Top 10 Things for Ohio Cattlemen to Consider in 2026

– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension

#1 consideration: Invest in facilities!

I was recently asked to contribute to an article titled Top 10 Best Practices for Farm Managers in 2026. Considering that effort here is a similar list for Ohio cattle producers. In true David Letterman fashion, lets count down from 10 to 1:

10) Crunch the numbers on freezer beef production. With increased cattle and beef prices cost per pound of beef will dictate buying decisions for some consumers. A whole, half, or quarter of beef is a significant amount of money for many households. Make sure that you are accounting for the time and effort required to market direct to the consumer.

9) Expand the herd? The question on the minds of many. Before doing so, do Continue reading Top 10 Things for Ohio Cattlemen to Consider in 2026 →

Nutritional Considerations Going Into Calving

– Lawton Stewart and Uttam Saha, University of Georgia Extension

EDITOR’s NOTE: As indicated below Georgia is experiencing forage quality concerns similar to Ohio.

This year has proved to be quite an interesting one. Many parts of the state have seen periods with above-average amounts of rain, but also periods of well below-average amounts. Most producers were able to put up plenty of hay. However, based on the samples submitted to the UGA Feed and Environmental Water Laboratory, there is quite a range in forage quality. For producers with late winter/spring calving season, this could cause potential issues. Combining this with a few other observations, here are a few situations we are seeing, and the potential ramifications.

1. I will restrict feed in the last trimester to decrease calf birth weights.
2. I need more protein to go with my hay
3. There is a tendency to underestimate crude protein and overestimate energy.

Figure 1. The nutrient requirement of a mature brood cow through a 365-day calving interval.

I will restrict feed in the last trimester to decrease calf birth weights. Is this correct? Absolutely! The problem is that . . .

Continue reading Nutritional Considerations Going Into Calving

Winter hay supplies getting low? Consider limit-feeding grain to your beef cows

– Jerad Jaborek, Michigan State University Extension

Limit-feeding corn grain can be economically advantageous when the price of hay becomes too high due to short supply.

Figure 1. U.S. Hay production and the price received for hay sold.

During the winter when pastures are no longer a viable feed option, hay becomes the most common feedstuff fed to beef cows. Additionally, during drought conditions, pasture no longer exists as a viable feed option and cattle producers resort to feeding hay. Unfortunately, drought conditions can also make it very difficult to grow and harvest enough hay needed to feed the cow herd when pasture is unavailable.

U.S. hay production has declined the past couple years due to widespread drought across much of the country (Figure 1.). Decreased hay production has created a greater demand for hay and as a result the price of hay has increased. What other feed options do you have besides hay?

A viable option to replace ad libitum (i.e., free-choice) hay may be to . . .

Continue reading Winter hay supplies getting low? Consider limit-feeding grain to your beef cows

Dairy Beef 101, a look at health, nutrition and economics

Get registered today!

With beef feeder calves in limited supply throughout the Midwest, feeding dairy beef calves has gained interest and shown tremendous growth in recent years. On Thursday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. Ohio State University Extension will host a webinar via ZOOM and take a look into the economics of dairy beef feeders in 2026, strategies for keeping calves healthy, and providing proper nutrition for the dairy beef feeder from birth until finish. Regardless if you are raising dairy beef feeders commercially or as youth projects, you will find this presentation by Extension Specialist, Jason Hartschuh to be valuable.

Get registered for free by going to go.osu.edu/beefschool26

Cattle Market Fundamentals Back in the Driver’s Seat to Start 2026

– Dr. Kenny Burdine, Extension Professor, Livestock Marketing, University of Kentucky

Happy New Year from the Cattle Market Notes Weekly team!

The end of 2025 brought significant improvement in cattle markets. After falling sharply from mid-October to late November, the last six weeks have been marked by higher prices for both fed cattle and feeder cattle. As I write this on January 5th, the 5-market weighted average fed steer price has moved back above $230 per cwt. Feeder cattle auction market volumes were very light over the holidays, but January CME© feeder cattle futures have gained back over two-thirds of the losses seen from October 16th to November 24th (see chart below). After processing numerous bearish headlines related to imports and plant closures this fall, the fundamentals seem to be back in the driver’s seat with tight supplies and strong demand supporting cattle prices.


While the recent market improvement is the headliner this week, I also wanted to briefly discuss a couple things that occurred since our last issue in mid-December. First, USDA released the Quarterly Continue reading Cattle Market Fundamentals Back in the Driver’s Seat to Start 2026 →

Cow-Calf Costs and Returns Update

– Will Secor, Ph.D., Assistant Professor & Extension Livestock Economist, Masters of Agribusiness (MAB) Coordinator, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics, University of Georgia

Have you considered potential returns to a cow/calf enterprise recently?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you had some time for some true recreation to close 2025 and begin 2026.

Between late-November and mid-December, the USDA was releasing a flurry of data after the government shutdown this fall. Many important reports received most of the headlines (e.g., Cattle on Feed). However, the USDA also updated its Commodity Cost of Production and Return information.

The USDA estimates that cow-calf operations brought in $1,130 per cow in revenue and incurred $691 in operating expenses in 2024. This revenue figure includes sales of calves, stockers, and cull cattle. Operating costs include expenses for feed, purchased cattle for backgrounding, veterinary services, fuel, equipment repairs, and interest on borrowed funds. The difference between these provides a net return (above operating costs) of around Continue reading Cow-Calf Costs and Returns Update →

Uncertainty as We Head Towards a New Year

– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle and Livestock Marketing Field Specialist, OSU Extension (originally published in The Ohio Cattleman)

While demand remains strong, uncertainty causes volatility.

2025 has been a year for record books in the cattle business. We have seen historically high cattle prices at the farm gate and beef prices on the grocery store shelves. We have also seen extreme volatility in the cattle markets caused by uncertainty. The volatility has been reflected by a steep crash in the futures markets and cash cattle suffering immediate losses.

Uncertainty in the marketplace has been fueled by numerous factors, including political statements, bearish commodity traders, and most recently the announcement that Tyson plans to end operations of one major fed cattle packing plant and slow down operations at another.

Renowned business author, Stephen Covey wrote that, “If there’s one thing that’s certain in business, it’s uncertainty”.

In response to the current uncertainty, I would remind you of Continue reading Uncertainty as We Head Towards a New Year →

Winter is time for planning

– Jordan Penrose, Ohio State University Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Morgan County

Winter is a great time for planning!

Winter is an excellent time of the year for planning things on the farm for the upcoming year. Winter offers that rare chance for you to slow down, reflect, and plan. As the new year approaches people start thinking and talking about their resolutions, or what they would like to do better or differently. Have you ever thought about applying the same principle to your farm? Setting goals now can help you make the upcoming year go smoother and maybe even less stressful. We can take things that we have learned from the past to help us improve in the future. Maybe it’s improving your pasture management, adjusting your calving window, or keeping better records. Just remember each year will bring new challenges and I feel like this past year was no different as we started with tight hay supplies, then a Continue reading Winter is time for planning →

Don’t try to predict the next grazing season

– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

Winter is the time for planning, not predicting the next grazing season.

January is a natural time to reflect back, think forward and set the stage for a more resilient grazing season. After nearly two decades of writing Grazing Bites, one thing remains consistent: no two years are the same. Rainfall, temperatures, and growing conditions can swing dramatically from one part of Indiana to another—not to mention across the rest of the Midwest. Because of that variability, the most dependable management strategies are the ones that function well regardless of weather. January is the month to revisit those principles, tighten the plan, and begin the year on solid footing.

A grazing plan is only as strong as the goals behind it. Winter offers the Continue reading Don’t try to predict the next grazing season →

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Native Warm Season Grasses – Drought Tolerant Forage Opportunities for Summer Grazing

– Jason Jones, Ohio Grasslands & Grazing Coordinator, Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever

Big bluestem and indiangrass in western Ohio in July.

January 15th, 2026 is the application deadline to apply for the first batching period for USDA conservation programs like Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) in Ohio. Establishing drought tolerant forages like native warm season grasses (NWSG) is an eligible conservation practice in both conservation programs and can provide producers with technical and financial assistance with establishment.

Native grass forage species include switchgrass, indiangrass, big bluestem, eastern gamagrass, and little bluestem. They are well adapted to Ohio’s summer climate and produce massive amounts of forage throughout June, July and August. During this time, cool season grasses are Continue reading Native Warm Season Grasses – Drought Tolerant Forage Opportunities for Summer Grazing →