NEWS

As we wrap up 2018, it’s worth a moment to pause and consider the amazing day-to-day performance and accomplishments of the U.S. cattle and beef industry.

Lance Pekus is a rancher from Salmon, Idaho. He works on a 300-pair cow-calf operation with his father-in-law and, with the support of his wife and two children, competes yearly on the TV game show American Ninja Warrior, where he has become known as the “Cowboy Ninja.”

Cattle producers attending the 2019 National Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA) annual Cattlemen’s College in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 29-30, are in for a widely varied educational experience.

The forecast for 2018 beef production was lowered by 30 million pounds to 26.9 billion pounds. The mild revision is based on numbers at the closeout of the third quarter along with fourth-quarter expectations of slightly fewer steers and heifers to be slaughtered and fewer bulls in the slaughter mix.

Bull buying season is just around the corner, and it is important to have a plan in place prior to attending a sale or visiting a ranch for a private treaty purchase. Identifying the goals and marketing strategy for your operation is the first step in the decision-making process.