As cattle prices continue to encourage cattle farmers to rebuild the national herd, farmers remain focused on watching their budget sheets while trying to maintain quality, they said at the Iowa Beef Expo last week in Des Moines.

"Things are good," said John Rash, of J&J Angus Farm in Union. "Everything is worth a lot of money."

J&J Angus Farm has about 200 cows, he said. Rash and his brothers raise calves and grow crops on their farm as well.

While feed prices have come down recently, he said quality hay...