R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard issued the following statement The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Friday its plan to reopen the entry port at Douglas, Arizona, within 30 days as part of a phased reopening of the southern border to imports of livestock from Mexico. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard issued the following statement: “We appreciate Secretary Rollins' past commitment to protecting U.S. livestock and recognize the tremendous effort USDA personnel have undertaken

Cattle on cornstalks is common, but Nebraska Extension Livestock Educator Aaron Berger suggests grazing standing corn can also be done in drought conditions. Photo by Chabella Guzman By Aaron Berger | Nebraska Extension Livestock Educator Pasture and hay are in short supply in much of Nebraska due to drought conditions, while corn prices are currently below the cost of production. These circumstances are prompting consideration of grazing standing corn with the cow herd as

From The University of Nebraska Extension The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) will host its annual open house Wednesday, Aug. 19, near Whitman. The event is open to cattle producers and industry professionals interested in the latest beef industry updates and current GSL research. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. Mountain time and will be followed by a weather outlook presentation. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in

R-CALF USA noted that grazing capacity on Bureau-managed lands has steadily declined for decades, citing estimates that animal unit months, or AUMs, have fallen by more than 50% since 1954. R-CALF USA submitted formal comments on the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) proposed revisions to its grazing regulations. The proposal marks the first significant changes to BLM grazing policy in decades. While calling the proposal a long-needed step in the right direction, the organiza

From R-CALF USA Effective July 22, 2026, the United States Trade Representative and the president will impose a 25% tariff on many goods from Brazil, but beef and beef products will be exempted from the new tariffs. The tariffs on many of Brazil’s goods are the result of an investigation by the USTR under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which authorizes tariffs on goods from countries whose acts, policies or practices are unreasonable and burden or restrict U.S. commerc

NFIB urges lawmakers to advance legislation that would ensure equal access to diagnostic tools for independent auto repair shops The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, released a statement highlighting the need to expand right to repair efforts following the recent antitrust lawsuit settlement between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and John Deere. “This settlement is a huge win for farmers, inde

From R-CALF USA WASHINGTON, D.C., July 7, 2026 – Yesterday, R-CALF USA testified before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during a public hearing on the Section 301 investigation into Brazil's trade practices, urging the agency to remove Brazilian beef from its proposed list of tariff exemptions and apply a 25% tariff to all Brazilian beef imports. The USTR’s proposal to apply tariffs on Brazilian goods resulted from the USTR’s investigation that found, among other

The aftermath of the Morrill (County) Fire in March, where range and hay reserves were destroyed. Photo by Gary Stone By Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Recent wildfires across Nebraska have left many ranchers facing difficult questions about forage recovery, grazing management, infrastructure repairs, and what comes next. To help navigate those decisions, the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition (NGLC) is launching a new Post-Wildfire Stewardship Resilience program, offering fr

From Nebraska Farm Bureau Nebraska elected leaders, agriculture groups, and faith leaders united Thursday, June 18 to encourage Nebraskans to join them in a Day of Prayer for Agriculture. The call comes amidst months of some of the most devasting extreme weather and natural disaster related events in the state’s history in addition to significant profitability challenges for agricultural producers. Extreme drought conditions, historic wildfires, damaging winds, hail, and floo

Make sure your cattle are getting the supplements they need. Photo by Nebraska Extension Nebraska Extension Beef Systems will present a mineral nutrition event entitled “Making Mineral Supplementation Decisions with Confidence” on Monday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Prairie Winds Community Center in Bridgeport. Determining the right mineral program can be challenging. This program will aid livestock producers in making more informed mineral supplementation decision

Annual testing event information from Nebraska Extension Nebraska Extension is urging residents who rely on private wells for their drinking water to take immediate action to test their drinking water and treat any identified risks. Annual testing and recommended treatment is the only reliable way to ensure water safety and protect household health. Water is called the universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than just about any other liquid. Thus, all wate

Ag News from the University of Nebraska Extension Cooperative Extension is a key component of the land-grant mission of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Nebraska Extension connects university research with the people of Nebraska by delivering practical, research-based education and support. Extension professionals are based in communities across the state, including county offices and university research facilities, and work in close collaboration with local governments an

From R-CALF USA The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced additional steps toward restoring livestock grazing opportunities on federally managed lands by issuing implementation directives to the U.S. Forest Service aimed at expanding grazing access, streamlining permitting, and improving coordination with ranchers. The memorandum builds upon USDA’s October 2025 Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry and the March 2026 Memorandum of Understanding on grazing. While

Informational Press Release from IANR Lincoln, Neb., June 5, 2026 —The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is aware of the confirmation of New World screwworm in Texas earlier this month and is monitoring developments related to the parasite. Screwworm, the larval stage New World screwfly, has not been detected in Nebraska. University experts are working with partners including the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the Nebr

The event was held May 26 at the Cherry County fairgrounds The annual 4-H livestock judging clinic and competition was held on May 26, 2026, at the Cherry County Fairgrounds. Nolan Orwig & Tevor Gill were the head clinicians/judges, assisted by Craig O’Kief & Andy Dawson. Youth judged five classes of livestock – market beef, breeding beef, market swine, market sheep, and market goat. Stock was provided by Craig O’Kief, Josh Delaney, the Jones family, the Dawson family, and th

Weaning calves early could help with saving resources this year. Photo by T.L. Meyer By T.L. Meyer | Beef Systems Extension Educator / Karla Wilke | Cow-Calf Stocker Management Specialist When grass is limited, early weaning may be a viable option for cow-calf producers. If grazing pressure needs to be reduced quickly and/or cow body condition needs improved, early weaning can fit the bill. Weaning removes any grazing pressure from the calf and removes milk production from

June 4 Press Release From R-CALF USA Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that New World screwworm was confirmed in the United States. The pest was detected in a 3-week-old calf in South Texas, and USDA stated it has mobilized response personnel and coordination efforts in the impacted area. In its statement, USDA said current response efforts include forming a unified Incident Command Team with the Texas Animal Health Commission, establishing an infested zone

The best odds for rain in the KVSH are will be Saturday into early Sunday The National Weather Service in North Platte is predicting some relief from dry conditions this weekend. After a conversation on Wednesday with forecasters, KVSH learned that while the odds are not high for precipitation Thursday and Friday, the forecast models are indicating that the chances of significant rain Saturday into Sunday morning are quite high. Officials at the North Platte office that is

Producers need to ensure forage quality meets the needs of the cow and calf, or provide supplements. Aaron Berger | Nebraska Extension Livestock Educator Cattle producers may have the opportunity to use Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres after July 15 if drought conditions continue. Producers located in or next to counties in Nebraska impacted by drought conditions may be authorized for emergency grazing or haying. Eligible producers interested in grazing CRP under

Building Skills, Connections, and Futures: Welcoming the 2026 Sandhills Ranch Interns and Apprentices The 2026 Sandhills Ranch Internship season has kicked off, bringing together a new cohort of interns eager to step into ranch life. Participants gathered for the annual orientation, a tradition that lays the groundwork for their summer experiences on ranches across the Nebraska Sandhills. Over the next three months, these interns will live and work on ranches throughout the N