California Wolf Funds Run Dry and NASS Data Shows 2% Drop in Cattle

**Less than a year after the state fully implemented a pilot program to compensate ranchers for livestock losses and other economic impacts caused by wolves, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife says it’s run out of money.

Ranchers say the $3 million allocated for the program does not begin to pay for the rising financial damage created by the presence of wolves, protected under state and federal endangered species acts.

**USDA's National Ag Statistics Service released the Cattle report showing a 2% decline in U.S. cattle inventory.

The report shows 87.2 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of January 1st.

Of that, all cows and heifers that have calved totaled 37.6 million.

There are 28.2 million beef cows in the U.S., also down 2%.

The number of milk cows decreased slightly to 9.36 million.

**A new Farm Journal poll of ag economists shows most expect lower commodity prices, along with the outlook for higher costs, to weigh on the ag industry in 2024.

Ag economists' forecast for prices of all crops and livestock shifted lower compared to the December survey.

The January survey found economists' views on NET farm income also took a turn, with the survey average falling to $135 billion for 2024.