To earn the top recognition level, Gold, herds must submit at least 12 traits, meeting the minimum number of required phenotypes for each trait and also earn Inventory Reporting MaternalPlus^® status. Twenty herds were recognized as Gold level herds for 2025:

• Branch View Angus, Hustonville, Ky.
• Dalebanks Angus Inc., Eureka, Kan.
• Fuller Angus Ranch, Barnsdall, Okla.
• Grassy Valley Farm, Greeneville, Tenn.
• Hoover Angus Farm, Ellston, Iowa
• LakeView Farms, Powhatan, Ark.
• Maples Stock Farm, Elkmont, Ala.
• Meinders Stock Farms, Buffalo Center, Iowa
• Mill Brae Ranch LLC, Maple Hill, Kan.
• Montana Ranch LLC, Bigfork, Mont.
• Oak Hollow, Smiths Grove, Ky.
• Danny Poss, Scotia, Neb.
• Providence Angus Farm, Pamplin, Va.
• Rocking M Farm, Mount Ayr, Iowa
• Rockn D Ranch Inc., Junction City, Ore.
• The Biltmore Co., Asheville, N.C.
• W 3 Bar Ranch, Stillwater, Okla.
• Weaver Family Angus, Verndale, Minn.
• Werner Family Angus, Diagonal, Iowa
• Yon Family Farms, Ridge Spring, S.C.

Twenty-seven herds were recognized at the Silver level (requiring 10 traits reported), and 82 herds earned Bronze recognition requiring eight traits being reported. For more information about the program and a list of those earning Silver and Bronze status, click here.

FSA Offices Reopen During Shutdown

U.S. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement in late October that Farm Service Agency (FSA) core operations would resume despite the government shutdown. According to USDA, this means two employees will be in every county office, five days a week, to perform normal functions for programs funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).

A few of the CCC-funded programs that were reinstated include agriculture risk coverage and price loss coverage, marketing assistance loans, Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Livestock Indemnity Program, Emergency Livestock Assistance Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Non-insured Disaster Assistance Program and dairy margin coverage.

FSA is also accepting applications related to programs funded by alternative sources, but payments will not be submitted at this time. These programs include direct and guaranteed farm loans, Emergency Livestock Revenue Program for wildfire and flooding, Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (Phase 1) and Emergency Conservation Program.

Producers should contact their local FSA office for more information.

Driftless Region Beef Conference set for Jan. 22-23 in Dubuque

The university extension services in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin are teaming together to offer the Driftless Region Beef Conference to educate beef producers. The 14th annual event will be Jan. 22-23, 2026, at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, Iowa. Past participants in this conference have said the program would increase their economic return by more than $10 per animal managed, testifying to the value of attending the conference.

Cattle prices have been at record highs year after year, but producers still need to focus on the basics to remain profitable. Four keynote speakers will be featured the first afternoon. From the health perspective Mark Hilton of Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants will discuss the role and value of basic biosecurity, and Teresa Steckler of the University of Illinois will share information on the movement of ticks into the upper Midwest and their effects on cattle herds. Matt Spangler of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln will discuss genetic selection tips and the role it plays in cow longevity. Kellie Curry-Raper from Oklahoma State University will share some of her research looking at what practices add value to feeder calves and how to implement them in the cow herd.

The Thursday afternoon and evening schedule includes vendor networking, dinner and the traditional bull pen panel discussion.

Friday morning features four breakout sessions, each for cow herd and feedlot topics. Cow room topics include interseeding sudangrass to boost overgrazed pastures, proven profit tips for cow-calf producers, using genetics to your advantage, and a hands-on reproduction session.

The feedlot room topics include risk management, tips for silage management, feeding to heavier weights and mycotoxins.

The conference will wrap up with a market outlook from Brenda Boetel of the University of Wisconsin.

The early registration fee of $120 per person must be received prior to midnight, Jan. 7. After that date, it increases to $145. More information on topics, speakers and lodging is available at online here.

Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 17, No. 11-A