Stretching forage and marketing options are keys to feeding through a dearth of stocker pasture.

The weather prediction for 2006 isn't much different than last year's pattern.

Even as national herd expansion continues, producers in Texas and some other parts of the nation are being forced to liquidate as dry conditions worsen.

“So far, this year’s drought has been different than 2011’s. Weekly cow slaughter has been down year to date 6% this year, largely due to a 13% reduction in beef cow slaughter,” say analysts with the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC)...