Lauren had a great conversation today with Derrell Peel, livestock economist and professor at Oklahoma State University, to break down how global beef markets are shifting and what that means for U.S. cattle producers today.

From record-high cattle prices and historically tight supplies to the reality that the U.S., Mexico, and Canada now operate as a highly interconnected system, this episode takes a deeper look at how trade, borders, and market dynamics are shaping the industry. They discuss the ongoing challenges with the Mexico border closure, how that has impacted feeder cattle supply, and why those disruptions could have longer term effects on the North American beef supply chain.

The conversation also expands to the global stage, where shifting production, growing international demand, and changing trade flows are creating both uncertainty and opportunity for producers moving forward. Derrell shares insight on the current cattle cycle, why herd rebuilding will take time, and how producers should think about risk, volatility, and positioning in today’s market.

Links:

Derrell Peel Oklahoma State - https://experts.okstate.edu/derrell.peel

Beef Magazine - https://www.beefmagazine.com/author/derrell-peel

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
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Key Takeaways:

• Global beef markets are becoming increasingly important to U.S. producers
• The U.S., Mexico, and Canada function as an integrated cattle system
• Border disruptions with Mexico have tightened feeder cattle supply
• Trade flows are driven by product differences, logistics, and demand
• U.S. cattle inventories are at multi-decade lows
• Record-high cattle prices are driven by tight supply and strong demand
• Herd rebuilding will be slow and take several years
• Volatility and geopolitical factors continue to impact markets
• Risk management and flexibility are critical in today’s environment
• Producers should stay focused on forage and core production decisions

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction + Derrell Peel background (Oklahoma State)
03:00 Current U.S. cattle market and supply
08:00 North America as one cattle system
14:00 Canada trade dynamics
18:00 Mexico border and feeder cattle impact
24:00 Long-term implications of trade disruptions
30:00 Global beef market shifts
36:00 Cattle cycle and herd rebuilding timeline
42:00 Risk, volatility, and market strategy
48:00 Producer mindset and final takeaways

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