“The goal is to equip producers with practical tools to identify, develop and manage females that will remain productive in the herd long term,” she says. “Rebuilding the cow herd is more than keeping back a few extra heifers. It’s about making intentional decisions that shape your operation for years to come.”

Courter says this multifaceted, hands-on program will provide tools to evaluate genetics, nutrition, fertility and performance data when selecting and developing replacement females. Participants will leave with a clear, step-by-step framework for choosing heifers that fit their environment, improve longevity and strengthen long-term profitability.

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate replacement heifers using performance records, genomic information and visual appraisal to make more informed retention decisions.
• Develop a nutrition plan that supports proper growth, puberty attainment and first-breeding success in replacement females.
• Design a reproductive management strategy that improves first-service conception rates and long-term fertility.
• Calculate the long-term economic effect of heifer retention vs. sale at weaning.
• Implement a structured replacement selection framework tailored to their operation’s environment, forage resources and marketing goals.

Topics include:

• Defining breeding objectives for replacement females.
• Using expected progeny differences (EPDs), genomic tools and performance data in heifer selection.
• Development strategies to ensure heifers reach puberty and breed early.
• Reproductive benchmarks and management for first-calf heifers.
• Economic considerations and marketing alternatives for replacement females.

The program is 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, and 7:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, May 6. Register by April 28.

North Dakota Angus University Feed-out to begin in May

Cattle producers will have an opportunity to see how Angus‐sired cattle from their operation perform in a feedlot during the North Dakota Angus University calf feed‐out program in the upcoming summer and fall of 2026.

North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension Center is partnering with the North Dakota Angus Association to sponsor the North Dakota Angus University Feed-out. This is the 15th year of the program.

“Feed-out projects like North Dakota Angus University are a great way for producers to learn more about their calves’ performance compared to other herds,” says Karl Hoppe, NDSU Extension livestock systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center.

Ranchers can consign steers to the program by contacting the Carrington Research Extension Center. Consigned steers must be at least 50% Angus genetics and weigh between 900 and 1,100 pounds (lb.) at delivery. Consigned cattle will be delivered to the Carrington feedlot May 26-29, 2026.

Ranchers who consign cattle pay the feeding costs for their pen of cattle plus veterinary costs and a modest yardage charge. The Carrington Research Extension Center will carry the feed, veterinary and yardage costs until the cattle are marketed. After the cattle are marketed, costs and all applicable fees are deducted from the sale price without interest. Consigners of the program must also be NDAA members.

Participants will receive periodic progress reports on their calves’ performance, as well as a final report on overall performance, efficiency and carcass traits of their calves.

In the 2025 feed-out, calf performance was measured during a 133-day feeding study. Steers had an average daily gain of 4.14 pounds (lb.). Shrunk live weight at harvest averaged 1,484 lb., and carcass weight averaged 932 lb. The cattle graded 97% USDA Choice or better, with 51% meeting Certified Angus Beef^® (CAB^®) brand specifications and 19% Prime quality grade.

The NDAA offers $1,500 in prizes to the top three carcasses at the end of the feed-out.

More information is available at ndsu.ag/NDAU-enroll-26.

For further information or to consign a group of cattle, contact Hoppe at 701‐652‐2951 or karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu; or Sydney Glasoe Caraballo, NDAA feed-out program chair, at 678-989-7189.

U.S. farmers expect to plant fewer corn and more soybean acres

Producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2026, down 3% from last year, according to the Prospective Plantings report released March 31 by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Planted acreage intentions for corn are down in 37 of the 48 estimating states. Acreage decreases of 300,000 acres or more from last year are expected in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. If realized, the area of corn planted in Nevada and Washington will be the largest on record, while Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island will be the smallest on record.

Soybean growers intend to plant 84.7 million acres in 2026, up 4% from last year. Acreage increases from last year of 300,000 or more are expected in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Record-high acreage is expected in Wisconsin.

The Prospective Plantings report provides the first official, survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ 2026 planting intentions. NASS acreage estimates are based on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March from a sample of nearly 74,000 farm operators across the nation. Other key findings in the report are:

• All wheat planted area for 2026 is estimated at 43.8 million acres, down 3% from 2025.
• Winter wheat planted area, at 32.4 million acres, is down 2% from both the previous estimate and from last year.
• Area planted to other spring wheat for 2026 is expected to total 9.42 million acres, down 6% from 2025.
• Durum wheat planted is expected to total 1.95 million acres for 2026, down 11% from last year.
• All cotton planted area for 2026 is expected to total 9.64 million acres, up 4% compared to last year.

NASS also released the quarterly Grain Stocks report to provide estimates of on-farm and off-farm stocks as of March 1. Key findings in that report include:

• Corn stocks totaled 9.02 billion bushels (bu.), up 11% from the same time last year. On-farm corn stocks were up 21% from a year ago, while off-farm stocks were down 2%.
• Soybeans stored totaled 2.10 billion bu., up 10% from March 1, 2025. On-farm soybean stocks were up 3% from a year ago, while off-farm stocks were up 16%.
• All wheat stored totaled 1.30 billion bu., up 5% from a year ago. On-farm all wheat stocks were down 3% from last year, while off-farm stocks were up 8%.
• Durum wheat stored totaled 46.5 million bu., up 21% from March 1, 2025. On-farm durum stocks were up 40% from a year ago, while off-farm stocks of durum wheat were down 4%.

The Prospective Plantings, Grain Stocks, and all other NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov.

Angus Foundation selects 2026 YCC representative

The Angus Foundation selected Drake Yon of Ridge Spring, S.C., as its representative for the 2026 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC). Yon, a lifelong Angus breeder, will join a class of emerging industry leaders who will travel nationwide in June to engage with all facets of beef production, policy and consumer relations.

Yon has been actively involved in the Angus breed since childhood. His years in the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA), service within the South Carolina Angus Association and participation in the Beef Leaders Institute have shaped him into an emerging leader.

Today, he is an integral part of his family’s multigenerational operation, overseeing their breeding program and data collection.

“Drake not only has an outstanding work ethic, but a very inquisitive mind to learn the utilization of new technology for more efficiently producing food that meets our consumers’ expectations,” says Sam Hands of Triangle H of Garden City, Kan., and mentor to Drake. “As a young leader in our agriculture industry, Drake also possesses excellent communication and people skills.”

Yon’s selection reflects not only his involvement within Angus, but his extensive industry leadership. From speaking on industry panels to serving on the South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association Board, including his role as legislative chair, he has actively engaged in policy discussions affecting animal health and industry innovation.

His work with the South Carolina Farm Bureau has advanced resolutions supporting rural health access and agricultural land protections. His efforts extend beyond policy, often hosting groups on the farm from dietitians and chefs to state lawmakers to provide transparent, on-the-ground education about beef production. A passionate advocate for the story behind the CAB brand, Yon frequently leads farm tours and industry visits.

“I look forward to the relationships formed through the YCC experience,” Yon said in his application. “Connecting with fellow cattlemen from across the country, hearing new perspectives, and learning more effective ways to advocate for our industry is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Every interaction with policymakers is a chance to tell our family’s story and work toward positive change. I’m honored for the opportunity to represent the Angus breed.”

The YCC program provides participants with a robust understanding of the cattle industry from feedyards and packing plants to retail and policy development. The Angus Foundation is proud to sponsor an Angus breeder each year.

For more information about the Angus Foundation or the Young Cattlemen’s Conference, visit www.angus.org.

Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 18, No. 4-A