Beef

This is the first in a series of columns featuring conversations with state Farm Bureau presidents about current issues in agriculture.

The Riskedal family uses regenerative agricultural practices on their farm where they grow corn, soybeans and wheat along with feeding cattle for a freezer beef enterprise.

Limiting stress and maintaining a strong relationship with a veterinarian are vital for a rancher’s success in fighting bovine respiratory disease.

Saying we’re facing uncertainty in rural America is an understatement. We’re in the midst of a seismic shift — a true paradigm shift.

Although U.S. beef producers have met the challenge of reducing injection site lesions in beef carcasses, one issue they have not fixed is eliminating foreign objects.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced that applications are open for three unique internship experiences for the fall 2025 semester.

Mental fitness is a personal understanding that individuals have the ability to build a happier and more productive life.

Let’s say you could have President Donald Trump’s attention for 20 minutes. What would you ask him to do for our domestic cattle and sheep industries?

A lot of growth has occurred in the agricultural department at Peotone High School since Abby Cowger started teaching and advising the FFA chapter in 2018.

Down in southern Illinois we could almost make the claim that it hasn’t stopped raining since December.

Last month I alluded to an announcement concerning our grazing operation here at River Oak for 2025. So, here it is.

Rancher Brett Kenzy hopes President Donald Trump’s tariffs will make imported beef expensive enough that Americans will turn to cattle raised at home for all their hamburgers and steaks.

Heading into this year, most U.S. farmers were hoping to break even or maybe record a small profit if they could find a way to limit their sky-high costs.

AgriNews is happy to welcome back Clay Geyer as northern Indiana’s From the Fields contributor for 2025.

May is National Beef Month, a month-long celebration to kick off the unofficial start of summer grilling season and, of course, promote America’s favorite protein — beef.

Brooke Taylor stumbled into becoming an inspirational speaker. It was not something she had set as a career goal.

During the months of December through February, U.S. Department of Agriculture data show that feeders who sold fed cattle were profitable, after suffering significant losses the previous six months.

Golden Owl Award finalist Kenna Slough was inspired to be an agricultural educator for a combination of reasons.

Authorities in Central Europe are working to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among cattle populations that has caused widespread border closures and required the killing of thousands of animals.

If you are one of the millions of Americans who pollsters say “voted for change” last November, boy, are you getting it now.

On any given day, Dan Parker could be advocating for agriculture with legislators, helping his daughters with 4-H projects, supporting the local FFA chapter, selling seed, or working on the farm.

The focus at TWG Ranch is to raise reproductive, maternal cattle with longevity and product merit.

To celebrate May Beef Month, the Illinois Beef Association is inviting people to join the May Beef Month Beef Eaters Club.

On my family’s farm, we achieve Earth Day objectives throughout the year, guided by respect for the blessings natural resources provide. We must conserve and protect natural resources to grow food and sustain our farm for future generations.

Meet Mindy Orschell, AgriNews’ new From the Fields contributor in southern Indiana.

Cow size has been on the rise for decades. Cows today weigh 1.4 times as much as their predecessors in 1980. In fact, cow weight is rising 100 pounds every 10 years.

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching on May 11, and this year the Illinois Beef Association aims to give mothers from beef cattle operations special recognition.

Free trade dogma suggests that more imports benefit consumers by affording them more choices and lower prices. Let’s see if this holds true in the U.S. beef market.

March went in — and out — like a lion. Several state contests take place in spring, such as the recent dairy cattle and food science career development events, with many more on the calendar.

The Western Illinois University School of Agriculture hosted its 53rd annual Bull Test Sale at the WIU Livestock Center.

The animals are smelling green grass and are tired of eating their winter vittles. The rye looks great, but the cool temps have slowed its growth enough that I have decided to delay the usual turnout a few days.

Some of the highlights I came away with from the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition’s 2025 Grazing Conference are: soil microbes help the water percolate through the soil and cover crops help feed the soil microbes which make them multiply.

Twenty-five Illinois Farm Bureau members recently graduated from the Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow, an extensive leadership development program designed to help participants develop leadership and advocacy skills and to become a voice for Illinois agriculture.

R-CALF USA is aggressively pursuing tariffs for cattle, sheep, beef and lamb. And it seems we’re the only national livestock association that is doing so.

Grass will be ready for turnout soon. It is hard to hold out, but so important to give grass a fair start.

The futures market is reacting as expected with all this tariff news creating plenty of uncertainty which usually trends lower as most players look to eliminate risk.

We have faced several consecutive days over a six-state area where there have been multiple tornados causing damage, a lot of rain, lightning, hail and serious flooding and washouts of roads and bridges.

Plant-based and lab-grown protein products enjoyed a moment in the sun several years ago, but it didn’t take long for the free market to kick in and push these companies down a very steep decline.

American Farmland Trust focuses on protecting farmland, keeping farmers on the land and promoting sound farming practices.

Agricultural economic conditions remained relatively weak across the Corn Belt, driven by concerns over drought conditions, trade, balance sheets and the lack of farm bill clarity.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition announced the recipients of the 2025 Master Grazier Awards at the ILGLC Annual Grazing Conference in Springfield.

Tight supplies of cattle and resilient demand for beef are expected to support fed steer prices this year, according to projections at the Agricultural Outlook Forum.

Indiana’s agriculture organizations teamed up to bring the farm to Indianapolis on National Agriculture Day.

In the seven weeks that global markets and U.S. farmers have been living in the uncertain trade world of the Trump administration, prices for most American ag exports have headed south faster than a Canada goose in late October.

I saw robins, snow geese and green grass all in the same frame last week — it must be spring!

In reviewing my February writing, I realize that quite a few things actually were finished or at least started in the last month — I am pleased to report that!

As March hit, we finally got some relief on the weather and had some nice days that first week. February stayed ugly until the end and muddy, muddy, muddy.

Along with cattle sales, junior activities and shows, the Illinois Beef Expo included a trade show where numerous companies provided information to cattlemen at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

At a very young age, sisters Claire and Jemma Dorsey started showing cattle, which has developed into a passion and award-winning endeavor.

Save the date for Ag Day at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fairgrounds, in the Commercial Building, April 4-6.