CattleUSA Daily

Lauren and Emma kick off the year by getting brutally practical about herd rebuild decisions and the real economics behind keeping heifers. With cattle prices strong but input costs still climbing, this episode breaks down why “just keep more heifers” is not a strategy unless it pencils. They talk retention vs. buying bred females, breeding windows and lost dollars, why culling the bottom end matters more in a hot market, and how record keeping (even if it’s simple) is what separates a sustainable operation from one that’s just hoping things work out.

Links

Emma's Links - https://linktr.ee/doubleeranch ⁠

CattleUSA Website - ⁠https://www.cattleusa.com/⁠

Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia⁠

Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/⁠

Subscribe to our newsletter - ⁠https://www.cattleusadrive.com/⁠

CattleUSA Media - ⁠https://www.cattleusamedia.com/⁠

Lauren’s Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/⁠

Lauren’s Youtube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco⁠

The Next Generation Podcast Website - ⁠https://www.thenextgenag.com/⁠

Takeaways

• Herd rebuild decisions need to be strategic, not emotional, especially in a high-price, high-cost environment.
• Retaining heifers has an opportunity cost: they aren’t producing revenue for a while, and you carry the expense until they calve.
• Selling heifers into a strong market and buying bred females can pencil better for some operations. It depends on your goals and forage.
• Input costs are not returning to “cheap” levels. Feed, supplements, and maintenance costs need to be built into break-evens.
• If you’re running cattle as a business, breeding success matters. Open females and late breeders can bleed profits fast.
• The market is rewarding culling right now. Use it to clean up the bottom end and get paid while doing it.
• Genomics and performance data can help identify the lower performers so you’re not guessing.
• Temperament and labor cost are real costs. A wreck of a cow can cost you equipment, time, injury risk, and lost calves.
• Stocking rate matters. Don’t expand just because prices are good if forage can’t support it.
• Record keeping is the foundation. If you aren’t tracking anything, you won’t know you’re losing money until it’s obvious and expensive.

Chapters

00:00 New Year recaps and the “early bedtime” life
01:50 Gym mornings, sleep, and the 4:30 a.m. routine
04:10 Introducing the topic: heifers and herd rebuild decisions
06:00 The true costs behind keeping or buying females
07:50 Retain vs. sell vs. buy bred heifers: what it changes financially
09:10 Input costs, land pressure, and why operations have to be strategic
11:30 Breeding windows, open females, and leaving money on the table
13:30 Why now is the time to cull the bottom end
15:30 Older cows vs. younger cows and what “productive” actually means
16:45 Record keeping and why most operations don’t know their real break-even
19:00 Data vs. memory: pulling calves, bad mothers, and repeat offenders
20:10 Labor, injuries, equipment damage, and the hidden cost of chaos
23:10 Practical advice: start tracking, even if it’s simple
24:00 Wrap-up: make decisions with numbers, not feelings

heifers, herd rebuild, heifer retention, bred heifers, cow-calf economics, break-even, cattle market 2026, cattle input costs, record keeping, cattle genetics, genomics, feed efficiency, culling strategy, stocking rate, forage capacity, breeding window, open cows, calving season management, sustainable ranching, cattle operation profitability

Lauren and John open the year with a strong market update across multiple regions, highlighting higher prices, aggressive demand for bigger feeder cattle, and notable shifts in how buyers are using grass this time of year. From there, the conversation pivots to methane emissions and why cattle continue to be blamed despite decades of data showing their impact is minimal. John breaks down where the methane narrative came from, what the science actually says, and why producers keep paying the price for misinformation that refuses to die.

Links

Nominate or request to be a guest - forms.gle/fRkvzRenh7mqkDXV7

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/
Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusadrive.com/
CattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/
Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/
Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Takeaways

• Cattle markets rebounded strongly after the fall dip, with many regions surpassing previous highs.
• Lightweight calves and heifers saw especially aggressive demand, with notable price gains across multiple states.
• Bigger feeder cattle are being purchased earlier for grass, signaling a shift in buyer behavior.
• Availability concerns and strong feed resources are pushing cattle into non-traditional programs this time of year.
• Methane emissions from cattle remain a heavily misunderstood issue, despite long-standing data disproving exaggerated claims.
• U.S. beef production accounts for a very small percentage of total greenhouse gas emissions.
• Much of the methane blame originated from flawed global studies that bundled unrelated emissions into cattle data.
• Producers continue to feel the consequences of misinformation through policy pressure and funding priorities.
• Research dollars are often driven by politics and funding sources rather than practical producer impact.
• Education and messaging matter more than chasing new metrics that don’t improve real-world profitability.

Chapters

00:00 New Year check-in and market recap kickoff
01:15 Sale barn momentum and price strength returning
03:30 Regional highlights and standout feeder prices
06:10 Bigger cattle moving to grass earlier than normal
09:00 Demand drivers and shifting buyer strategies
12:00 Transition into methane and greenhouse gas discussion
14:30 Where the methane narrative came from
18:00 What the data actually says about cattle emissions
22:00 Why producers keep paying for bad science
26:30 Wrapping up markets, volatility, and cautious optimism

cattle market update, feeder cattle prices, sale barn trends, regional cattle markets, feeder demand, grass cattle, methane emissions, greenhouse gas cattle, beef industry climate debate, cattle sustainability, producer education, cattle market volatility, livestock economics

As CattleCon approaches, Terry Quam joins the podcast to walk through what actually happens behind the scenes of the beef checkoff and why producer involvement matters now more than ever. From how the checkoff is structured and governed, to why meetings are held alongside CattleCon, to real-world examples of crisis response like BSE and COVID, this episode pulls back the curtain on how producer dollars are used to drive beef demand. Terry also reflects on the history of the checkoff, the challenges of doing more with fewer dollars as cattle numbers shrink, and what the next 40 years of the program need to look like to keep the beef industry profitable and resilient.

Links

Nominate or request to be a guest - forms.gle/fRkvzRenh7mqkDXV7

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/
Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusadrive.com/
CattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/
Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/
Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Takeaways

• The beef checkoff operates separately from policy and focuses solely on driving beef demand through research, education, and marketing.
• CattleCon provides a centralized, cost-efficient location for open, transparent beef checkoff meetings that any producer can attend.
• All Cattlemen’s Beef Board meetings at CattleCon are open to the public, including budget, audit, and contractor evaluations.
• Producer governance is built regionally, ensuring representation from diverse cattle-producing areas across the U.S.
• Shrinking cattle numbers mean fewer checkoff dollars, making efficiency and prioritization more important than ever.
• The beef checkoff has played a critical role in crisis response, including BSE and COVID, by preparing messaging and research in advance.
• Consumer research like the Meat Demand Monitor helps the industry understand changing preferences and buying behavior.
• Education efforts target consumers, healthcare professionals, and classrooms to protect beef’s reputation and demand long-term.
• The strength of the beef industry lies in its diversity, from cow-calf to feedyards, grass-fed to grain-fed operations.
• Producers who question the checkoff are encouraged to get involved, attend meetings, and evaluate the programs firsthand.

Chapters

00:00 Christmas on the farm and winter weather realities
03:40 Headed to CattleCon and what makes it valuable
05:15 Beef checkoff priorities and emerging challenges
07:45 Policy vs. checkoff and clearing up common confusion
10:05 Why beef checkoff meetings are held at CattleCon
12:10 Producer governance and how leadership is selected
14:45 Diversity of cattle production across the U.S.
16:40 Lessons from BSE and crisis preparedness
19:20 COVID, at-home cooking, and rapid demand shifts
22:00 Research, education, and marketing balance
24:05 Looking ahead to the next 40 years of the checkoff
26:15 Advice to producers who question the checkoff
28:30 Final thoughts and CattleCon invitation

beef checkoff, CattleCon, Cattlemen’s Beef Board, beef demand, producer governance, beef industry education, beef research, beef marketing, Meat Demand Monitor, BSE response, COVID beef demand, producer involvement, transparency, state beef councils, beef industry leadership, beef promotion, cattle producers

The first market update of the new year kicks off with Dan Gerhold and Samantha Cozza-Wright breaking down a cattle market that’s wasting no time rebounding. From a Santa Claus rally and feeder cattle pushing back above $350, to shrinking price discovery, tight placements, and ongoing uncertainty around the Mexico border, this episode dives into what’s driving early-2026 optimism and what could still derail it. The conversation also covers LRP strategy at historically high index levels, grain market stagnation ahead of key USDA reports, and why February beef demand may end up being the real test for this market.

Nominate or request to be a guest - forms.gle/fRkvzRenh7mqkDXV7

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/
Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusadrive.com/
CattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/
Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/
Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Takeaways

• Feeder cattle have pushed back above the $350 index, a level only seen for a total of 59 days in history.
• Placements remain extremely light, especially in the Southern Plains, following holiday slowdowns and the continued Mexico border closure.
• Negotiated cash trade remains thin, shrinking the window for true price discovery and increasing reliance on formula pricing.
• Packers are spending more money up front while protecting formula trade margins by managing reported base prices.
• Heifer retention is starting to show up in the market, further tightening available calf supplies.
• Producers should strongly consider protecting prices on the rally using LRP, especially with 2026 historically being a risky year for cattle markets.
• Grain markets remain largely stagnant ahead of major January USDA reports, with attention quickly shifting toward 2026 new-crop pricing.
• The Mexico border reopening will likely be slow and staged, with cattle weights playing a major role in how much market impact it creates.
• Beef demand remains solid post-holidays, but late January and early February will be critical in determining how much leverage packers retain.
• Lower kills and plant downtime could help support cash cattle prices if beef values hold near current levels.

Chapters

00:00 New Year check-in and holiday cattle talk
02:25 Early-January market rebound and cash trade tone
04:20 Transparency issues and shrinking price discovery
06:45 Placements, heifer retention, and tight supplies
08:15 What $350 feeder cattle really means
10:30 LRP strategy and protecting historically high prices
11:45 Grain markets, January reports, and 2026 crop outlook
14:45 Mexico border, screwworm cases, and cattle flow risks
17:15 Beef demand, packer leverage, and February pressure points
19:30 Final market outlook and producer strategy moving forward

cattle market, feeder cattle, 2026 cattle outlook, cattle prices, placements, price discovery, negotiated cash trade, formula pricing, LRP insurance, feeder cattle index, beef demand, packer leverage, Mexico border cattle, screwworm, grain markets, corn prices, cattle feeding, cow-calf producers, risk management

Emma’s back and we’re going straight into one of the messiest, most avoided topics in agriculture: generational transition. With the average age of U.S. producers climbing and new “beginning” producers often starting later in life, the question isn’t just who’s taking over. It’s whether the operation is even set up to survive the handoff. We talk estate planning realities, why “equal” splits can destroy a ranch, how lawsuits and unclear boundaries blow up families, and why digitizing records and adopting the right tech isn’t optional anymore. Bottom line: you don’t have to like this conversation, but avoiding it is how ranches get sold.

Links

Emma's Links - https://linktr.ee/doubleeranch ⁠

CattleUSA Website - ⁠https://www.cattleusa.com/⁠

Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia⁠

Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/⁠

Subscribe to our newsletter - ⁠https://www.cattleusadrive.com/⁠

CattleUSA Media - ⁠https://www.cattleusamedia.com/⁠

Lauren’s Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/⁠

Lauren’s Youtube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco⁠

The Next Generation Podcast Website - ⁠https://www.thenextgenag.com/⁠

Takeaways

• The generational transition problem is real: producers are aging, and “new” first-generation producers often start later because the capital barrier is brutal.
• Succession is not just financial. It’s emotional, and emotion makes people irrational fast, especially when money and land are involved.
• “Equal” inheritance can be the quickest path to a forced sale. If one sibling wants out, the operating sibling often can’t buy them out.
• If you don’t have clear legal structure, you’re handing your family a lawsuit, not a legacy.
• Bank access matters: without the right account protocols, your spouse or kids may not be able to access money when they need it most.
• Digitize everything. Fires, floods, and faded ink don’t care about your filing system.
• Estate planning is a professional job. “I didn’t know” won’t save you with the IRS, the courts, or the bank.
• Tech adoption is a competitive advantage. You don’t have to use it, but you’ll be competing against operations that do, and they’ll be faster, more efficient, and more profitable.
• Good records improve real decision-making: genetics, pasture performance, inventory tracking, and true break-evens.
• Producer blind spot: many underestimate true cost of production because they ignore hidden inputs (labor, depreciation, fuel, vet, leases, interest, time).
• Practical reality: the next generation shouldn’t inherit a mess that takes 20 years and a quarter-million dollars to modernize just to stay alive.

Chapters

00:00 Why This Topic Matters: Generational Shifts + Technology
00:41 The Age Reality and Why “New” Producers Start at 45
02:20 Succession Planning Isn’t Equal, It’s Complicated
03:15 The Morbid Truth: You Don’t Know When Your Last Day Is
04:17 A “Perfect Plan” Can Still Sink the Ranch
06:44 The Legal Train Wrecks: Access, boundaries, lawsuits, family conflict
10:42 “Fair vs Equal”: How Splits Break Operations
12:10 Tech Adoption and Digital Records: Compete or get left behind
14:10 Why Detail Matters: history, genetics, and better decisions
15:45 True Break-Evens: the costs producers forget to count
16:06 Why Everyone Puts This Off (and why you can’t)
20:10 What to do now: professionals, trusts, passwords, clarity
22:15 The hot take: stop splitting land “equally” by default
23:15 Wrap-Up

ranch succession planning, farm succession planning, estate planning for ranchers, ranch trusts and wills, ranch legacy planning, family ranch transition, generational change in agriculture, average age of farmers, technology in ranching, ranch record keeping, digitizing farm records, break-even cattle production, ranch financial planning, ranch LLC trust structure, avoiding family ranch lawsuits, ag technology adoption, ranch operations management

Meteorologist Gary Lezak kicks off the new year by breaking down what the long-range weather pattern is already revealing about 2026. After chasing a major West Coast storm to Lake Tahoe, Gary explains why this year’s unusually long weather cycle matters, how anchor ridges and troughs are shaping snowfall, drought risk, and storm tracks, and what producers should be watching as we head toward spring and summer. The conversation covers California flooding, Rocky Mountain snow struggles, Plains moisture concerns, a possible major heat wave later this year, and a clear, plain-English refresher on how the LRC works and why it continues to outperform traditional forecasts.

Links

Weather 20/20 Dashboard Discount⁠ - https://www.weather2020.com/partner/cattle-usa
Substack - https://weather2020.substack.com/
The Global Predictor App ⁠- ⁠https://www.weather2020.com/global-predictor-mobile-app
Youtube⁠ -https://www.youtube.com/@Weather2020
Follow Gary on X ⁠- https://x.com/glezak 
CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/
Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusadrive.com/
CattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/
Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/
Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Takeaways

• This year’s weather pattern is cycling much slower than last year, with a roughly 70–76 day cycle instead of a 40-day cycle.
• A major West Coast storm that hit California was predicted months in advance using the LRC and returned almost exactly on schedule.
• Anchor ridges near Colorado are suppressing snowfall in the Rockies, while anchor troughs are hammering the Northeast with repeated storms.
• California is likely to see additional strong storm systems over the next several weeks, with more flooding and heavy mountain snow possible.
• The Plains and Corn Belt face growing uncertainty around spring moisture and drought risk as storms weaken moving east.
• A significant heat wave signal is emerging for late July into early August, which could have major implications for crops, pasture, and livestock stress.
• Weather leading up to mid-May will be critical in determining how damaging that potential summer heat becomes.
• Snow squalls are short-lived but dangerous winter weather events that can create near-blizzard conditions in minutes.
• The LRC is built on repeating seasonal patterns, anchor ridges and troughs, and consistent cycling that lasts until the next fall reset.
• Understanding long-range weather risk early allows producers to plan ahead instead of reacting when problems hit.

Chapters

00:00 New Year, Lake Tahoe, and Chasing a Predicted Storm
02:01 Why This Year’s Weather Cycle Is Much Longer Than Last Year
04:12 Drought Concerns for the Plains and Corn Belt
06:43 California Storm Systems and Why They’re Intensifying
08:42 Ice Storm and Plains Winter Risk
10:26 Snow Squalls Explained and Why They’re Dangerous
11:21 What the LRC Is and How It Works
13:30 How the Pattern Predicts Heat, Floods, and Drought
14:52 The Three Most Impactful Weather Events of the Year
16:08 Preparing for 2026 Weather Risks

weather forecast, long-range weather, LRC weather pattern, drought outlook, heat wave risk, California storms, Plains weather, Midwest weather, snow squall, climate risk agriculture, farm weather planning, ranch weather risk, Weather 2020, Gary Lezak, anchor ridge, anchor trough, extreme weather planning, seasonal weather cycles

Dan Leahy has spent 20+ years walking into other people’s ranches and fixing the stuff nobody wants to name out loud. In this episode, he breaks down why ranch management is the real bottleneck, not just grazing practices. We get into why most “consulting” never gets implemented, why the human element drives everything, and how the collapse of family-based management is fueling a ranch labor crisis. Dan also explains the four-year apprenticeship model his team built to develop professional ranch managers, then ties it all to gentrification in ranch country, land pressure, and what the next generation has to do differently to survive. He closes with a hard truth that will make some people mad and help others win: the future is going to reward the ranches that get serious about systems, science, and people.

Links

Dan's Email - [email protected]

Dan's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-leahy-5240a3148/

Nominate or request to be a guest - forms.gle/fRkvzRenh7mqkDXV7

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/
Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusadrive.com/
CattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/
Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/
Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Takeaways

• Ranch problems are rarely just “production problems.” Most ranch failures start with people, communication, and follow-through.
• Consultants can diagnose issues easily, but implementation is the real battle. Most ideas die because of timing, capital constraints, or personalities.
• Family ranches used to supply their own “management horsepower.” That pipeline is fading fast, and ranching hasn’t professionalized management at the pace it needs.
• The apprenticeship model is built to be flexible, not a rigid “start at 18” path. The point is deliberate skill-building plus real-world reps.
• Mentors and apprentices are equally important. It’s not “chicken or egg,” it’s preparation on both sides before the relationship even starts.
• Young people don’t need more buzzwords. They need strong fundamentals: biology, chemistry, accounting, and systems thinking. Ranching is a science business now.
• Gentrification in ranch country is real: weakening ranch economics + aging ownership + outside capital creates bargain-buy conditions and accelerates land transfer.
• The wealth gap means buyers can pay 3x a ranch’s “real” value without blinking, changing the incentives and the future use of land.
• Hard truth: land pressure and labor shortages are not going away. Ranches need intentional management development or they’ll lose continuity.
• Dan’s bold shift: moving from irrigated row crops to irrigated pasture can change the economics dramatically for operators positioned to do it.

Chapters01:15 Dan’s Background: Homebuilding to Natural Resources to Ranch Consulting
03:10 The Consultant Reality: Diagnosis Is Easy, Implementation Is Rare
06:00 The Real Problem: Family-Driven Management Pipeline Is Collapsing
08:12 The Apprenticeship Model: Why Ranching Needed One
14:40 Gentrification in Ranch Country: What It Means and Why It’s Accelerating
23:00 So What Now? Solutions and How the Industry Moves Forward
30:50 Hard Truths: The Bold Shift Toward Irrigated Pasture
34:10 Final Message: Encouragement for the 1% Who Actually Act

ranch management, ranch labor shortage, ranch apprenticeships, ranch management apprenticeship, professional ranch manager, ranch consulting, ranch succession planning, gentrification in ranching, ranch land values, regenerative ranching, continuous grazing, ranch systems, ranch leadership, ranch team building

Emma is back, and today we’re tackling one of the most misunderstood conversations in ag: why the U.S. exports beef while also importing beef. If you’ve ever seen “we should just keep it all here” in the comments section, this episode is for you. Lauren and Emma break down what we actually export (high-value specialty cuts and off-cuts other countries pay a premium for), why we import (lean trim to support ground beef demand and maximize carcass value), and why stopping exports wouldn’t magically make beef cheaper. They also hit the bigger picture: global trade relationships, why countries like Japan, Korea, and China rely on U.S. beef, and the consumer habits at home that shape what ends up on our plates.

Links

Emma's Links - https://linktr.ee/doubleeranch ⁠

CattleUSA Website - ⁠https://www.cattleusa.com/⁠

Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia⁠

Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/⁠

Subscribe to our newsletter - ⁠https://www.cattleusadrive.com/⁠

CattleUSA Media - ⁠https://www.cattleusamedia.com/⁠

Lauren’s Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/⁠

Lauren’s Youtube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco⁠

The Next Generation Podcast Website - ⁠https://www.thenextgenag.com/⁠

Takeaways

• “Stop exporting” isn’t a simple fix because exports aren’t just steaks. A big share is off-cuts and items the U.S. consumer doesn’t buy at scale.
• The U.S. exports products other countries treat as premium or culturally preferred (think tongue and other variety meats), creating higher carcass value.
• Importing doesn’t mean “lower standards” by default. Imported product still supports the domestic system by filling gaps in lean supply.
• Ground beef demand is a major driver of imports because the U.S. market wants lean trim to blend with domestic fat.
• If we tried to keep everything domestic without trade, consumers would either pay more or have to change what they’re willing to eat.
• High-marbling and specialty beef (including Wagyu and crosses) often finds its best-paying home in export markets when domestic demand is limited at that price point.
• Global trade is a two-way relationship across all commodities, not a beef-only issue.
• The U.S. is one of the most efficient beef-producing countries in the world, and that efficiency supports our role as a supplier to land- and resource-constrained nations.
• Export demand strengthens the value of the whole animal and supports producer profitability.
• Resource pressure and urban expansion matter long-term. Losing productive land pushes countries toward import dependence, and Emma argues the U.S. shouldn’t follow that path.

Chapters

00:00 Christmas Recaps, “Hawaiian Christmas,” and the Crud
01:25 The Comment Section Debate: “Stop Exporting, Stop Importing”
02:55 What We Export (And Why Other Countries Pay a Premium)
04:45 Why Imports Exist: Lean Trim, Ground Beef, and Carcass Balance
06:20 The Best Resource to Track It: USMEF and What to Look For
07:45 Who Buys U.S. Beef and Why: Japan, Korea, China, Mexico
09:15 “You Want Your Cake and Eat It Too”: Consumer Habits vs Reality
10:55 The Broader Issue: Resources, land use, and self-sufficiency
13:10 Why the U.S. Beef System Wins: Efficiency, genetics, and nutrition
15:05 Bottom Line: Trade is a “dance” and it protects carcass value
16:30 Wrap-Up: Why producers should care and where to follow Emma

beef exports, beef imports, US beef trade, why we export beef, why the US imports beef, lean trim, ground beef demand, variety meats, beef tongue, offal exports, carcass value, meat export economics, Japan beef imports, Korea beef imports, China beef imports, Mexico beef trade, US Meat Export Federation, beef supply chain, beef consumer demand, Wagyu exports, beef pricing and trade

John Campbell is back and he’s not here to recap another week of prices. He steps back and asks the bigger question heading into 2026: why does it feel like ranchers are getting squeezed from every direction, and what choices are actually left? John breaks down the producer reality behind “cheap food policy,” government pressure and paperwork, regulatory landmines that can kill a business overnight, and the risks baked into big plans that sound great on paper. Then it gets personal, succession, aging producers, why the next generation is walking away, and whether the cattle business can ever get back to a healthier model built on real competition and less dependence.

Links

Nominate or request to be a guest - forms.gle/fRkvzRenh7mqkDXV7

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/
Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusadrive.com/
CattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/
Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/
Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Takeaways

• This conversation isn’t about weekly price action. It’s about the structural forces shaping ranching decisions in 2026.
• John argues producers are price takers at the bottom of a “cheap food” system, with limited ability to pass costs forward.
• He lays out the four paths he sees producers choosing: sell to recreational buyers, hand it to the next generation, take government assistance, or fight it out.
• Government involvement isn’t “fringe” anymore. John’s point: it’s becoming unavoidable, whether producers like it or not.
• Big plans and programs can sound promising, but the timeline, regulatory obstacles, and political turnover risk make execution shaky.
• Independent processing expansion sounds like a solution, but John questions who it truly helps and how small producers fit into it.
• Regulations and compliance costs can be a “single silver bullet” that ends a small operation fast, especially for independent processors.
• Succession is a real choke point: older producers are worn out, and many younger people don’t want the fight.
• John’s 2026 “hard truth”: the industry needs more real competition and better balance across the supply chain, but getting there may require pain before reform.
• The core question he leaves listeners with: how do you rebuild a healthier cattle industry without breaking society and producers in the process?

Chapters

00:00 Christmas Recap, Prime Rib Wins, and Fighting the Crud
03:59 “Nothing to Report” Turns Into a Bigger Conversation
05:10 Government Programs, Producer Pride, and the Reality Ranchers Hate
06:45 “Cheap Food Policy” and Why Producers Keep Getting Squeezed
08:47 The Four Paths Producers Are Taking Right Now
10:50 Succession, Aging Operators, and Why the Next Generation Is Leaving
11:55 The Dilemma: Take the Money or Keep the Cowboy Hat On
16:45 Volatility, Whiplash, and Why It Feels Impossible to Plan
18:20 Big Promises, Big Risk: Why Execution Is the Real Problem
21:05 Regulation as a “Silver Bullet” That Can Kill a Business Overnight
23:05 Real Producer Story: When New Compliance Costs Hit Out of Nowhere
27:45 The 2026 Hard Truth: What Needs to Change, and Why It’s So Hard
31:05 Final Thought: Can the Industry Fix It Without a Full Reset?

cattle industry 2026, ranching in 2026, ranch succession planning, ranching regulations, government programs agriculture, independent packing plants, cattle supply chain, packer concentration, producer profitability, ranching hard truths, rural policy, cattle producer challenges, next generation ranchers, farm and ranch compliance costs, cattle industry reform

Samantha Cozza-Wright joins the podcast for a post-Christmas market check-in, breaking down what a quiet holiday trade really tells us about where cattle markets are headed. With light volume, steady cash, and futures closing higher, the conversation turns quickly to the bigger forces shaping 2026. Samantha walks through Mexico border reopening expectations, seasonal demand drop-offs, Brazilian imports, and why transparency and risk management matter more than ever at these price levels. The episode closes with a clear message for producers: know your break-evens, understand your risk tolerance, and don’t head into the new year unprotected.

Links

Nominate or request to be a guest - forms.gle/fRkvzRenh7mqkDXV7

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
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Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Takeaways

• Holiday trading was quiet, but live and feeder cattle futures closed higher across both front and deferred months.
• Negotiated fed cattle trade edged up to around $230, though volume remained light due to the holidays.
• A potential port-by-port reopening of the Mexico border is expected, but markets appear to have already priced it in.
• Seasonal demand for high-end beef cuts dropped immediately after Christmas, with weakness likely into January.
• February demand could see a short-term bump from Super Bowl buying, but a broader recovery may not come until March.
• Lifted Brazilian tariffs raise concerns about imported beef capturing more domestic demand, especially in ground beef.
• Increased imports could pressure domestic prices and slow herd expansion by shifting leverage back to packers.
• Heifer retention is starting to show up in the data, but the market must support those decisions moving forward.
• Livestock Risk Protection continues to be a key tool, especially as lenders prefer to see price protection in place.
• Samantha’s bottom line: know your numbers, trust your intuition, but don’t gamble at these levels without a safety net.

Chapters

00:00 Post-Christmas Check-In and Newborn Life
01:16 Holiday Trading: Futures, Cash, and Volume
02:15 Mexico Border Reopening and Market Reaction
03:00 Seasonal Demand Drop and Retail Price Pressure
04:29 Imports, Brazilian Beef, and Packer Leverage
06:16 Transparency, MCOOL, and Domestic Product Concerns
07:03 Heifer Retention, Volatility, and Market Stability
08:52 Risk Management, Break-Evens, and Closing Thoughts

cattle market, live cattle futures, feeder cattle, beef imports, Brazilian beef, Mexico border reopening, heifer retention, cattle risk management, livestock risk protection, beef demand, cattle industry 2026, producer margins