Tuesday September 09 Ag News - Weekly Crop Progress Report - Japan purchases Nebraska Pork - NFU Fly-in - CBB FY '26 Plan - and more!

 Nebraska Crop Progress Report

The first hints of fall harvest are showing up in this week’s USDA Crop Progress report, with corn and soybeans in Nebraska largely on track.

Corn continues to push toward maturity. In Nebraska, corn is 92% in the dough stage, 70% dented, and 23% mature—close to the average pace. Seventy-six percent of the crop is rated good to excellent. 

Soybeans are also advancing. In Nebraska, soybeans are 95% setting pods and 14% dropping leaves, slightly behind average. Seventy-six percent are rated good to excellent. 

Moisture supplies remain mostly favorable. Nebraska topsoil is 76% adequate to surplus, Kansas 81%. Subsoil moisture is similar—74% adequate to surplus in both states.

Pasture and rangeland conditions are holding up better than last year, with Nebraska rated 46% good to excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Mostly dry conditions allowed Iowa farmers 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 7, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Disease pressure in row crops remained a concern to producers. Field activities included cutting and baling hay and harvesting corn silage.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus.

Ninety-seven percent of Iowa’s corn reached the dough stage. Eighty percent of corn was dented or beyond, 5 days ahead of last year, but equal to the five-year average. Twenty-six percent of corn has matured. Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 57 percent good and 23 percent excellent. 

Soybeans setting pods reached 98 percent. Soybeans coloring advanced to 44 percent, 2 days ahead of last year but 1 day behind average. Eleven percent of the soybeans were dropping leaves. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 58 percent good and 18 percent excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 93 percent complete. 

Pasture condition rated 71 percent good to excellent.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Corn harvest reached 4% nationwide last week as condition ratings for both corn and soybeans fell slightly, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 95%, 1 percentage point ahead of last year's 94% and equal to the five-year average. Corn dented was estimated at 74%, 2 percentage points ahead of last year's 72% and 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 75%. Corn mature was pegged at 25%, 3 percentage points behind last year's 28% and equal to the five-year average.
-- Harvest progress: In its first corn harvest report of the season, NASS estimated that 4% of corn has been harvest nationally, slightly behind last year's 5% and 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 3%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 68% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, down 1 point from the previous week of 69%. Nine percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week but 4 points below 12% from last year. 

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 97%, equal to last year and the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves were pegged at 21%, 2 points behind last year's 23% and 1 point behind of the five-year average of 22%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 64% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 point from 65% the previous week and previous year. Ten percent of soybeans were rated very poor to poor, equal to the previous week and previous year. 

SPRING WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Spring wheat harvest picked up speed last week, jumping ahead 13 percentage points to reach 85% complete as of Sunday. That was 2 percentage points ahead of last year's pace of 83% and 1 percentage point ahead of the five-year average of 84%. 

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: NASS reported early progress on winter wheat planting at 5% nationally, equal to last year's pace and 1 point behind the five-year average of 6%. 



State Leaders, Pork Producers Thank Japan’s Nippon Foods for Purchasing from Nebraska

Governor Jim Pillen and Nebraska’s trade delegation held a dinner in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday with leaders from Nippon Foods and Tyson Foods. During the meal, Gov. Pillen thanked Nippon Foods for being a loyal customer of Nebraska agricultural products. The dinner also provided an opportunity for Nebraska pig farmers and ranchers to tell the story of their innovative production practices. By harnessing advanced technologies, the Nebraska livestock industry is continually producing more high-quality proteins while using less land, water, and energy.   

Founded in 1942, Nippon Foods, commonly known as Nippon Ham, is a major importer of pork into Japan. The company retails ham and sausage products. Several Nippon Ham products, such as their pork sausage links and chilled pizzas, have top market share in their respective categories. Their success as a company is so great that they sponsor a Japanese major league baseball team, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. All-star ballplayer Shohei Ohtani, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, played for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters from 2013 to 2017 before coming to play in the United States.

Nebraska Pork Gains Market Share in Japan as California’s Farmer-Unfriendly Policies Take Effect
In 2018, the State of California passed Proposition 12, a ballot initiative that required pig farmers to comply with restrictive animal agriculture practices to be able to sell pork in the state. Pork producers in California had little choice but to incur significant costs—and raise prices—to meet the stringent demands of Proposition 12. As a result, pork is more expensive to produce in California than in many other parts of the U.S.

Nebraska has taken full advantage of the opportunity to provide international customers, such as Japan, with an affordable alternative to pork produced in California. From 2023 to 2024, California’s pork exports to Japan decreased by $39 million, while Nebraska’s pork exports to Japan increased by $26 million. Nippon Foods is an example of a major Japanese importer of U.S. pork that has decided to buy from Nebraska (Tyson Foods in Madison) rather than sourcing its pork from California.

In 2024, Nebraska exported more than $177 million of pork to Japan, ranking second among U.S. states. Nebraska exports more pork to Japan than to any other country. Last year, 41% of the state’s pork exports went to Japan.

Beef on the Menu: Nebraska Trade Mission to Thank Another Key Protein Buyer
On Tuesday, the state’s delegation will hold a luncheon with Nippon Steel Trading, which imports Nebraska beef and pork through its foodstuffs division. The meeting take place at Sizzler, a restaurant that began featuring Nebraska bone-in ribeye on its menu earlier this year. The lunch will be an opportunity for Nebraska’s leaders to show appreciation to Nippon Steel Trading for being a dedicated customer at a time when the price of beef has risen, in part due to the weakness of the Japanese yen compared to the U.S. dollar.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Global Agricultural Trade System, Nebraska exported a record cash value of beef in 2024, surpassing $2 billion for the first time. This included $397 million of beef exports to Japan. Nearly 20% of Nebraska’s beef exports in 2024 went to Japan, which is the state’s second-largest international market for beef.

Meetings Present Opportunities for Exchange and Trade
The early leg of the Governor’s trade mission has included other key meetings, including a joint executive meeting involving governors from the U.S. and Japan on Sunday. This exchange presented an opportunity for government and association leadership to connect and exchange information.  

Gov. Pillen, Director Sherry Vinton of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Cobus Block, Director of International and Business Recruitment for the Department of Economic Development also took part in a table discussion with representatives of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).  It is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and other countries.



T-L Irrigation Introduces Labor-Saving Auto-Reverse Hose Drag Linear System at 2025 Husker Harvest Days

T-L Irrigation Co. takes their commitment to continuous movement and convenience in irrigation to the next level with the new Auto-Reverse Hose Drag Linear System for single-tractor, 4-wheel T-L Irrigation units.

The sturdy upgrade fully automates a labor-intensive and time-consuming linear irrigation task—reversing direction at the end of the field. Available on new units or as a retrofit kit, the design positions the hose on the side of the linear tractor at a slight angle. At the end of the field, a rotating mechanism forces the hose to push away from the tractor, creating a loop that clears the path for the tractor to reverse direction.

“Farmers have less time than ever, and labor isn’t cheap or easy to access. We want to make their irrigation systems as convenient, cost-effective, and functional as possible,” says Phillip Tiemeyer, T-L Irrigation project engineer. “This system eliminates a trip to the field and downtime, allowing for more uninterrupted, hands-off irrigation. The labor savings is significant.”

Hose changes are still necessary as the linear moves across the field, but no interaction is needed at field ends.

“On fields requiring only one water supply riser, the auto-reverse system would be a must-get option. It would allow for continuous irrigation without ever changing a hose,” Tiemeyer says.

The system has been thoroughly tested to ensure seamless function.

“Producers have seen similar products fail in the field. We wanted to be sure we got it right the first time. We’ve had prototypes in our own fields putting the design through its paces and ensuring it will perform to our standards,” says John Thom, vice president at T-L Irrigation.

Tiemeyer and his team opted for a thicker, heavier duty hose to handle the tight turn radius without kinking. Adding more weight to the linear tractor improves traction and extra reinforcement to the tower structure counteracts the stress of the twisting motion created in a side-pull system.

The auto-reverse system is available as an option on new systems or as a cost-effective kit for quick, easy installation on existing single-tractor, 4-wheel T-L Irrigation linear systems. Contact your T-L Irrigation representative for more information. 



Brian Kopecky, Long-time Nebraska Seed Professional, Joins Seitec Genetics

Seitec Genetics®, an independent seed company dedicated to delivering rare and uncompromising value to farmers, is pleased to announce that long-time Nebraska seed professional Brian Kopecky has joined the company’s management team.

Kopecky, who will be based in the Seitec Genetics headquarters in Fremont, Nebraska, is at the 2025 Husker Harvest Days farm show; to meet with farmers and bring his deep seed industry and Nebraska farming expertise to bear to as they plan for a successful 2026 season.

“We are very excited to have someone with Brian’s background and seed industry knowledge join our management team,” said Dennis Bracht, president of Seitec Genetics. “This is another example of our ongoing commitment to making farmers more successful, by providing unmatched expertise and support, along with outstanding seeds and traits backed by more technology, more genetics, better testing and better quality.”

Seitec Genetics is coming off its 18th consecutive year of record sales growth – driven by its farmer-first approach. For next season, farmers can look forward to:
    2026 Elite Corn & Soybean Seitec Genetics Product Lines – delivering proven performance and tailored trait packages.
    The 2026 Seitec Financing Program – designed to help farmers succeed financially while planting the best genetics available.
    The New Vigor Shield Accelerator – a breakthrough planter-box system that combines seed fluency, micronutrients, and live biology. The system features Bio-Capsule™ Technology that safely delivers multiple biologicals for live deployment at planting, helping get their crop off to the strongest possible start.

Each innovation and service underscores Seitec Genetics’ commitment to making farmers more productive and more profitable.



Nebraska Ethanol Board Sept. 22 board meeting to be held in Lincoln

The Nebraska Ethanol Board will meet in Lincoln at 11:00 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22. The meeting will be held at the agency headquarters located at 245 Fallbrook Blvd, Lincoln, Neb., in the lower-level hearing room 031. The agenda highlights include:
    Budget Report
    Fuel Retailer update
    Nebraska Corn Board update
    Renewable Fuels Nebraska update
    State and Federal Legislation
    Technical & Research updates

This agenda contains all items to come before the Board except those items of an emergency nature. Nebraska Ethanol Board meetings are open to the public and also published on the public calendar.

The Nebraska Ethanol Board works to ensure strong public policy and consumer support for biofuels. Since 1971, the independent state agency has designed and managed programs to expand production, market access, worker safety and technology innovation, including recruitment of producers interested in developing conventional ethanol, as well as bio-products from the ethanol platform. For more information, visit www.ethanol.nebraska.gov. 



The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series: A Win for ALL Iowans 

On Saturday, over 1,800 Iowa Corn farmers and their families gathered in Ames, Iowa, to kick off the 2025-26 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. The tradition, in its 14th year, is a tribute to the hardworking student athletes who inspire us with the work they do on and off the field, just like the Iowa corn farmers who produce the more than 4,000 everyday products made from corn

Iowa Corn is honored to partner with Learfield on behalf of the University of Iowa and Iowa State University Athletic Departments for the title sponsorship of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. The series is a year-long competition and tracks the head-to-head matchups in each sport with each victory earning points toward the overall series championship.  

“The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series isn’t just about who takes home the trophy, it’s about highlighting the great student athletes and Iowa corn farmers who call Iowa home,” said Iowa Corn Promotion Board President Joe Roberts, who farms in Wright County. “Iowans from across the state come together to celebrate this great rivalry. They fuel up with Unleaded 88 to travel to the game and enjoy corn-fed foods throughout their tailgates. All of Iowa wins with the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series and as a corn farmer, I’m proud of this partnership and the spotlight it brings to Iowa agriculture.” 

To view current standings for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, visit https://www.iowacorn.org/iowa-corn-events/iowa-corn-cy-hawk-series/. See the full 2025-26 season schedule below! 

2025-26 Season Schedule: 
    Women’s Soccer (9.4.25) 
    Football (9.6.25) 
    Volleyball (9.17.25) 
    Women’s Cross Country (10.14.25) 
    Men’s Cross Country (10.14.25) 
    Men’s Wrestling (11.30.25) 
    Men’s Basketball (12.11.25) 
    Women’s Basketball (12.10.25) 
    Women’s Swim & Dive (1.31.26) 
    Women’s Tennis (TBD) 
    Women’s Gymnastics (TBD) 
    Softball (TBD) 

2025 marks the 14th year of the competition between the Cyclone and Hawkeye Athletic Departments, which engages over 70% of Iowans who tune in to the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series™ football game every year. However, it's bigger than just a game. Whether you cheer for the Hawkeyes or Cyclones, Iowa Corn farmers are united in their passion to provide nourishing food and clean-burning fuel for our state, country and world in a way that’s sustainable for years to come. 



National Farmers Union Kicks Off Fall Legislative Fly-In 

National Farmers Union on Monday announced the start of its annual Legislative Fly-In, bringing more than 250 family farmers and ranchers into Washington to urge Congress to act, for farmers’ sake. 

“Farm country is facing a crisis, and America’s family farmers and ranchers need their elected representatives to listen to the challenges they’re facing and take action,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “Farmers are earning less than ever, consumers are paying more and corporate profits are soaring. Our members are here to remind Congress not to leave farmers and ranchers behind.”

Farmers Union members will begin meeting with top officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday morning to share the current, real-world challenges they face on their farms. These conversations will highlight the need for more robust support at farmer-facing USDA agencies such as the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service, as well as greater DOJ enforcement of antitrust laws to curb corporate monopolies that squeeze farmers’ profits and drive up the cost of production. 

“Farmers and rural communities are at a breaking point,” said NFU Vice President Jeff Kippley. “Farmers Union members have come to Washington to demand action before we lose even more family farms. They’re here not only to advocate for themselves, but for every family who deserves fair prices at the grocery store and every community whose future depends on the vitality and sustainability of American agriculture.” 

Farmers Union members will then spend the next two days on Capitol Hill to meet with their federal representatives and members of the U.S. House and Senate agriculture committees. Members will advocate for finishing the five-year farm bill, in addition to immediate assistance for farmers facing financial uncertainty and other provisions that will benefit family farmers, ranchers and rural communities across the country. 



Beef Promotion Operating Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2026 Checkoff Plan of Work

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) will invest approximately $38.1 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications during fiscal 2026, subject to USDA approval.

In action at the end of its September 3-4 meeting in Denver, Colorado, the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) approved Checkoff funding for a total of 14 “Authorization Requests” – or grant proposals – for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025. The committee, which includes 10 producers and importers from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and 10 producers from the Federation of State Beef Councils, also recommended full Cattlemen’s Beef Board approval of a budget amendment to reflect the split of funding between budget categories affected by their decisions.

Nine contractors and three subcontractors brought 14 Authorization Requests worth approximately $49 million to the BPOC this week, approximately $10.9 million more than the funds available from the CBB budget.

“We continue to be impressed by the quality and creativity of the proposals our contractors bring forward each year, which makes funding decisions especially tough,” said Ryan Moorhouse, chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the Beef Promotion Operating Committee. “While we receive many outstanding proposals, our limited resources mean we can’t fund everything we’d like. Inflation continues to reduce the impact of each Checkoff dollar, so prioritizing the most impactful programs is more important than ever.

“As expected, this year’s Authorization Requests were full of fresh ideas and innovative approaches that support the Beef Checkoff’s core efforts—research, promotion, foreign marketing, industry and consumer information, and producer communications. I’m proud of how our committee worked together to thoughtfully balance the budget and direct our limited resources in the most strategic way. I’m grateful to our contractors and fellow committee members for their dedication, and I look forward to seeing the results of their hard work in FY26.”

In the end, the BPOC approved proposals from nine national beef organizations for funding through the FY26 Cattlemen’s Beef Board budget, as follows:
    American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture - $705,000
    Cattlemen’s Beef Board - $1,800,000
    Meat Foundation - $650,000
    Meat Import Council of America / Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative - $1,000,000
    Meat Institute - $35,000
    Meat Institute/New York Beef Council - $235,000
    National Cattlemen’s Beef Association - $25,100,000
    National Institute for Animal Agriculture - $75,000
    United States Cattlemen’s Association/Kansas State University - $650,000
    United States Meat Export Federation - $7,900,000

Broken out by budget component – as outlined by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 – the FY26 Plan of Work for the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board budget includes:
    $9,235,000 for promotion programs, including beef and veal campaigns focusing on beef’s nutritional value, eating experience, convenience, and production.
    $9,300,000 for research programs focusing on pre- and post-harvest beef safety, scientific affairs, nutrition, sustainability, product quality, culinary technical expertise, and consumer perceptions.
    $7,705,000 for consumer information programs, including Northeast influencer outreach and public relations initiatives; national consumer public relations, including nutrition-influencer relations and work with primary- and secondary-school curriculum directors nationwide to get accurate information about the beef industry into classrooms of today’s youth. Additional initiatives include outreach and engagement with food, culinary, nutrition and health thought leaders; media and public relations efforts; and supply chain engagement.
    $2,210,000 for industry information programs, including dissemination of accurate information about the beef industry to counter misinformation from other groups, as well as funding for Checkoff participation in the annual national industrywide symposium about antibiotic use. Additional efforts in this program area include beef advocacy training and issues/crisis management and response.
    $7,900,000 for foreign marketing and education, focusing on 13 regions, representing more than 90 countries around the world.
    $1,800,000 for producer communications, which includes investor outreach using national communications and direct communications to producers and importers about Checkoff results. Elements of this program include ongoing producer listening and analysis; industry collaboration and outreach; and continued development of a publishing strategy and platform and a state beef council content hub. 

The full fiscal 2026 Cattlemen’s Beef Board budget is approximately $42.4 million. Separate from the Authorization Requests, other expenses funded include $305,000 for program evaluation; $762,000 program development; $280,000 for Checkoff education resources; $575,000 for USDA oversight; $220,000 for state services; $200,000 supporting services and litigation; and approximately $2.0 million for CBB administration. The fiscal 2026 program budget represents an increase of slightly less than 1.0% percent, or $195,000, from the $42.2 million FY25 budget.

For more information about the Beef Checkoff and its programs, including promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and safety, contact the Cattlemen’s Beef Board at 303-220-9890 or visit DrivingDemandForBeef.com.



House Reauthorizes U.S. Grain Standards Act

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 4550, reauthorizing the U.S. Grain Standards Act through FY2023:

"I’m proud that the House has passed the U.S. Grain Standards Act with strong bipartisan support, a testament to our shared commitment to fair markets and reliable standards for American farmers. I urge the Senate to act quickly so we can get this important bill to the President’s desk."

Background:
The United States Grain Standards Act, first enacted in 1916, is the statutory foundation for the nation's grain inspection and grading system. The Act authorizes USDA's Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) to establish official marketing standards for grains and oilseeds and oversee official inspection and weighing services.

Key Functions:
    Uniform Standards: Establishes consistent grading standards for corn, wheat, soybeans, sorghum, barley, oats, canola, and other grains.
    Quality Assurance: Defines measurable quality attributes (test weight, damage, foreign material) used to assign official grades.
    Trust & Transparency: Provides official certificates of grade and weight through licensed personnel to ensure market integrity.

The system operates on user fees for inspection services, with congressional appropriations supporting regulatory activities like standards development and compliance enforcement.



ASA Statement on the House Vote to Reauthorize the U.S. Grain Standards Act

The American Soybean Association applauds today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to reauthorize the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA) ahead of the September 30, 2025, expiration of key provisions.

ASA has been actively engaged in advancing the USGSA, including testifying before both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees on the importance of federal grain inspection standards. U.S. soybeans are the nation’s top agricultural export, and strong, government-backed grain standards are a critical advantage for U.S. farmers, especially during times of trade upheaval.

“U.S. soybean farmers are grateful for the leadership of Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Craig in advancing this important reauthorization bill,” ASA President and Kentucky farmer Caleb Ragland said. “Reauthorizing the U.S. Grain Standards Act is vital to the continued success of U.S. soy in global markets. Even as our exports face renewed tariff pressures, the integrity of our grain inspection system helps keep U.S. soy competitive worldwide.”

ASA urges the Senate to swiftly advance its version of the USGSA before the September 30 expiration.



Long-Term Considerations When Investing in Beef Replacements
Hannah Baker, Beef and Forage Economics Extension Agent, University of Florida / IFAS Extension

Due to current inventory levels and producers beginning to think about expansion, the value of young cows and heifers is increasing as demand for breeding stock increases. As discussed in last week’s In the Cattle Markets issue, pastures in the majority of the country are in better condition than they have been since 2019, which will play a key role in producers’ ability to start expanding. However, there are still no strong signs of heavy retention efforts, yet when looking at the percentage of heifers on feed (38.1%). The next quarterly Cattle on Feed report in October will provide more insight into whether or not more heifers are starting to be retained.

On average, (heavy emphasis on average), bred heifers are selling between $3,500 -$4,500 per head. Alternatively, the cost of raising your own replacements, depending on the development program, may not be too far off from that range when considering the opportunity cost of keeping a weaned heifer calf.

Prices for a 500-600-pound heifer calf in the cash market were approximately 30% higher year-over-year in July, varying by state and region. In Florida, August prices for heifer calves were 40% higher year-over-year. Whether buying replacements or raising them, rebuilding efforts are going to be large, upfront investments in the current market as we move closer to a period of expansion.

Looking past the initial investment of buying or raising replacement heifers, the investments do not stop there. The hardest year for a heifer to get rebred is with her second calf. A first-calf heifer needs to get rebred within about 83 days after calving—while still growing and raising her first calf. So, the follow-up question would be, “is it financially feasible to make the necessary investments and/or changes to increase the chances of her getting bred that second time?” Below are a few considerations when thinking about the long-term productivity and profitability of replacements.
-         Are there solid nutrition and forage programs in place that are going to meet the nutritional requirements of a growing, first-calf heifer?
-         Is there a plan to implement management practices, such as early weaning, to lengthen recovery time and improve the chances of rebreeding?
-         Do breeding season protocols need to be altered to best accommodate for first-calf heifers?

In the current market, an open cow is costly when calves are bringing $4.00 per pound, with those prices expected to move higher. An open cow, regardless of age, often costs more than she earns over time, even if cull cows are currently selling for $1.60 per pound. Market prices will inevitably fluctuate, influencing profitability. However, not having a calf to sell results in a more significant negative impact on profitability.

There are many factors – some controllable, some not - that influence a cow’s reproductive performance. Adopting management strategies that improve the likelihood of having a calf every year is essential in today’s market. This will help in ensuring that investments in young breeding stock continue to deliver returns, even in years when market prices are less favorable.