The CattleFax seminar at the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention provided both an optimistic and not-so-optimistic industry outlook for cattle producers gathered in Nashville. North Dakota Stockmen’s Association President Jeff Schafer, who ranches at New Rockford, says one positive takeaway was cattle inventory numbers. “It looks like we’ve turned a corner. Drought in the western United States will probably bring that to fruition quicker than in a normal cattle cycle.” Schafer adds there should also be better marketing opportunities for cattle producers according to the six month-to-one year outlook. The 2022 CattleFax price outlook puts 800-pound steers up $20 at $165 per hundredweight and fed steers up $14 at $135 per hundredweight Watford City, North Dakota rancher Jason Leiseth, who is also the Stockmen’s Association vice president, Leiseth says the weather outlook was not as optimistic. “While there a few chances for rain, we basically need to plan for drought to extend throughout much of 2022. I guess it’s probably better to know that now so we can decide what to do with the cowherd.” Listen to the full Red River Farm Network story.