Longlane Farms, LLC

08/21/2026

President Trump just greenlit a 90-day window for up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports free of higher out-of-quota tariffs, with a pledge that the product will sell 25% below current market prices (CNBC, 2026).

The goal is clear: give shoppers a break on hamburger costs while the U.S. cattle herd recovers from years of drought and liquidation. Our national inventory sits near multi-decade lows, which has kept ground-beef prices elevated (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2026).

America already imports lean trimmings to blend with fattier domestic cuts. This temporary surge should increase supply and ease retail prices in the short run. Yet extra foreign product can also soften the prices ranchers receive for their cattle, which may blunt the profit signals needed to expand the breeding herd (American Farm Bureau Federation, 2026).

It is a classic short-term consumer win that carries longer-term questions for producers.

🤔How do you weigh lower grocery bills against the health of domestic ranching? Share your take below.

References
American Farm Bureau Federation. (2026). Analysis of beef import policy and market signals. https://www.fb.org

CNBC. (2026, August 21). Trump to allow import of 300,000 metric tons of ground beef without tariff. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/21/trump-ground-beef-import-tariff.html

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2026). Cattle inventory and livestock reports. https://www.usda.gov

Send a message to learn more

08/19/2026

Tyson Foods is closing two beef plants and laying off over 3,200 workers, pointing to a historic cattle shortage (O’Neil, 2026). U.S. cattle numbers stood at 86.2 million head on January 1, 2026, the lowest since 1951 (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2026).

Prolonged drought across key grazing states forced many ranchers to sell breeding cows early. Rising feed, fertilizer, and other costs made holding animals harder. Even with strong cattle prices, heifer retention stayed limited, and rebuilding a herd takes years due to biology (National Public Radio, 2026).

These supply pressures are real, yet the Big Four processors, who control roughly 85 percent of the market, warrant careful scrutiny. Critics argue that this extreme concentration has long allowed packers to capture larger shares of the consumer dollar while ranchers receive less. Plant closures can also serve as tools for managing capacity and protecting margins (Bullard via R-CALF USA reporting; Farm Action analyses). Drought and cattle cycle dynamics matter. So does market power.

🤔 What do you see as the bigger driver of today’s tight beef supplies?

References

O’Neil, K. (2026, August 17). Major retail meat company closes plants, lays off over 3,200. Yahoo Finance. https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/major-retail-meat-company-closes-223541425.html

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2026, January 30). Cattle. National Agricultural Statistics Service.

National Public Radio. (2026, May 29). Why the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low — and what it means for beef prices. https://www.npr.org/2026/05/29/nx-s1-5719511/beef-cattle-herd-food-prices

Leading meat processor is closing two beef facilities.

08/11/2026

Our online store has been re-stocked! Get it while you can: https://longlanefarmsllc.com/

The healthy red meat.

07/17/2026

All kinds of critters love kiddie pools. Perhaps none more so than Kevin.

07/02/2026

Clearly I've got to get to work on teaching our goats to "wave their arms".

Exceptional piece here from The State: "Coyotes are highly active during the summer in SC. Here’s how to fend them off"

Coyotes are rarely a threat to humans, but they can attack pets and livestock. Here’s how to scare them off.

06/10/2026

Recent Detection of New World Screwworm in Texas Raises Biosecurity Concerns for Livestock and Wildlife.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the first domestic case of New World screwworm (NWS) in six decades, found in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, near the Mexican border (USDA APHIS, 2026). Additional cases have since been reported in Texas and New Mexico. This parasitic fly lays eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals, with larvae feeding on living tissue and causing significant damage, economic losses, and potential mortality in livestock, wildlife, and occasionally pets or humans.

The blog post highlights two key risk zones. The summer dispersal zone could allow spread as far north as Kansas, Missouri, and Tennessee through wind, livestock movement, or wildlife. Milder modern winters may expand the permanent overwintering zone into South and Central Texas, the Gulf Coast, and parts of the Southeast (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida), where pupae can survive in soil (Goat Rancher Update, 2026).

Wildlife impacts are particularly concerning. Newborn white-tailed deer fawns are highly vulnerable due to umbilical wounds, with historical outbreaks linked to 25% to 80% fawn mortality in affected areas. Dense deer and feral hog populations could accelerate spread (Goat Rancher Update, 2026).

Positive developments include rapid response:
USDA and Texas officials have implemented containment, surveillance, quarantines, and the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), releasing millions of sterile male flies to suppress the population. This method proved effective in the original eradication campaign decades ago.

Actionable recommendations for producers and stakeholders:

- Inspect livestock (especially newborns) daily for wounds and treat promptly with approved products.

- Report suspicious cases immediately to state animal health officials or USDA.

- Maintain strict biosecurity when moving animals or equipment.

- Support continued funding for surveillance and SIT programs.

This situation underscores the importance of vigilant border biosecurity and proactive agricultural preparedness in an era of changing climate patterns. Ranchers, veterinarians, and policymakers must collaborate to prevent wider establishment.

🤔 What steps is your operation taking to monitor for such threats?

References

Goat Rancher Update. (2026, June 9). New World Screwworm — How far could they go? https://goatrancherupdate.blogspot.com/2026/06/new-world-screwworm-how-far-could-they.html

U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (2026, June 3). USDA confirms presence of New World screwworm in the United States. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states

U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (2026, June 8). USDA confirms two additional cases of New World screwworm in the United States. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-two-additional-cases-new-world-screwworm-united-states

USDA officially confirmed the first domestic case of New World screwworm in six decades, detected in a three-week-old calf in Zavala Cou...

06/09/2026

Intent vs. Outcome: A $10 Parkland Gift Evolves into a $10M Data Center Sale

In 1999, a Texas farmer donated 87 acres in Taylor for a nominal $10. The deed explicitly required the land be held in trust as community parkland for local children.

By 2025, after transfers through foundations and the city's Economic Development Corporation, a portion sold for $10 million to a data center developer. Projections estimate an additional $30 million in tax revenue over the next decade, with about $20 million directed to the local school district.

This case reveals the gap between original donor intent and later economic priorities. The revenue supports schools and infrastructure amid rising AI-driven demand for data centers. At the same time, residents have raised concerns about noise, water and power usage, air quality, and impacts on community character, while pursuing legal action to enforce the deed restriction.

Key considerations:
- Economic benefits versus preservation of charitable intent and resident quality of life.
- The role of multiple ownership transfers in altering original restrictions.

For communities, this underscores the value of clear deed safeguards, transparent zoning decisions, and balanced stakeholder engagement when handling donated land.

How should communities reconcile growth opportunities with honoring historical donor intent?

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/farmer-donates-land-for-a-park-city-sells-it-for-data-center-development-usd10-gift-became-usd10m-for-city-government-with-usd30m-tax-expected-over-next-decade

A solemn Texas deed ignored for profit.

05/05/2026

Livestock thefts (particularly cattle rustling) in the United States appear to be increasing, especially in 2025, based on reports from ranching organizations, law enforcement, and agricultural media.

Key Evidence and Trends:
- High cattle prices as the main driver: Record-high beef and cattle prices in recent years have made livestock a lucrative target for thieves. Organized groups often target young, unbranded animals that are easier to sell or slaughter. This pattern was widely noted in 2025 reports across states like Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
- Texas examples: Over 2,000 cattle were reported stolen in 2023 alone, with losses exceeding $5 million. Reports of thefts surged further in 2025, with multiple arrests for organized schemes involving dozens of head (e.g., one ring linked to ~70–82 cattle across ranches). Local sheriffs and the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) have issued warnings and set up tip lines like "Operation Cow Thief."
- Other states: Significant incidents include a Colorado ranch losing nearly $400,000 worth of cattle, plus thefts in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Virginia, and North Carolina (with multi-state schemes leading to prison sentences and large restitution orders).
- Broader context: Agricultural theft in general (including livestock) is a multi-billion-dollar issue annually. While exact national totals are not centrally tracked in FBI Uniform Crime Reports (livestock theft often falls under general larceny), industry sources describe a clear uptick tied to economic factors like high market values and rural challenges in monitoring large areas.

Caveats:
- Underreporting is likely: Many thefts go unreported or unrecovered (estimates suggest

The stolen livestock consisted of 13-week-old Holstein steer calves, each valued at $2,000.

05/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1TnCTvyS2i/

04/13/2026

Something new for our local producers 🐄🌱🥩

The Tri-County Livestock & Forages Newsletter is here! Bringing you pasture and herd management tips, local highlights, and Extension updates from across Newberry, Laurens, and Greenwood Counties. The first edition just went out, so be on the lookout for the next one in June!

📬 Want to join? Use the link below to subscribe or contact Sydney Rentz at 864-795-0049 or [email protected].

🔗 Link to Subscribe: https://clemson.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9FjdFMyUBMH547c