In today’s beef buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays continues his conversation with John Stika, president of Certified Angus Beef, who discussed the brand’s long history, global reach, and current market challenges and opportunities. Stika noted that Certified Angus Beef (CAB), founded in 1978 was the first USDA-certified branded beef program, and has established itself as the gold standard when it comes to branded beef. International growth has been a major part of that success since CAB entered overseas markets in 1990. Despite recent global disruptions, Stika emphasized that the brand’s momentum remains strong.

Stika explained that international sales faced headwinds this past year due to “tariffs and price and currency exchange rates and closed markets,” which caused some decline. Still, he pointed to bright spots: “Aside from Mexico, which last year grew by 32%, we were up in every other Latin American market… we were up in more than half of [the 77] countries” where CAB is sold. He stressed that the strategy remains consistent—drive quality and demand so CAB is positioned for accelerated growth when global conditions stabilize.

Tight U.S. cattle supplies continue to pose challenges for CAB’s procurement team. Stika acknowledged the strain, saying tight numbers make it tough to ensure every partner receives the product they need. But he also emphasized that these are “great times for producers” who raise Angus cattle. More importantly, Stika highlighted a powerful trend: record-setting quality. “There may be fewer cattle out there, but more of them fit our brand than ever,” he said, pointing to CAB’s all-time high acceptance rate of 37.6%. He predicted the national annual average will surpass 40% before long.

Reflecting on how far the industry has come, Stika recalled that acceptance rates once hovered near 5%. Even in 2006, he said, it was only “14%.” Today, CAB carcasses make up “22 to 24% of all fed cattle harvested in the U.S.” He described the progress as an “amazing transformation” benefiting both Angus breeders and the beef industry as a whole. At today’s higher prices, Stika said it’s clear that long-term investments in quality have paid off: “Now we’ve got a product that consumers want, and they’re willing to pay these record high prices.”

Looking ahead, Stika also addressed the Made in the USA labeling initiative set to expand in early 2026. CAB supports transparency and consumer choice, he said, adding: “We are advocates for consumers having all the information that they want… and are willing to pay for.” While some CAB-producing plants will be positioned to use the label and others may not, Stika emphasized that the brand is ready to respond as consumer demand becomes clearer. CAB will support supply chain partners who adopt the label and help them market it effectively.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

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