livestockCENTRAL | Livestock Production Resources

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending October 16, 2026.
WILLAg.org is a partnership of Illinois Public Media and University of Illinois Extension. Its mission is to distribute regionally, nationally, and internationally information and analysis of agricultural markets, research, and weather.
Agricultural Markets Synthesis
Dominant market trends across the week centered on technical price erosion, speculative fund liquidation, harvest pressure, and mounting macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds. Grains and oilseeds faced broad downward momentum as December corn drifted from early-week levels around to close the week down at $4.74 1/4.…

Cow/calf producers can significantly reduce costs by extending the grazing season, delaying feeding of purchased feeds. Common sense and research both tell us cattle are most profitable when they are harvesting their own feed. Allowing cattle to graze into late fall and early winter is crucial to reducing costs. Even with lowering commodity prices, grazing is still the cheapest way to feed cows.  Stockpiled forages, cover crop forages, and grazing crop residue are all options for extending the grazing season.…