james mitchell

Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.
Arkansas, Beef, beef, Colorado, Cow Calf, Dave Bergmeier, Editors, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Stocker, Texas, USDA, Wyoming

Beef packers adjusting to low cattle inventory

Tyson Foods adjusts beef processing capacity as James Mitchell and Glynn Tonsor assess tight cattle supplies and demand. Read More

Image of the empty lots at Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The location is one of five border ports for livestock to come in to the US from Mexico. Its closure due to the threat of New World Screwworm has affected jobs there. Photo taken May 2026. (UADA photo by James Mitchell)
Beef, Livestock

Reopening southern ports to cattle likely won’t bolster U.S. herd numbers

GRAZING — Part of a herd grazing at the Livestock and Forestry Station in Batesville, Arkansas. Taken April 16 2019. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo y Mary Hightower)
Agronomics, Arkansas, Livestock, Midwestern Region, Tools and Tech

New online tool helps ranchers forecast operation economics

Storm damage in Yell County after significant snowfall, Jan. 24-25, 2026. Image courtesy Bobby Powell.

Arkansas cattle industry suffers more than $24 million loss from winter storm damage

Courtesy photo.

2026 looks promising for livestock producers

Dave Begmeier

Numbers don’t lie: Cowherd expansion has yet to materialize

Easing of drought conditions will help boost livestock production. (Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.)

Rebuilding the herd will take time

Cows kept in a confined area year-round have higher labor and feed costs associated with this production system. (Photo courtesy of Kansas State University Research and Extension.)

Cattle on Feed notes myriad of challenges

Cattle on feed reported a 1% drop, according to USDA

Livestock producers have seen favorable prices, but Extension analysts say they need to stay on top of expenses. (Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.)

Stay focused on production costs

As the year nears the end several packing plants announced plans to close as animal protein supplies remain tight and margins are thin, according to agricultural economists. This photo was taken near Dodge City. (Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.)

Processing plant closures reflect tight margins