A silent crisis is unfolding across America’s heartland.
The veterinarians tasked with protecting the nation’s livestock, and by extension, its food supply, are a dwindling force, creating a critical gap in the first line of defense against disease and food insecurity.
For Dr. Rachel Miner, a mixed-animal veterinarian in eastern Kansas, a 60-mile drive to a farm call isn’t unusual. It has become a reality of the job.
Read MoreLouisiana farmer Bryan Simon shares insights on establishing, growing, and harvesting this premium forage crop in challenging climate.
Read MoreThe National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has opened applications for spring 2026 semester internships in the association’s Colorado headquarters and Washington, D.C. office. Internships are available for public policy, producer education and sustainability, and meetings and events.
There is one word that fully describes the cattle market: HIGHER! Who would have thought that according to USDA, The National Weekly Feeder and Stocker Summary for the week ending August 23, 2025, showed 400-700 lbs. steers bringing $650.00-$700.00 per head more than the same time a year ago in the Southeast region. Many are saying the market will go higher. Again, PLEASE don’t get caught with a cow herd that has an average age of over 10 years.
Read MoreGrowing great land and cattle in the semitropical sandy soils outside New Iberia, La., is a generational touchstone for the Gonsoulin family. Shannon Gonsoulin and his wife, Toni, represent the most recent group of Gonsoulins ranching on family ground — a tradition beginning in 1784, when French land surveyor Jean Francios de Beaumelle Gonsoulin became the first family member to register the F2 brand.
Read MoreGrowing great land and cattle in the semitropical sandy soils outside New Iberia, La., is a generational touchstone for the Gonsoulin family. Shannon Gonsoulin and his wife, Toni, represent the most recent group of Gonsoulins ranching on family ground — a tradition beginning in 1784, when French land surveyor Jean Francios de Beaumelle Gonsoulin became the first family member to register the F2 brand.
Read MoreIn early August, a Maryland resident who had traveled to El Salvador was diagnosed with New World screwworm — a flesh-eating parasite — being the first human case of a flesh-eating parasite in U.S.
Although the case was an isolated incident, the infection had many wondering if the flesh-eating maggot could spread to more people.
Read MoreOver 175 million birds and 1,075 dairy herds have been affected by the current strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) since it began in February 2022. Detections of HPAI in both poultry and dairy cattle have slowed over the summer months with zero detections in commercial poultry flocks and just one dairy herd detection in the last 30 days. This Market Intel provides an update on the status of HPAI and what to watch for as the fall migration season approaches. Migratory birds moving south along flyways are the most likely to spread HPAI, which survives better in cool conditions, making fall a likely time for HPAI flare-ups.
Read MoreCases of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that infests livestock and sometimes humans, have risen sharply in Mexico. According to Mexican government data cited by Reuters, as of August 17 there were 5,086 recorded infestations in animals — a 53 percent increase in just one month, with 649 active cases.
Read MoreWe are very pleased to introduce our 2025 Cattlewoman of the Year, Amelia Kent!
Amelia Kent is a fourth-generation farmer who started her own farm immediately after graduating from Wellesley College. Amelia, her husband, Russell, and their daughter Avery, raise cattle through Kent Farms LLC, located in Clinton, Louisiana.
Read MoreU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently identified an instance of a traveler-associated human case of New World screwworm (NWS) in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reaffirmed its robust surveillance and trapping strategy, confirming there have been no detections of NWS in U.S. livestock.
Read MoreIt isn’t every day that a former Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People of the Year and the subject of an Emmy-winning HBO movie speaks at an LSU AgCenter event. But that is exactly what happened when internationally renowned author, livestock welfare and autism awareness advocate Temple Grandin addressed the Louisiana Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals last week in Vernon Parish.
Read MoreA Tangipahoa Parish couple says their farm is struggling to recover after oily fallout from last week’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland.
Lisa and Robert Friedley live about three miles from the oil company on a 71-acre farm. They raise cattle, sell hay and stock ponds with fish. They say all of it is now at risk.
Read MoreSouthern University College of Agriculture alumna Allison Thomas has been named the U.S. Dairy Export Council’s (USDEC) Chief Operating Officer (COO). The announcement was made on August 11, 2025 by the USDEC and will become effective on August 25, 2025.
In her role as COO, Thomas will report directly to USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden and serve as her strategic thought partner, oversee USDEC’s senior leadership team, and spearhead initiatives to accelerate growth, enhance operational performance, and drive innovation across the organization.
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