Rural scenes in Burleson and Washington counties on April 7, 2021. (Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
Ranchers face many risks associated with cattle marketing as we have seen last year with the pandemic. Any good marketing plan requires the knowledge of the available tools in the market that we can used. Each of these tools have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to know them as well as their impact in our operation before making any decision. Today, in his first article as a new author for the Amarillo AgEcon Blog, Pancho Abello, AgriLife Extension Economist for District 3, reviews the Livestock Risk Protection Program.
We are approaching the end of graze-out season for stocker calves on winter wheat. What are your options? What kind of price can you expect for feeder calves at the sale barn? Is there any profit in retaining ownership in 2021? 
What is the value of supplemental feeding? Should I feed hay? How much? What is the financial gain or loss? With the drought worsening across Texas and the western U.S. it is vital to find the most cost effective supplemental feeding strategy available. 
In July 2020, the National Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for a voluntary framework to “increase frequent and transparent negotiated trade to regionally sufficient level” to achieve robust price discovery. A set of “triggers” evaluated on a quarterly basis form the framework. Today is the second in a two-part post on the results of Q1. How did each region perform during Q1? What are the takeaways from these outcomes?
On January 19, 2021 the USDA published the final rule, “Establishment of a Domestic Hemp Production Program”. The rule includes a valuable estimate of costs for those considering hemp production. For a review of the legal aspects of the final rule, check out this 
Easter is a popular holiday for lamb consumption around the United States. In addition to Easter, holidays like Passover and Ramadan are in progress or approaching fast. These holidays make mid spring through late spring an important time for sheep and goat markets. Don’t forget to check out AgriLife’s 
Today, a review of my top posts from the first quarter of 2021 and a quarterly macroeconomic and agriculture economy update. 
This week, I’m excited to announce a project I’ve been a part of developing for the last two years. As part of a Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center grant, AgriLife faculty have developed a series of resources on the economic and legal considerations for Texans when growing hemp. You can find our video series