CattleUSA Daily

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/
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

• 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

Meteorologist Gary Lezak returns to break down a newly established weather pattern that’s already leaving clear fingerprints across the country. With a cycle length near 73 days, this is one of the longest Lezak Recurring Cycles observed in decades. Gary explains why storms are hammering California but weakening as they move east, how anchor troughs and anchor ridges quietly control where weather systems thrive or fail, and why the unusually warm Christmas stretch is not random. The conversation connects today’s winter setup to what could become a major heat event in late July or early August, showing how understanding pattern behavior—not daily forecasts—can completely change long-range planning.

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

• The current weather pattern is cycling at roughly 73 days, making it one of the longest LRCs on record.
• Long cycles do not eliminate storms, but they strongly influence where storms intensify and where they weaken.
• Anchor troughs are regions where storms consistently grow stronger and occur more often.
• Anchor ridges suppress storm development and weaken systems that move through them.
• California is positioned near an anchor trough, increasing the risk of heavy rain, flooding, and major snowfall events.
• Much of the central U.S. sits closer to an anchor ridge, causing storms to lose strength as they move east.
• The warm Christmas weather is a defining signal within the cycle, not a short-term fluke.
• That same warm pattern is expected to return in late July or early August as a significant heat event.
• Knowing the cycle length improves seasonal planning far beyond what short-range forecasts can provide.

Chapters

00:00 Holiday Check-In and Why This Pattern Matters
02:05 What the Lezak Recurring Cycle Tracks
04:30 Anchor Troughs vs. Anchor Ridges Explained
07:10 Why West Coast Storms Are Intensifying
09:45 The 73-Day Cycle and Why It’s Unusual
12:05 Connecting Christmas Warmth to Summer Heat
14:50 What to Watch as the Pattern Continues

weather pattern, long-range forecasting, Lezak Recurring Cycle, LRC, anchor troughs, anchor ridges, winter weather patterns, seasonal forecasting, summer heat outlook, Weather 2020

John Campbell is back on the podcast, this time calling in from Oklahoma with a full breakdown of how the cattle market has snapped back from the fall crash. He walks through runaway calf prices at Winter Livestock in La Junta, high-dollar bred cows and pairs, and how Dodge City and Pratt are lining up with the rebound. Then he takes his auction barn hat off and unloads on the beef checkoff: where the money actually goes, why cattle producers should be asking harder questions, and how much is being spent on fluff instead of real demand. The episode wraps with some Christmas prime rib talk, Traeger confessions, and a reminder that expensive beef better be cooked right.

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
• La Junta saw a huge rebound in calves, with 2–4 weights and 5-weights pushing back toward pre-crash highs.
• Light calves in multiple weight classes are effectively back to where they were before the late October–early November wipeout.
• Bigger feeder cattle (7–9 weights) have not fully recovered yet, but John is optimistic they’ll keep working higher as supplies stay tight.
• Stock cows, bred heifers, and pairs saw very strong demand: young spring-calving cows commonly brought upper-$3,000s to low-$4,000s.
• Older cows were still several hundred higher than earlier in the fall, driven by expectations of profitable first calf crops.
• Standout young pairs with light fall calves hit over $5,000, some of the highest pairs John has ever sold.
• Dodge City and Pratt echoed the same story: lightweight steers and heifers ripping higher, with some local all-time records on certain steer weights.
• As grass guys re-enter the market after the first of the year, John expects 600–650 lb steers with the right kind and condition to get even higher.
• John calls out the beef checkoff for weak consumer-facing promotion and for funneling a big chunk of producer dollars into NCBA and “sustainability” agendas.
• His bottom line: the cow factory is still short, the light calf market has real legs under it, and producers deserve more out of every checkoff dollar.

Chapters
00:00 Oklahoma, Border Jokes, and Holiday Road Miles
01:24 La Junta Runaway Calf Market: Prices, Weights, and Volume
03:57 Stock Cows, Bred Heifers, and $5,000 Young Pairs
05:41 Dodge City and Pratt: How Other Winter Livestock Yards Compare
08:02 Light Calves Nearly Fully Rebound, Heavy Feeders Still Climbing Back
09:35 Looking Ahead: Grass Demand, Tight Supplies, and Early 2026 Setup
11:09 John’s Beef Checkoff Rant: NCBA, Sustainability Money, and Recipe Cards
15:03 Christmas Prime Rib, Traeger Mishaps, and Wrapping the Year

cattle market, calf prices, feeder cattle, bred cows, bred heifers, cow-calf pairs, stock cows, Winter Livestock, La Junta cattle market, Dodge City cattle market, Pratt Kansas cattle, beef checkoff, NCBA, cattle industry politics, herd rebuilding, grass cattle demand, prime rib, beef demand

This week’s conversation digs into the final stretch of 2025 cattle markets with Samantha and Dan breaking down the latest data, the holiday trade environment, and what early signals tell us about 2026. With a bullish cattle-on-feed report, surprising heifer retention, and consumer demand shifting toward cheaper cuts, the group parses out where leverage sits, what volatility still lurks, and why risk management matters heading into the new year. They also cover slaughter pace, cash trends, and how weather, grains, and global headlines are shaping the backdrop for Q1.

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

• Latest cattle-on-feed report came in bullish with placements sharply lower
• Marketing numbers hit a 30-year low, adding upward tone
• Holiday trade volume is thin, limiting major market moves
• Consumer behavior is shifting toward lower-cost beef cuts like ground beef
• Lack of MCOOL continues to muddy transparency for domestic producers
• Heifer retention is finally showing up in slaughter data
• Short-term bullishness comes from tighter feedyard numbers
• Long-term herd rebuilding will take time even with more heifers kept
• LRP remains critical for those who miss market highs
• Grain markets are range-bound with little movement expected before January report

Chapters

00:00 Baby News, Frozen Screens, and Holiday Chaos
01:35 Samantha’s Market Recap and Cattle-on-Feed Breakdown
05:18 Why Consumer Demand Is Still the Wild Card
07:00 Dan on Heifer Retention and the 2026 Setup
09:25 Rebuilding the Herd and Managing Next Year’s Risk
10:43 Grain Market Snapshot and January Expectations
12:21 The Origin of “Kyle Lock the Gate”
14:53 Closing Thoughts and Christmas Wishes

cattle markets, cattle prices, cattle on feed, heifer retention, consumer demand, beef demand, placements, slaughter numbers, grain markets, LRP, market volatility, risk management, cash cattle, feeder cattle

Most ranchers drift into January with half-finished books, fuzzy numbers, and a mental list of decisions they’ll “get to later.” But if you want a stronger, more profitable 2026, the work starts now. In this episode, Lauren breaks down the 10 essential year-end steps that determine your clarity, your margins, and how prepared you are for next year’s volatility. From knowing your true cost per cow to auditing herd performance, tightening your grazing strategy, meeting with your lender, and facing the decisions you’ve avoided all year, this checklist gives you the control and direction most operations never take the time to build.

Links

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
• Clean books are the foundation of every decision in 2026.
• True cost per cow determines whether your ranch is profitable or guessing.
• Ranking expenses by ROI exposes which costs drive value and which drain you.
• Herd performance audits should drive culling decisions now, not in March.
• Inventory prevents overspending and miscalculating winter feed needs.
• Early lender and tax conversations protect cash flow and reduce surprises.
• Reviewing your grazing year honestly prevents repeating mistakes.
• Fixing labor inefficiencies is more valuable than adding people.
• Avoidance compounds — unresolved issues become next year’s biggest problems.

Chapters
00:00 Why Year-End Work Determines Your 2026 Success
01:27 Steps 1–3: Clean Books, True Cost Per Cow, and Ranking Expenses by ROI
04:15 Steps 4–5: Herd Performance Audits and Full Inventory
05:14 Steps 6–7: Lender Conversations and Year-End Tax Strategy
06:30 Step 8: Reviewing Your Grazing Year Honestly
06:58 Step 9: Labor Systems and Fixing Inefficiency
07:33 Step 10: Facing the Decisions You Avoided All Year
07:49 The Three Outcomes: Clarity, Control, Confidence — and What’s Coming Next

ranch management, year-end planning, ranch finances, cost per cow, herd auditing, grazing review, ranch inventory, agricultural bookkeeping, ranch tax planning, lender meeting, cash flow management, labor efficiency, ranch business strategy, cattle operations, 2026 ranch planning

Grazing management is one of the most misunderstood and most financially consequential parts of running a ranch. In this episode, Lauren Moylan and Emma Coffman break down what rotational and regenerative grazing actually mean, why overgrazing now can cripple your pastures for decades, and how to approach winter forage and spring planning with realistic, financially feasible steps. Emma shares what she has learned while traveling across the country studying grazing systems firsthand, why “start small” is the rule every rancher should follow, and how better grazing decisions today set the foundation for a healthier 2026—both for the land and the cattle.

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
• Regenerative grazing isn’t a trend—it’s simply managing grass based on science and region, not social media opinions.
• The biggest rule producers miss: start small and make changes that match your finances and landscape.
• Leaving 2–3 inches of stubble is critical for regrowth; bare-ground grazing delays recovery for years.
• Overgrazing today can create problems that last decades, especially in drought-prone regions like Kansas and Texas.
• Pastures need rest, hoof traffic, and sunlight access—not continuous grazing.
• Virtual fencing, poly wire, or simple smaller paddocks can dramatically improve rest and rotation.
• Many ranches struggle because they try to change everything at once; sustainable grazing requires incremental adjustments.
• True “low-input” systems rely on healthy soil first, not more supplements or chemicals.
• Regional experts (NRCS, Noble Research Institute, Center for Grazing Lands and Ranch Management) are far more reliable than online fads.
• Flexibility matters: grazing systems must adjust year to year, season to season, and drought to drought.

Chapters
00:00 Why Winter Grazing Decisions Shape the Entire Next Year
01:07 What Rotational and Regenerative Grazing Actually Are (Not the Buzzword Version)
03:43 Starting Small: The Financially Smart Way to Change Grazing Practices
05:35 Overgrazing Consequences: Why One Bad Season Can Damage Land for Decades
07:26 Lessons From Across the Country: What Emma Saw on Real Ranches
09:45 Using Experts, Data, and Forage Testing Instead of Social Media Advice
11:03 Setting Up Pastures for 2026: Rest, Recovery, and Realistic Adjustments
14:57 Final Takeaways and Where to Find More Grazing Resources

winter forage, rotational grazing, regenerative grazing, grazing management, pasture recovery, drought management, forage testing, stocking decisions, soil health, ranch profitability, low-input ranching, grazing systems, NRCS, Noble Research Institute, Center for Grazing Lands and Ranch Management

This week’s episode dives into a weather pattern that has finally revealed its true shape — and it’s a complicated one. Meteorologist Gary Lezak joins Lauren to break down the emerging 70–75 day LRC cycle, the extreme wind event sweeping across the Rockies, why Colorado’s snowpack continues to disappoint, and what all of this means for drought watchers across Kansas, Nebraska, and the central plains. From fire risk to January storm setups to the shifting influences of ENSO and the Arctic Oscillation, Gary lays out the real signals producers should track heading into winter and early spring.

Links

Henry Repeating Arms - https://www.henryusa.com/cattle

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
• A major high-wind event is sweeping Colorado and the northern plains due to the pattern’s setup.
• Early analysis shows this year’s LRC cycle may be 70–75 days long — much longer than last year.
• An anchor ridge near Colorado/Kansas is limiting snowfall and contributing to warm, dry conditions.
• Colorado ski areas remain well below normal snowpack, increasing long-term drought and fire concerns.
• The plains have been hit-or-miss: some Kansas areas are near average moisture despite the dry pattern.
• Phase one of the LRC favors storm tracks through MT/ND/SD/IA, mostly missing Kansas and Nebraska.
• Phase two brings stronger West Coast storms — including a Christmas-week California system.
• January’s big risk window appears late January into early February, with potential for a plains ice/snow storm.
• ENSO is trending toward neutral by mid-January, which may improve plains moisture opportunities.
• AO/NAO have stayed mostly positive; if they dip negative, it could unlock the pattern’s storm potential.

Chapters
00:00 High Winds in Colorado and Why the Pattern Looks the Way It Does
02:45 Forecast Accuracy, Public Perception, and Why Influencers Undermine Real Meteorology
06:00 Understanding This Year’s Anchor Ridge and the Dry Rocky Mountain Setup
08:21 Fire Risk, Human-Caused Starts, and Dry Fuels Across the West
10:35 What Phase One and Phase Two Mean for January and the Plains
12:51 ENSO, AO, NAO and How They’ll Influence late-winter Storm Potential
15:18 Why January Could Flip — and What Producers Should Watch
17:04 Top-Secret Insight: The New Cycle Length and What It Means for Spring Planning

LRC cycle, long-range weather, plains drought, Colorado wind, fire risk, California storms, ENSO neutral, AO index, NAO index, planting season forecast, winter storm potential, ranch weather, agriculture forecast, Weather 2020

In this episode, Lauren sits down with industry veteran Marty Ropp to cut through the noise on genomics and what it actually means for cattle producers. Marty shares how genomic tools have finally caught up to the promises made 20 years ago, why he believes their biggest value is on the cost-reduction side, and how precision mating and DNA-informed cow selection can quietly add up to serious long-term profit. From seedstock expectations to commercial heifer selection to system-specific genomic tools, this conversation is a straight-shot look at where genomics fits in a practical ranch business and what happens to those who ignore it.

Links

Allied Genetics - https://alliedgeneticresources.com/

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
• Genomics is not just a buzzword; it is now a mature, science-based tool that meaningfully improves genetic decisions.
• The biggest value of genomics is in reducing costs, especially through maternal, fertility, and longevity traits that are hard to measure.
• Traditional tools work well for growth and carcass traits, but genomics shines where traits are “lowly heritable” in the old system.
• Genomics acts like a risk-management guardrail, keeping operations out of the ditch and speeding up improvement.
• ROI is slower and longer-term on the cow side, which makes it harder to market but more powerful economically.
• Commercial herds should prioritize testing young and replacement females, not just bulls.
• Seedstock producers who aren’t genomically testing all bulls and potential replacements are already behind.
• Precision mating tools use genomics to avoid “wasted matings” and predict when that dream mating will actually produce a dud.
• System-specific genomic indexes (for Wagyu programs, conventional grids, etc.) help align genetics to real-world profit targets.
• Marty believes producers who lean into precision and genomics will drive the industry in 10–20 years, while resisters risk getting left behind like parts of the old swine genetics business.

Chapters
00:00 From Swine to Beef: Marty’s Path Into the Genetics World
02:25 What Genomics Really Is — And Why It’s the Final Answer, Not the Sales Pitch
05:24 Why the Biggest Genomic Payoff Is on Cost Reduction and Maternal Traits
09:31 Precision, Not Hype: How Systems and Genomics Fit Together From Birth to Harvest
13:48 Bulls vs. Cows: Where to Start Testing and Why Females Matter More Than You Think
16:41 The Next 5–15 Years: Precision Mating, Sorting, and System-Specific Genomic Tools
21:24 Lessons from the Swine Industry and Marty’s Warning for Beef Genetics
22:35 Final Advice: Invest in Genomics, Then Actually Use the Data

genomics, cattle genetics, precision mating, maternal traits, cow longevity, reproductive efficiency, cost reduction, seedstock strategy, commercial cow-calf, precision agriculture, DNA testing, heifer selection, feeder cattle value, carcass traits, beef industry technology

Warm temps, melting snow, and a half-marathon training confession set the stage for what turns into one of the most candid episodes of the year. Host Lauren Moylan sits down with market analyst and cattle feeder Dan Gerhold to talk holiday cattle markets, LRP strategy, and what 2026 might really look like for margins. Then Dan takes off the CattleUSA Insurance hat, puts on his feeder hat, and unloads a blunt, unapologetic rant about beef demand: dietitians still pushing lean and portion control, checkoff dollars sleepwalking through the carnivore and keto moment, and why Make America Healthy Again should have beef front and center. It’s part market rundown, part reality check on how this industry is (and isn’t) talking to the consumer.

Links

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
• Holiday cattle trade is typical: shorter kill weeks, quieter boards, but coming off a strong “Santa Claus rally” in cash.
• Recent weeks saw meaningful strength in fat cattle and feeder prices, giving producers a better end to 2025 than many expected.
• Dan expects tighter margins in 2026 for feedlots and backgrounders compared to the big profit runs of 2025.
• Year-end is prime time to use LRP and options as both risk management and tax tools; producers should talk with their accountants now.
• Despite years of new research supporting higher-protein, higher-fat diets, many dietitians and major brands are still pushing “lean” and strict portion control.
• Dan argues the beef checkoff is missing a massive opportunity to ride the carnivore and keto wave with hard data and aggressive consumer marketing.
• He questions why checkoff dollars aren’t funding big, visible campaigns that highlight saturated fat, protein, and real health outcomes tied to beef.
• Internal finger-pointing at packers and retailers is easier than facing the core issue: long-term demand is built at the consumer level, not in investigations.
• With two-plus years of potential “Make America Healthy Again” momentum, beef should be at the policy and messaging table, not sitting quietly on the sidelines.
• Grain and energy markets are still sluggish, which complicates the feed side; Dan remains concerned about beef demand and pricing power going into 2026.

Chapters
00:00 Warm Winter, Half-Marathon Plans, and Setting the Scene
01:45 Holiday Trade, Cash Rally, and Where the Cattle Market Sits Now
03:22 Short Kill Weeks, Tax Season, and Using LRP as a Year-End Tool
05:27 2025 Recap: Big Profits, Producer Pain, and Tighter Margins Ahead
05:49 Dan’s Rant: Dietitians, Lean Beef Messaging, and a Frustrated Feeder
09:38 Checkoff Dollars, Carnivore/Keto Momentum, and a Missed Marketing Window
13:51 Same Team, Same Consumer: Why Internal Blame Won’t Fix Demand
18:32 Grains, Energy, and Why Dan’s Worried About 2026 Beef Demand
20:09 Final Market Notes and Closing Thoughts

cattle markets, beef demand, beef checkoff, holiday trade, LRP, risk management, feeder margins, grain market, energy prices, carnivore diet, keto diet, saturated fat, nutrition messaging, MAHA, consumer behavior, dietitians, cattle feeders, cow-calf producers, CattleUSA Daily Podcast

Representative Tracey Mann returns to the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on the Bridge 8 announcement, ag trade realities, input costs, and what farmers should expect heading into 2025. Lauren digs into whether the $12 billion in tariff-derived support will actually move the needle, how soon producers might see relief, and what happens if the trade negotiations everyone is banking on stall out. Rep. Mann also outlines what Farm Bill 2.0 needs to fix, what was truly accomplished in the Working Families Tax Cuts bill, and how Congress plans to keep key programs from expiring. It’s a candid look at policy, markets, and the political landscape shaping the future of American agriculture.

Links

Rep. Tracey Mann's Website - https://mann.house.gov/

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
• Bridge 8 uses $12B in tariff revenue to help farmers absorb high input costs and low commodity prices.
• Not every producer will feel the same level of impact; effectiveness will vary by commodity and region.
• Additional support from the Working Families Tax Cuts bill begins in January, including stronger crop insurance and higher reference prices.
• Ag trade deficits grew significantly in the previous administration; new deals aim to reverse that trend.
• China, the U.K., and other partners have early ag-purchase commitments, but enforcement remains critical.
• Unfunded programs from the earlier legislation have been extended so nothing lapses at year-end.
• Priorities for Farm Bill 2.0 include Food for Peace reforms, promoting U.S. commodities in global aid, and expanding precision ag tools.
• Input costs remain the biggest driver of why safety-net programs need updates.
• Farmers need policy certainty to operate confidently, especially in volatile markets.
• Rural values—faith, family, hard work, responsibility—remain central to Rep. Mann’s advocacy.

Chapters
00:00 Kicking Off with Bridge 8 and the State of Farm Economics
01:20 Is $12B Enough? What Support Looks Like Across Commodities
02:23 Trade Deals, Surpluses Lost, and What Farmers Should Expect
03:17 What Happens to Programs Set to Expire at Year-End
04:50 Farm Bill 2.0 Priorities and What Still Needs to Get Done
06:04 Why Policy Certainty Matters for American Agriculture
07:01 Final Thoughts from Rep. Mann and Closing Remarks

ag policy, Bridge 8, farm bill, tariff revenue, trade deals, crop insurance, reference prices, input costs, agricultural economics, U.S. agriculture, Rep. Tracey Mann, commodity markets, MAP funding, FMD funding, food aid, precision agriculture, rural values