Will your region see much-needed moisture, or could weather challenges intensify? Meteorologist Matt Makens joins Cattlemen's Call again to discuss why this El Niño could be one of the strongest on record, bringing amplified weather patterns across the country.

What does that mean for producers as you consider hay and forage supplies, drought recovery, herd health and winter planning? Hear his outlook and practical guidance to help you plan confidently for the months ahead.

#ElNino #Weather #Drought #Ranching #Cattle

Water is one of the most critical resources for ranchers, and prolonged drought is reshaping the way producers adopt innovative approaches, increase water efficiency and storage, and strengthen grazing systems. On this show, Mark LeValley and his son Ross describe how persistent drought led them to build new infrastructure on grazing land. The LeValley family has raised cattle on Colorado’s Western Slope since 1914. In this episode, Mark and Ross demonstrate how two generations work together to prepare for water-related challenges and develop resilience on their operation.

#Ranching #WaterConservation #Drought #GrazingManagement #FarmPodcast #BeefProduction #WaterManagement #FamilyRanch #RuralAmerica

Every day brings new opportunities for future beef producers, and this episode dives into the importance of investing in people to build a strong future for the cattle industry.

Kim Brackett, cow-calf producer and NCBA president-elect, emphasizes passing down ranching values and traditions to the next generation from an early age, and how she encourages her children to embrace new ideas while remembering the principles that make family operations successful. Meanwhile, NCBA Policy Division Vice Chair Scott Anderson shares stories from his work in feedyards building strong teams and understanding what motivates them, highlighting the critical role employees play in long-term success.

Both Kim and Scott offer practical advice on leadership, succession, rural communities and empowering the next generation to lead the cattle industry forward.

#Legacy #Succession #CattleProduction #CowCalf #Feedyard #NCBA #Beef

Laura Field, executive vice president of Nebraska Cattlemen, and Kenny Rogers, NCBA policy division chair, share their firsthand experiences with wildfires. From stories of ranchers facing fast-moving flames to the long road of recovery that follows, they share what it’s like when wildfire strikes cattle country.

Cattle producers play a critical role in wildfire prevention through responsible grazing and land management. This episode offers a powerful reminder that behind every headline about wildfire are families and communities working tirelessly to protect what matters most. We also hear from Noble Research Institute’s Travis Jones as they come alongside producers to offer strategies for fire mitigation.

#CattlemensCall #WildfirePrevention #WildfireRecovery #CattleRanching #RanchLife #CattleProducers #LandStewardship #SustainableGrazing #RangeManagement #Agriculture #RuralAmerica #RanchingCommunity #WildfireAwareness #AgPodcast #FarmAndRanch #AnimalWelfare #Conservation #WorkingLands

Are you prepared to transition the management of your operation to your heirs? We unpack the complex conversation about legal and financial transition planning as well as methods to transition management and decision making to the next generation. Shannon Ferrell and Barb Downey share their personal experiences navigating loss and splitting family operations, and they give advice about how you can learn from their stories to make succession planning smoother for your family and business.

Find the NCBA Succession Planning Workbook and module ⁠here⁠.

This episode was sponsored by ⁠John Deere⁠ and ⁠FarmCredit⁠.

#SuccessionPlanning #TransitionPlanning #FarmFamilies #RanchFamilies #Cattle #Agriculture #NextGeneration

Kevin Birt, a first-generation Virginia producer, and Jeff Landrum, fourth-generation Iowa cattleman, discuss the different challenges facing cattle producers today, particularly access to land and capital for business growth and transition planning. In spite of these challenges, Kevin and Jeff are excited about the innovations evolving the industry. They both attended NCBA’s Young Cattlemen’s Conference and walked away with a fresh perspective on the future of the cattle business and a stronger network of fellow producers to support their goals.

NCBA’s Young Cattlemen’s Conference would not be possible without the support of John Deere, Farm Credit, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Tyson Foods and Merck Animal Health.

#AgLeaders #NextGenAg #FirstGenProducer #CattleFarmer

Conservation easements are a durability tool. On this show, Erik Glenn, CEO of Colorado Cattlemen’s Ag Land Trust, is joined by Colorado rancher Lee Rooks, whose family circumstances led them to leverage a conservation easement on their ranch to preserve the grazing land in an area seeing rapid development. A conservation easement was the right choice for Lee and his family to protect their ranching operation, could it be the right choice for your operational goals?

The Partnership of Rangeland Trust prioritizes the producer first, closely followed by the agricultural value of the land. Erik explained that if it doesn’t work for the producer, then it doesn’t work at all. Find out more at https://rangelandtrusts.org/.

Livestock haulers are a critical link in the cattle and beef supply chain, and they safely transport cattle across the country every day. Dusty Holley, executive vice president of Florida Cattlemen’s Association, and Kent Bacus, NCBA executive director of Government Affairs, discuss current federal transportation rules/regulations and identify changes that could improve livestock haulers’ ability to deliver cattle while protecting animal welfare and efficiency. The cattle industry still relies largely on reputation, so it’s important to know that when cattle are loaded onto a truck, they will arrive in a timely manner and in a healthy condition, which is why federal policy should align with those priorities. #AgTransportation #SupplyChain #CattleHaulers #Livestock

Greg Putnam, a Montana cattle producer who co-owns Little Belt Cattle Co. shares how his experiences in the armed forces led him to a career in beef production and aligned with the hard work necessary to succeed. His current project involves collaborating with local producers, restaurants and businesses to provide high-quality beef for consumers. Greg has a passion for ensuring his community has access to local food and for giving opportunities to veterans to develop skills and find employment upon finishing their military careers.

#NavySEAL #FirstGenerationAg #BeefProducer #Veteran

Lane Nordlund sits down with NCBA CEO Colin Woodall and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane for a conversation on NCBA’s producer-led policy process and its role in fighting back against regulatory overreach, protecting property rights and grazing access, and strengthening animal health protections. Colin and Ethan highlight the importance of face‑to‑face engagement with lawmakers in D.C. as one of the most effective ways to ensure producers’ voices are heard.

Together, they underscore NCBA’s commitment to standing up for U.S. cattle producers by advocating for practical policies and defending against detractors who want to put producers out of business.

#Ranching #Cattlemen #AgPolicy #NCBA #FarmBill #CattleProducers #WashingtonDC #Grazing