January typically brings cold weather, but it can also bring complications to the cattle market.
One trader says it is his least favorite month to trade but says the coming months could be ideal for producers.
“I see a lot of confidence, especially in this cash feeder market. I mean, these prices, there was about a five or six-week stretch that they just went straight up. I feel like we saw, maybe, some heifers getting held back earlier in this Fall, and then, as we’ve just climbed fast, it’s getting tougher to tougher to think, ‘Are we going to be able to rebuild this cowherd or not just with the sheer cost that it is?’ I mean, it’s like $2,000 heifer calf, and it’s going to cost, you know, my cowboy math says about $1,000 per year on that animal,” said Scott Varilek.
The January Cattle on Feed Report comes out later this month, which will give a better idea of the cattle herd.
NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart discussed the legal process behind delisting the prairie chicken, the challenges ranchers faced under the bird’s previous protections, and the benefits of cooperative habitat management for both livestock and wildlife.
February 27, 2026 10:55 AM
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Farm Bureau economist Danny Munch explains the importance of timely enrollment, and how the program helps dairy producers safeguard their operations against volatile milk markets.
February 26, 2026 02:25 PM
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The Ranger Road Fire is fully contained after burning nearly 300,000 acres. Ranchers face significant cattle and fence losses, with recovery efforts underway.
February 26, 2026 01:04 PM
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USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance payments could begin this weekend as producers face tight margins, shifting acreage expectations, cattle herd contraction, and growing pressure for a stronger farm safety net.
February 26, 2026 12:11 PM
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Nick Westgerdes of the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers breaks down farmland values, rental rates, and sales trends in Illinois, while previewing the upcoming land values conference for 2026.
February 25, 2026 02:59 PM
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Analysts warn the closed U.S.-Mexico border is straining cattle supplies and packing capacity. StoneX and USDA data point to long-term industry shifts.
February 25, 2026 12:37 PM
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