Managing Cattle & Grass In A Drought

It is that time of year that many producers are moving cattle to summer grazing.  But drought is plaguing many and it continues to worsen.  According to drought.gov, as of May 5th, 60.92% of the country is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, largely concentrated in the Southeast, High Plains, and West. There are strategies for managing drought, or I should say how we manage grass and forage uptake in the cowherd to get through drought.  Trevor Burian from Killdeer North Dakota joins us today.  Trevor has been a student of grazing, plant management, regenerative ag, and cattle efficiency and profitability his entire life.

Cattle Industry News

Tyson’s Multi-Million-Dollar Beef Settlement

A federal judge granted preliminary approval to a proposed $47 million class action settlement between Tyson Foods and commercial and institutional indirect purchaser plaintiffs in the ongoing cattle and beef antitrust litigation.

An order filed in the middle of last week approved preliminary certification of a settlement class covering entities in the United States that indirectly purchased certain raw beef products sold by defendants between Jan. 1, 2015, and May 6, 2026, for use in commercial food preparation. 

The settlement involves Tyson Foods Inc. and Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. Tyson did not oppose the motion for preliminary approval.

The plaintiffs in the case include restaurants, catering companies and other foodservice operators alleging anticompetitive conduct in the fed cattle and beef markets.

The approval comes on the heels of the DOJ’s doubling down on an ongoing investigation into Tyson, JBS, National Beef and Cargill. The DOJ and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins accused the “Big Four” of colluding to artificially raise beef prices.

REFERENCE: 

https://meatingplace.com/tysons-multi-million-dollar-beef-settlement-gets-initial-approval/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260510014&utm_date=20260511-0300

Beef Exports

U.S. beef exports declined in March as shipments to China remained largely stalled, though strong variety meat demand helped push export value for those products to a record high, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

March beef exports were down 11% from a year ago, while export value fell 8%. Shipments increased year-over-year to Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Indonesia, while exports to South Korea and Taiwan were steady. However, exports to China remained minimal and shipments also trailed year-ago levels to Japan and the Middle East.

Excluding China, March beef export volume increased 4% from a year ago while value climbed 8%.

REFERENCE: 

https://meatingplace.com/beef-exports-pressured-by-china-absence-variety-meat-value-hits-record/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260506020&utm_date=20260507-0300

Market Restrictions Due To Pseudorabies

Mexico is blocking certain US pork products due to pseudorabies concerns, the USDA said in an advisory note in the FSIS Export Library. The moves by Mexico, the largest market for US pork exports, come a week after the discovery of pseudorabies in a small commercial pig operation in Iowa and a farm in Texas where the infected animals originated, and other trade partners appear to be responding as well.

The confirmation of pseudorabies at a small swine facility in Iowa was the first commercial outbreak since 2004, when the US deemed the virus eradicated from the commercial swine industry. The virus can, however, still be found in some feral swine populations, and there is occasional spillover of infection to outdoor herds where contact with feral swine is possible. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said initial traceback from the Iowa herd indicated that affected boars came from an outdoor facility in Texas. 

REFERENCE:  

https://meatingplace.com/pseudorabies-fallout-no-1-pork-export-market-restricts-some-us-products/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260510014&utm_date=20260511-0300

Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry

Trevor Burian – Burian Rangeland Services, LLC

Follow On Facebook: @trevor.burian

Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation
https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/
Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos

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Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC

Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production.

Learn more about Jeff ‘Tigger’ Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC.

https://tiggerandbec.com/

Industry References, Partners and Resources

For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources:

American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/

EquineMarket.Com: https://www.equinemarket.com/

Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/

Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com/#/?ranchchannel=view

LivestockMarket.Com: https://www.livestockmarket.com/

RanchChannel.Com: https://ranchchannel.com/

RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/

Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/

Sire Buyer: https://www.sirebuyer.com/

Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/

Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/