Livestock

May is National Beef Month!

May is National Beef Month!

The United States remains the world’s largest producer in 2023 and is now the second-largest consumer of beef in the world. The beef industry involves thousands of American farmers, ranchers, and processors who help keep our economy strong & food on our tables.

RFD-TV News covers the U.S. cattle industry every single day, but we take an even closer look at the industry throughout the month of May. Watch our National Beef Month coverage, weekdays on Market Day Report & Rural Evening News.

The American beef industry raised approximately 28.4 billion pounds of beef in 2022, accounting for just under 22% of the world’s total beef production. According to the USDA, tightening cattle supplies are expected to cause a significant year-over-year decrease (around 6%) in domestic beef production — the first decline since 2015.

With production down slightly, consumer prices are expected to rise, which may provide some relief to the industry, which has also suffered windfalls in the last three years due to ongoing drought conditions and inflating costs of production.

Beef is an important source of nutrients that are vital for supporting good health, such as protein, Vitamin B12, zinc, iron, phosphorus, and selenium. And it’s not just about hamburgers and steak: foods containing gelatin (including ice cream and marshmallows), chewing gum, medicines, and soaps are among the many derivative products that rely upon the beef industry.

For more information about National Beef Month, visit:

Protect the Harvest

Ag America

As spring sets in, Dr. D.L. Step, a professional services veterinarian at Boehringer-Ingelheim, urges producers to adopt a tailored preventive health program for calf vaccinations.
U.S. SHIP is modeled after the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
While the Bootheel 7 brand that marks the hips of their herd far predates the competitive drive of the Wasserburgers’ fourth generation, it could stand for the seven state wrestling titles held between three of those boys.
Chaley Harney, Executive Director of the Montana Beef Council, and Jonna Jones, Director of Marketing for Wentana, LLC, say it’s a great time for both cattle producers and beef consumers to celebrate one of America’s favorite proteins.
Dan Larson jumped right into studying genetics and the Angus Journal when he returned to take the reins at Larson Angus Ranch. Sixteen years later, this 5th-generation rancher raises 800 cows with the help of his wife and son.
Scientists with the USDA Agricultural Research Service produced the first gene-edited calf with resistance to the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), which costs the U.S. cattle sector billions of dollars every year.
Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
Host Ben Bailey hops in the tractor cab, giving farmers 10 minutes to answer as many questions and grab as much cash as they can for their local FFA chapter.