Stone County Soil and Water Conservation District

06/02/2026

U.S. CATTLE REPORT 📈 Heifer Retention Is Starting, but Not Yet Enough for Meaningful Expansion (Peel) 📈

According to Derrell Peel, the U.S. cattle industry continues to move toward herd rebuilding, but expansion has not fully begun. The cattle industry has historically been characterized by cycles of inventory and prices, with twelve cyclical inventory peaks over the past 129 years, from 1890 to the most recent peak in 2019. These cycles have persisted regardless of whether total cattle inventories were trending higher or lower.

Today, reduced cow culling is providing the strongest indication that liquidation is ending. Beef cow culling has fallen from a peak of 13.2% in 2022 to an estimated 7.1% in 2026, which would be a record-low culling rate. While strong calf prices since 2023 have encouraged producers to retain more heifers, Peel notes that meaningful expansion has yet to occur. As he explains, "heifer slaughter is down simply because there are fewer cattle, but it has not declined enough to indicate substantial heifer retention." The beef replacement heifer inventory increased just 0.9% year-over-year on January 1, suggesting only the earliest stages of retention.

Peel says the best measure of herd rebuilding is total female slaughter—cow and heifer slaughter combined—as a percentage of total cattle slaughter. That percentage peaked at 51.8% in 2023, the highest level since 1985, and has since declined to 48.8%. However, it remains above the 47% threshold that has historically signaled herd expansion. Most of the decline so far has resulted from lower cow slaughter, meaning further progress will depend on greater heifer retention.

Historically, once female slaughter falls below 47%, herd expansion has typically lasted several years. Peel suggests it may take another 6 to 10 months for the industry to reach that level. As rebuilding continues, cattle slaughter and beef production are expected to decline further, tightening supplies and supporting stronger cattle prices. As a result, Peel believes the highest cattle prices of the current cycle are likely still ahead.

06/02/2026

Missouri was the nation’s 18th-largest state in 2025, with a population of 6.27 million. From 2024 to 2025 the state gained more than 27,000 residents, an annual growth rate of 0.4%.

Population change reflects natural change (births minus deaths) and migration. From 2020 to 2025 Missouri’s population rose by about 115,000, or 1.9%. During that period the state experienced a natural decrease—deaths outnumbered births by more than 12,000—but that loss was more than offset by migration: roughly 70,000 international migrants and 57,000 domestic migrants moved to Missouri.

Read the full Missouri Economy Indicators brief. Link in the comments.

06/02/2026

🎉The Missouri CRCL Project's Cover Crop Programs are open for enrollment! You can receive incentive payments for managing and/or planting cover crops - whatever fits your operation best. Applications first come, first served. Check out the link in the comments to learn more.



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The Missouri Conservation Resilient Crop and Livestock (CRCL) Project offers incentive payments that support the adoption of conservation practices for Missouri producers. This project is funded by a $25 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative. A special thank you to our partners!

05/07/2026

White, ladino and sweet clover are valuable additions to Missouri forage systems, offering high-quality nutrition for livestock while improving soil health. These perennial legumes spread through creeping stems, allowing them to recover quickly from grazing and persist over time with proper management.

Clover varieties range from small, more persistent types to large, high-yielding ladino clovers, giving producers flexibility based on their goals and conditions.

Learn more about clover types, soil requirements, forage value, establishment and more. Link in comments.

05/07/2026

All parts of the Black Locust are poisonous, but the bark and seeds contain the highest concentrations of the main toxin called Robinin. Its properties are similar to ricin and abrin and cause several alarming symptoms when ingested. Know the difference between a Honey Locust and a Black Locust.

"Learn how to easily identify two fascinating tree species: the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and the honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos). In this vid...

05/01/2026

Come talk with us about any fencing and water system needs you may have on your farm. If need to exclude some wooded areas with fence, we can assist with that also.

05/01/2026

05/01/2026

Quality over Quantity.

Hay quality has a direct impact on livestock performance and feeding costs, yet many producers lose value long before hay reaches the feeder, says University of Missouri Extension field agronomist Rudra Baral. The good news: Most quality losses are tied to management decisions that producers can con...

04/06/2026

Archeologist
Introduction
The Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) is pleased to announce two full-time MASWCD Archeologist position. These positions will be employed by the MASWCD board.
MASWCD has received funding to hire the Archeologists. The funds for this position are available through a grant with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Overall supervision of the positions will be provided by the MASWCD board but day-to-day supervision will be provided by the Executive Director for MASWCD with input from NRCS and DNR staff. Performance evaluations will be done by the MASWCD board.
The positions will be located in the state of Missouri. The specific work location will be determined once the candidate is selected.
Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected].
Education and Experience
A graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, or closely related field with a specialization in North American archaeology from an accredited institution.
One year of professional supervisory field experience in cultural resource management.
At least four months of supervised archaeological field and analytical experience.
Demonstrated ability to carry archaeological research to completion, as evidenced by individual authorship of a thesis or dissertation, focusing on a North American site or culture.
Demonstrated ability to plan, equip, staff, organize, and supervise activity of the type and scope proposed.
Demonstrated ability to complete cultural resource management reports.
Job Description
Providing technical, scientific, and procedural guidance for considering and managing cultural resources and historic properties within the state of Missouri for DNR Soil and Water Conservation Program (SWCP), Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Facilitate communications with SWCDs and NRCS field office personnel to promote efficient cultural resource investigations.
Work with the SWCP Archeologist and NRCS Archeologist in ensuring that MO SWCDs and NRCS field personnel working in any manner with Section 106 compliance activities complete the NRCS web-based and field modules.
Serve as the Primary Investigator on state and federal conservation projects, conduct cultural resources and historic property investigations, evaluations, and develop treatment plans for mitigation with NRCS CRS (Cultural Resources Specialist/Archeologist). Provide reports, findings, recommendations, and pertinent information to SHPO/THPO and NRCS in a format approved by the SHPO/THPO office within two weeks of investigation.
Assist the SHPO in investigating reports of unmarked human burials cases and in assessing appropriate treatment plans for preservation and stabilization.
Compensation
The salary will be based on experience.
A stipend of $350 per month will be provided for health insurance.
Retirement will be based on 7% of salary. Retirement funds will be placed in a retirement plan of the employee’s choosing.
Travel expenses will be reimbursed. Mileage will be paid at the State Government rate.
This announce will remain open until filled.

For additional information please contact Jim Boschert MASWCD Executive Director at [email protected].

02/06/2026

Well as one could see from the posts and likes for our 9th Annual Photo Contest, the winner is Michelle DeLong. Congratulations Michelle. You may pick up your gift card from Brad Smith with American Family. 2nd Place was Larry Israel with a great picture as well. Thanks to all for participating this year!!