February 03, 2026
Cattle Inventory Hits a 75-Year Low
The cattle inventory was 86.2 million head on January 1, 2026, which continued a long-standing downward trend. Despite a year of strong prices, the USDA Cattle Inventory Report showed the overall U.S. cattle herd shrank by another 0.35 percent, and it’s now at the smallest level in 75 years. The beef cow herd total was 27.6 million head, down by one percent. The 2025 calf crop was 32.9 million head, the smallest total since 1941. Beef replacement heifers rose one percent to 4.71 million head. All cattle on feed totaled 13.8 million head, a three percent reduction from 2025. The number of milk cows in the U.S. increased to 9.57 million. Dr. Derrell Peel, a livestock market analyst for Oklahoma State University, said the market is likely still trying to find a bottom. “We’re probably stabilizing, but it’s a very slow process,” Peel said. “We’re likely not going to rebuild very fast.”
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EPA is Expected to Reapprove Dicamba
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to reapprove Dicamba for over-the-top use on tolerant soybeans and cotton for the 2026 season. The Washington Post said the decision is aimed at addressing weed control challenges and will likely include stricter regulations like buffering agents and a possible ban on applying Dicamba when the temperatures are high. The Post saw a draft statement from the EPA, in which the agency called the pending decision the most “protective” Dicamba registration in agency history. Producers were prohibited from using the herbicide last year because of a 2024 court decision vacating previous registrations. It would be the third time that the EPA approved the pesticide. On both previous occasions, federal courts blocked the approvals, citing the underestimation of the risks of chemical drift that could harm other farms.
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AMPI Transitioning to Cottage Cheese in Wisconsin Plant
Associated Milk Producers Inc. announced it will transition production at its Blair, Wisconsin, cheese plant from cheddar cheese to cottage cheese. The transition will include a period of downtime, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of this year, with regular operations to resume after that. AMPI is working with impacted employees to provide access to resources, training, and opportunities to apply for jobs at other AMPI facilities. Milk from AMPI member farms will be routed to surrounding plants during the downtime. Customer orders will continue to be filled by other AMPI plants. The cottage cheese produced at AMPI’s Blair facility will be manufactured at one of the largest cottage cheese facilities in the U.S.
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Coalition Sends Letter to Energy Council Co-Chairs
A broad coalition of trade groups representing ethanol producers, petroleum refiners, farmers, and retailers sent a letter to the co-chairs of the new E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council calling for swift action on year-round E15 access. “The window for arriving at a recommended legislative solution is short, with the council expected to submit legislative solutions to the full House by February 15,” the letter said. “We applaud this expedited time frame as fuel producers and retailers are making decisions now about product offerings over the next year, farmers are making planting decisions, and a legislative fix is needed as soon as possible to provide fuel producers and retailers with a predictable policy framework as we approach the summer driving season.” To “achieve a solution in short order,” the groups urged the lawmakers to build upon HR 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which was amended and offered by Representative Adrian Smith of Nebraska.
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Americans to Eat 1.48 Billion Chicken Wings for Super Bowl LX
New England plays Seattle in the upcoming Super Bowl this Sunday. New England is known for its clam chowder, while Seattle is famous for salmon tossing in fish markets. However, when it comes to the Super Bowl, nothing is hotter than chicken wings. The National Chicken Council released its annual Chicken Wing Report, which projects Americans will eat 1.48 billion chicken wings while watching the Patriots and Seahawks battle for the Lombardi Trophy. This figure represents an increase of about ten million more wings than last year’s game. “Football is for food, especially when it comes to the Super Bowl, where wings rule the roost,” said NCC Spokesman Tom Super. “For football fans looking to add protein to their spreads at an affordable price, wings are kings of the Super Bowl menu.” Laid end to end, the 1.48 billion chicken wings would stretch about 27 times from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, to Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
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USDA Trade Mission Underway in Indonesia
The USDA’s Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Luke Lindberg, arrived in Indonesia over the weekend to begin an agribusiness trade mission. The goal is to expand access to the country’s markets for U.S. goods and boost agricultural exports. The delegation includes 41 agribusinesses, trade organizations, and representatives from four state departments of agriculture. “While Indonesia was our 11th-largest market in 2024, the opportunities here in the world’s fourth most populous nation can’t be overstated,” Lindberg said. Indonesia is an upper-middle-income country with a real GDP of $4.1 trillion, an annual growth rate of five percent, and a large, rapidly-expanding middle class. The mission is also happening at a critical time, thanks to the landmark U.S.-Indonesia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, which eliminates tariffs on nearly all U.S. agricultural exports and reduces long-standing non-tariff barriers.
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