In Montana’s mountain country, ranching still runs on early mornings, good horses, and a feel for weather that doesn’t show up on any app. But more outfits are also leaning on tools that would’ve sounded like science fiction a generation ago—digital mapping, remote cameras, and data that helps a family outfit make clearer calls in […]
Ranch country runs on dependable outlets—places to sell a set of calves, sort cull cows, or buy replacement heifers without driving half a state away. That’s why news that the Montana Livestock Auction is expected to continue operating is landing as a relief for many producers and buyers who rely on a steady weekly market. […]
Across the Northern Plains, the conversation at sale barns and brandings has sounded familiar: fewer cattle around, buyers still hungry, and prices that keep surprising people on the upside. Reports indicate the U.S. cattle herd is sitting near a multi-decade low, a situation driven by years of drought, high input costs, and producers selling down […]
Montana cattle producers don’t need a reminder that policy decisions made far from the Hi-Line or the Powder River can still land hard on the ranch gate. Reports indicate the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has outlined its 2026 policy priorities following action by the group’s leadership at CattleCon 2026—aiming its focus at issues that […]