It’s fair season and be sure to catch the anticipation and sounds of Idaho’s Cassia County Fair, as our own columnist and Fair Board member Paul Marchant introduces the fair board president Trevor Stapelman, an FFA advisor Cami Schumann, and Addi Jones, overall champion from the heifer futurity contest. And catch up with two of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange analysts, Rob Fox and Abbi Prins, on the ranching work force and herd rebuilding.

Join Progressive Cattle Podcast co-host Tyrell Marchant as he visits with West Texas A&M's Trent Schwartz to discuss how the meat packing, retail and food service sectors are adjusting to handling and marketing larger carcasses than ever before. The team also previews the August issue of the magazine and ponders an alternate reality where the U.S. livestock industry is dominated by ... hippos?

Carrie Veselka visits with Theo Beaumont, Senior Enterprise Sales Manager at Halter, joined by California ranchers Lauren Sizemore and Teal Cody. They discuss the real-life application of virtual fencing and the adoption of technology into day-to-day ranch management. The podcast crew also welcomes Progressive Cattle summer intern Taryn Cox, and tests their knowledge of global export markets and cattle inventory numbers against the 2025 Beef Stats poster, included in the July issue of Progressive Cattle.

In this episode of the Progressive Cattle Podcast, Ted and Elizabeth join the show to unpack key management strategies for today’s beef producers. From the benefits of value-added programs to cow size and forage demand, the conversation offers practical insights for optimizing herd performance. The discussion also dives into the importance of water quality—especially during drought—and the surprising costs of horn flies. Whether you’re evaluating inputs or planning for the season ahead, this episode is full of timely, actionable takeaways.

This episode is sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition.

Abby speaks with T.R. Lansford, Texas Animal Health Commission, about the threat of New World screwworm and the closure of the border to live cattle imports from Mexico. Tyrell talks with Dawn Hnatow from Cattle Up Stockmanship about reducing stress on livestock and workers through better communication with those animals. And the Progressive Cattle crew tell branding and fence building stories.

Derrell Peel of Oklahoma State University talks with David Cooper about beef supplies and global trade in 2025 in this episode of the Progressive Cattle Podcast. Mandy Carr Johnson of NCBA shares demand initiatives and Beef Checkoff programs with Abby George. And the podcast team discusses all the beef David had on a recent death-defying cruise to Mexico. 

Catch up with the Progressive Cattle Podcast interviews in the April issue with Greg Hanes, of the Cattlemen's Beef Board on its checkoff spending, and Return on Investment study benefits; and Patrick De Haan a fossil fuel analyst with GasBuddy on summer gas blends, trade tariffs, and diesel prices this summer.

Spring calving brings new life to the farm—but also brings unpredictable weather. One day, it’s warm and sunny. The next, a cold front moves in, bringing rain, snow or mud. These swings can create major stress for young calves, affecting their health and growth. For producers, that means staying vigilant—starting with gut health to strengthen immunity.

In this episode, Paul Nuttelman, Midwest sales representative with DBC Ag Products, shares what he sees on farms and why proactive gut health and immune support can be the foundation for growing strong, healthy calves that command premium prices.

Here is the episode breakdown:

• ~1:00 – Paul introduces himself
• ~1:51 – How Paul helps farmers in his role
• ~3:03 – Calving season challenges
• ~4:12 – Steps to prepare for calving success
• ~5:08 – Probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics
• ~6:10 – Key ingredients when choosing a calf product
• ~7:10 – What sets Last Stand apart
• ~7:40 – Shifting away from antibiotics
• ~9:05 – Day-one protocols
• ~9:49 – Beyond day one
• ~10:44 – Favorite success story
• ~13:54 – One piece of advice
• ~14:40 – Where to learn more

This episode is sponsored by DBC Ag Products.

In the final NCBA 2025 episode, the editorial team shares a sneak peek of the March issue, and Carrie Veselka visits with Jared Knock of AgSpire, about beef supply chain sustainability and helping operations make improvements from the ground up. David Cooper and Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, discuss the current state of beef exports and what lies ahead for global market conditions.

Once again, the crew checks in from CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio. Join us as we visit with NCBA's Kaitlynn Glover about some of the most pressing D.C. issues impacting the cattle industry; talk risk management in the current beef market with Rabobank's Lance Zimmerman; and learn more about the science of beef yield with John Stika from Certified Angus Beef.