News & Notes
News from around the country, including USDA-NASS inventory statistics, scholarship opportunities, upcoming educational meetings, approval for the Beef Cattle Research Center at K-State, new resources available to Texas ranchers and a grant available for those interested in solar grazing.
February 6, 2025
![News & Notes](https://cd.angus.org/-/jssmedia/project/american-angus-association/angus/angus-media/angus-beef-bulletin/columns-headers/newsnotes/newsnotes-16x9.jpg?mw=1440&iar=0)
Jan. 1 ‘Cattle on Feed’ report released
There were 86.7 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Cattle report published Jan. 31 by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Other key findings in the report include:
![NASS Graph](https://cd.angus.org/-/media/project/american-angus-association/angus/angus-media/angus-beef-bulletin/abbx-articles/2025/02/0225_newsnotes_nass-graph-01-31-2025-v2.jpg?h=318&w=500&hash=172856530F9C3F86237AD397EFF36786)
- Of the 86.7 million head in inventory, all cows and heifers that have calved totaled 37.2 million.
- There are 27.9 million beef cows in the United States as of Jan. 1, 2025, down 1% from last year.
- The number of milk cows in the United States increased slightly to 9.35 million.
- The U.S. calf crop was estimated at 33.5 million head, down slightly from the previous year.
- All cattle on feed were at 14.3 million head, down 1% from 2024.
To obtain an accurate measurement of the current state of the U.S. cattle industry, NASS surveyed approximately 36,100 operators across the nation during the first half of January. Surveyed producers were asked to report their cattle inventories as of Jan. 1, 2025, and calf crop for the entire year of 2024 by internet, mail, telephone or in-person interview.
The Cattle report and all other NASS reports are available online.
U.S. cattle on feed down 1%
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 11.8 million head Jan. 1, 2025 (see Table 1). The inventory was 1% percent below Jan. 1, 2024. The inventory included 7.25 million steers and steer calves, up 1% from the previous year. This group accounted for 61% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.58 million head, down 3% from 2024.
Table 1: Cattle on feed inventory, placements, marketings and other disappearance at 1,000+ capacity feedlots, United States: Jan 1, 2024 and 2025 |
|||
2024 | 2025 | previous year | |
Item | ---- 1,000 head ---- | % | |
On feed Dec. 1, 2024 | 12,016 | 11,982 | 100 |
Placed on feed during December | 1,698 | 1,642 | 97 |
Fed cattle marketed during December | 1,724 | 1,742 | 101 |
Other disappearance during December | 60 | 59 | 98 |
On feed Jan. 1, 2025 | 11,930 | 11,823 | 99 |
Source: USDA-NASS. |
Table 2: Cattle on feed by class at 1,000+ capacity feedlots, United States: Jan. 1, 2024 and 2025 |
||||
2024 | 2025 | previous year | Inventory | |
Item | ---- 1,000 head ---- | % | % | |
Class on feed Jan. 1 Steers and steer calves |
7,195 | 7,248 | 101 | 61 |
Heifers and heifer calves | 4,735 | 4,735 | 97 | 39 |
Source: USDA-NASS. |
Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.64 million head, 3% below 2023. Net placements were 1.58 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds (lb.) were 395,000 head, 600-699 lb. were 380,000 head, 700-799 lb. were 375,000 head, 800-899 lb. were 287,000 head, 900-999 lb. were 115,000 head, and 1,000 lb. and greater were 90,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.74 million head, 1% above 2023.
Other disappearance totaled 59,000 head during December, 2% below 2023.
LMA opens applications for 2025 scholarships
The Livestock Marketing Association, or LMA, announced the Jan. 31 opening of its 2025 scholarship program application period. This annual program is designed to support students who understand the vital role of agriculture and its supporting industries, including the auction method of livestock marketing.
The program invites applicants to share how they plan to use their education and future careers to advocate for or advance the livestock marketing industry. Nine deserving students will each be awarded a one-time $2,500 scholarship to assist with their academic pursuits.
Eligible applicants must be graduating high school seniors or currently enrolled in an accredited postsecondary institution. Additional requirements include a minimum GPA of 2.0 and sponsorship by an LMA member livestock marketing business.
Applications will be accepted through 4 p.m. CST March 14. For more information or to apply, visit https://www.lmaweb.com/.
2025 Angus Foundation Scholarship applications open
Since 1998, the Angus Foundation has championed the success of Angus youth by investing in their educations. In the past 27 years, the Angus Foundation has awarded more than $4.9 million in scholarships, including $388,500 in 2024 alone. These scholarships help support students in their educational endeavors — whether they are pursuing undergraduate, graduate or trade degrees. Applications opened Feb. 1 and are due by May 1.
Angus Foundation undergraduate and graduate scholarship applications are available to National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members through their American Angus Association login.
![Foundation Scholarship](https://cd.angus.org/-/jssmedia/project/american-angus-association/angus/angus-media/angus-beef-bulletin/abbx-articles/2025/02/0225_newsnotes_af_scholarships_announcement.jpg?mw=1440&iar=0)
Addison Cotton of York, Neb., accepts the Richard L. Spader Angus Foundation Scholarship from Sheri Spader at the National Junior Angus Show in Madison, Wis. The Angus Foundation awarded more than $388,500 in scholarships in 2024.
In addition to offering scholarship opportunities to NJAA members, the Foundation also offers opportunities to youth from a commercial cattle operation background, through the Commercial Cattlemen’s scholarship program (see “Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship”).
Applications for the Angus Foundation’s Certified Angus Beef/NJAA and Commercial Cattlemen Scholarships can be accessed at angus.org/foundation and submitted through email. The website offers more details about the scholarship program.
NCBA, PLC congratulate Zeldin, Burgum on confirmations
“For too long, the EPA has stood for ‘Ending Production Agriculture,’” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane in a statement congratulating Lee Zeldin on his confirmation as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Under Administrator Zeldin, we look forward to an EPA that acknowledges the conservation efforts that are only made possible by cattle farmers and ranchers — America’s original conservationists.”
Lane recognized Zeldin’s bipartisan confirmation and said, “We look forward to working with him to protect the clean water and healthy soil that American agriculture relies on every day.”
The NCBA and Public Lands Council (PLC) also released a statement congratulating Doug Burgum on his confirmation as secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship
The Angus Foundation will award five $1,500 scholarships to undergraduate students who use Angus genetics in a commercial cattle operation’s breeding program or whose parents use Angus genetics. Emphasis will be placed on applicants’ knowledge of the cattle industry and perspective of the Angus breed.
The applicant or their parent/guardian must have transferred or been transferred an Angus registration paper in the last 36 months (on or after May 1, 2022) and must be considered commercial and not seedstock in their operation. The scholarship applies to any field of study.
“This scholarship program is designed to support students with a commercial cattle background in the beef industry,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “Supporting youth in their education is an important part of the Foundation’s mission.”
Boester elaborated on the scholarship program noting, “The Angus Foundation scholarships are one of the most prominent and consistent ways our donors support Angus youth. Our scholarships pave the way for a bright future for our industry by ensuring young people can reach their full potential.”
To download the application, click here. Scholarship applications should be submitted to scholarships@angus.org by May 1, 2025.
“Secretary Burgum has a proven record of supporting rural communities and promoting a balanced approach to energy development and conservation. His leadership will be critical for ensuring that ranchers and public lands grazing permittees are recognized as a valuable partner in stewarding Western landscapes and for removing regulatory burdens that have plagued management of grazing allotments for decades,” said Kaitlynn Glover, executive director of PLC and NCBA Natural Resources. “We look forward to working with Secretary Burgum to protect the livelihoods of ranchers who rely on public lands, safeguard the health of these ecosystems, and promote policies that benefit rural communities and the entire nation.”
For more insight on how agriculture might fare under a new administration, listen to our Angus At Work interview with Ethan Lane.
Fifth annual ‘MI Ag Ideas to Grow With’ virtual conference focuses on food and animal production
Michigan State University (MSU) Extension invites you to the 2025 MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference, happening virtually from Feb. 24 through March 7, 2025. The program, now in its fifth year, offers a wealth of educational opportunities for everyone involved or simply just interested in agriculture. By offering this program virtually, attendees from across the Great Lakes region can hear from experts in a wide range of topics.
The MI Ag Ideas to Grow With virtual conference features approximately 40 educational sessions across two weeks with topics focused on:
- Animal agriculture — beekeeping, livestock production, environmental management and farmers markets.
- Beginning farmer — protecting the operation, soil texture, business loans, EQIP funding, selling meat and climate change.
- Field crop production — slugs and bugs, crop growing mysteries (i.e., stunted soybeans), growing canola, no-till challenges and opportunities, and precision conservation strategies.
- Food preservation — cottage food law, canning, selling honey and maple syrup, dehydrating herbs and produce.
- General interest — food marketing labels, grant writing.
- Irrigation – field crop, horticulture and drip irrigation, and Michigan water policy.
- Solar — grazing cattle and sheep, and growing vegetables in solar projects.
- Vegetables — building up food sovereignty programs through garden education, marketing tips when wading into direct-to-consumer sales and deep dives into growing selected “root, shoot and froot” veggies.
“Michigan is blessed with an incredibly diverse agricultural industry,” said Charles Gould, MSU Extension educator based in Ottawa County. “No matter the level of experience, there’s a session for everyone, from practical tools for new farmers to specialized knowledge for seasoned professionals.”
Through support of MSU Extension, this event is offered to participants at no cost. However, attendees must register to receive the necessary Zoom links. With free registration, you will gain access to attend as many sessions as you want and even switch between tracks, making it easy to tailor the conference to individuals’ needs and interests. Restricted-use pesticide and certified crop adviser credits will be offered for several of the sessions. For more information and to register, visit the MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference website.
Four-state beef conference planned in Kansas, Arkansas
Extension staff from four Midwestern universities will present information on beef cattle production, marketing, economics, nutrition and forage utilization at a conference hosted at two locations in February.
Jaymelynn Farney, a beef systems specialist with Kansas State Research and Extension, says the KOMA Beef Cattle Conference highlights work from Kansas State, Oklahoma State, University of Missouri and University of Arkansas.
The conference will be hosted in two locations:
- Feb. 18, Parsons, Kansas. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Southeast Research Extension and Education Center, 25092 Ness Road. More information: 620-820-6125 or jkj@ksu.edu.
- Feb. 19, Fort Smith, Arkansas. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the U.S. Marshalls Museum, 789 Riverfront Drive. More information: Maggie Justice, 501-355-6128 or mjustice@uada.edu.
The agenda is identical at both locations, so interested producers should plan to attend one or the other. Registration is $20 and is available through Feb. 12 at www.komacattleconference.com. Registration includes lunch and copies of presentations and research reports.
“This year’s conference will update the public on recent research from the four universities in cattle feeding, supplementation, reproduction and grazing management,” Farney says. “The data is relevant to the four-states area and focuses on cow-calf, stocker, feedlot and pasture production systems on a variety of forage bases.”
Darrell Peel, an ag economist at Oklahoma State University, will give a presentation on retaining heifers in today’s economic climate. University graduate students and professors will give other presentations.
Presenting for the University of Missouri will be Eric Bailey, MU Extension state beef nutrition specialist; Carson Roberts, MU Extension state forage specialist; Thiago Martins, MU Extension state beef reproduction specialist; and Lucas Branco, a graduate student working under MU research assistant professor Cecilia Constantino Rocha.
“This is a great opportunity to hear about exciting work being done at land-grant universities in our region,” says Bailey. “We held this event last year in Mount Vernon to great success and we look forward to seeing Missouri beef producers make the trip over to Parsons, Kansas, or down to Fort Smith, Arkansas.”
Farney says several ag-related businesses will be on hand to discuss how their products can help producers improve their beef cattle operation.
More information on the KOMA Beef Cattle Conference is available from the K-State Southeast Research Extension and Education Center at 620-820-6127.
Doug Laue Beef Cattle Research Center approved
At the Jan. 15, 2025, Kansas Board of Regents meeting, K-State received approval to amend the fiscal year 2025 capital improvement project plan and approve the program statement for construction of the Beef Cattle Research Center.
The proposed facility will replace the existing feedlot at 3115 College Ave., which is no longer in use. The new center will be named for Doug Laue.
New resources for Texas ranchers
The National Grazing Lands Coalition (NatGLC) announces the Legacy Landscapes Program, a program designed to give farmers and ranchers the credit they’re due for their stewardship of our grazing lands. This initiative aims to support livestock producers in recordkeeping and implementing grazing land improvements that benefit both their operation and the environment.
The program is being funded by Nestle Purina PetCare, which utilizes beef byproducts in its pet food, and has a carbon reduction goal to reduce emissions within its supply chain.
Through participation, producers will receive access to an operation-level management software program through AgriWebb, assistance from NatGLC in utilizing the software along with technical assistance and consultation for their operation, and guidance on financial opportunities to make their goals reality.
Grant available for solar grazing with cattle
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) recently launched the American-Made Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize —a competition designed to bring cattle agrivoltaics (also known as solar grazing) projects to life. SETO is looking for solar developers, landowners, farmers, ranchers, product designers, extension agents, researchers, and cattle agrivoltaics enthusiasts to form teams and submit Phase 1 applications by March 6, 2025.
With around one-third of U.S. land used for grazing livestock, co-locating solar photovoltaics and grazing operations could help ease barriers to solar energy deployment; preserve ag land; and generate additional income for landowners, farmers and ranchers — all while helping decarbonize the energy grid, according to an announcement by DOE. The LASSO Prize will provide more than $8 million in cash prizes to develop innovative co-location practices; build pilot sites; and share information on best practices, costs, energy and ag outcomes. To request details or ask a question, email prize@nrel.gov.
Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 17, No. 2-A
Topics: Events , News , Policy , Marketing , Management , Association News
Publication: Angus Beef Bulletin