, and some expect the department to lower feed demand further on Wednesday.

Mother Nature continues to dictate the size of the nation’s cowherd and subsequent calf crop leading to tighter beef supplies.

Many are asking that during this drought, but if farmers wait to apply fertilizer until it rains, a major part of the benefit will be lost.

Thin pastures and meager forage supplies prompt producers to seek alternative feed sources.

For those who can hold on for the next several months, the reduced cattle herd could mean bigger profits starting late 2013.

Water quality issues continue to worsen as drought and high temperatures increase the risk of high sulfate water.

As the weeks continue to pass without any significant rain in the Midwest, it is getting increasingly difficult to find feed for livestock.

Rabobank's "U.S. Cattle Market Update” report anticipates that any rebound in fed cattle prices will be countered by higher feed prices

Feed costs are expected to skyrocket by next year. Get the full report from AgDay.

Though it’s possible some Texas producers could ship hay north, it might not happen for a number of reasons.

Drought drives cattle Inventory down but consumer demand remains high.

The assistance uses the Secretary of Agriculture's existing authority to help create and encourage flexibility within four USDA programs.

Continued extreme heat, drought, wildfires and higher input costs are keeping farmers and ranchers from growing cattle herds.

Drought always presents a major challenge, but there are ways to get through it and survive another year.

USDA's heat stress forecasts show emergency heat levels in the central U.S. through July 6th. Take caution with livestock.

Officially it's still spring, but the Western half of the U.S. continues to struggle with drier weather, which is spreading into the Plains.

More than 1.113 million cattle were shipped out of Texas last year because of the historic drought.

Texas agricultural losses due to the 2011 drought reached a record $7.62 billion, making it the most costly drought in history.