North Dakota Bucks National Trend as Cattle Numbers Climb
Steve Hallstrom
Special to the Farmer
While the national cattle herd continues to shrink, North Dakota is moving in the opposite direction - and the state’s livestock experts say Mother Nature deserves much of the credit.
Julie Ellingson, executive vice president of the North Dakota Beef Commission, joined AM 1090 The Flag recently to talk through why North Dakota is outperforming the rest of the country at a time when the U.S. herd is hitting historic lows.
The national numbers are striking. According to USDA data, the U.S. cattle herd currently stands at roughly 86 million head - down one percent from a year ago - with the calf crop down two percent and cattle on feed down three percent. Yet North Dakota’s numbers are growing. According to Ellingson, the state posted the largest percentage increase in cattle inventory of any state in the country year over year.
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