Western Illinois University’s Livestock Judging Team earned national recognition this season, placing in the top five at the Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City and being named the 2026 National Western Stock Show Senior College Champion Team in Denver.

Parasites are a hidden drain on cattle performance, quietly stealing productivity and profit from herds across the country.

In a key win for U.S. pork producers, President Donald Trump has finalized a beneficial trade agreement with Taiwan, a direct result of the National Pork Producers Council’s long-fought effort to secure greater market access in the Asian nation.

The deadline for producers to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program is Feb. 26.

Join University of Illinois Extension for a series, “Pasture Improvement: The Basics and Beyond,” that will focus on management strategies to improve pasture productivity and resilience.

The Livestock Marketing Association has announced that applications are now open for its 2026 scholarship programs, offering two opportunities to support students pursuing education and careers connected to the livestock marketing industry.

The U.S. cattle and beef industry enters 2026 with strong but volatile market conditions, as historically tight cattle supplies, record-setting beef demand and elevated policy and weather uncertainty continue to support prices, even as markets appear to near cyclical highs.

Now is the time to reform regulations that have hindered conservation efforts, strengthen protections against the spread of New World screwworm, expand foreign market access for U.S. beef and advance science-based policies that keep beef at the center of the plate.

I just returned from a quick trip to CattleCon, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s annual meeting and trade show. The industry is rapidly growing with technology.