The team discusses everything from TikTok politics to Valentine's Day candy. Meanwhile, Tyrell chats with Alltech's Bryan Sanderson about the cattle cycle and how producers of all scopes and sizes will decide how and when the national cow herd will start its upswing. Finally, Tyrell talks to Erik Kalsta with Western Landowners Alliance about how producers can manage their herds profitably in the presence of wild neighbors such as wolves, grizzlies and elk.

In this episode, editors discuss possible impacts of tariffs, Chad Ross of Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association explains Canadian beef production, and Dan Putnam explains how water resources remain a challenge for alfalfa farmers in California.

Craig Piggott, CEO of Halter, tells the story of the largest virtual fencing company in the world. Halter passed the 250,000 collar mark in 2024 and is quickly positioning itself as a new, unique opportunity for U.S. ranchers interested in getting the most from their pastures. Craig talks about how he and Halter got started, what makes them unique and their vision to be an integral part of the success and sustainability of U.S. ranches.

This episode is sponsored by Halter.

Halter was founded in 2016 with a mission to enable producers to be more productive and sustainable. It’s one of the fastest growing ag-tech companies globally, and the largest virtual fencing provider in the world with more than 250,000 cattle in New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. wearing the Halter collar. Halter delivers effortless grazing to U.S. ranchers, providing 24/7 visibility into where their cattle are and how they are grazing. There is no need for ranchers to spend hours gathering cattle or working to build, repair or move fences, because now they can effortlessly manage pastures and move cattle with Halter in minutes through the Halter app on their phone.

Join the Progressive Cattle editors in a discussion about the candidates for USDA secretary, and a follow-up discussion on Trump’s named pick for the position. Scott Wright, director of the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence at University of Saskatchewan, visits with David and Tyrell about the facility’s research and mission in beef production. And listen in as editors share some special memories of Christmas morning work chores growing up on the ranch.

Tyrell sits down with John R. Erickson, author of the beloved Hank the Cowdog book series, for a meandering and insightful conversation about the animals we live and work with, recovering after wildfires, and educating the public about livestock agriculture. Then David, Carrie, Paul and Fredric debate the merits of including vegetables in your Thanksgiving dinner.

Join Kristin Torres, Executive Director of Meetings & Events at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as she discusses CattleCon 2025 and the meetings and events that make up the premier industry event. CattleCon 2025 will take place in San Antonio, Texas, February 4-6, 2025.

This episode is sponsored by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

In this Progressive Cattle Podcast episode, David visits with Kent Bacus, Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the National Beef Cattle Association at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference about trade negotiations with Canada, and Tyrell visits with Charley Martinez with the University of Tennessee about a study using AI and tracking eye movement to gauge interest in what genetic information producers are looking at in bull sale catalogs. Also, the podcast crew shares their favorite Halloween costumes and experiences.

Join the whole Progressive Cattle crew – David, Paul, Tyrell, Carrie and Abby - as they enjoy the Cassia County Fair in Southern Idaho. They speak with Ryan Udy about the experiences of being a junior exhibitor at the county fair and all the fun that comes with it. Abby interviews Elliott Dennis, from University of Nebraska - Lincoln, as they compare the cattle market in 2024 vs. 2014 and discuss how producers can make the decision to cull, maintain or expand this fall.

Tyrell visits with Mark Thallman from the USDA's Meat Animal Research Center about the merits and drawbacks of implementing terminal crossbreeding systems. Then, the Noble Research Institute's Josh Gaskamp joins Carrie to chat about how educational opportunities for producers to better their land for long-term profitability. Finally, join the gang as they discuss the joys of county fair season, weigh in on what tattoo Paul should get (and where), and debate the viewing value of various Olympic sports.

Texas A&M professor David P. Anderson visits with David Cooper to review how many operations in the beef livestock industry have been lost or consolidated in the most recent USDA Census report. And to preview the Progressive Cattle 2024 Beef Statistics poster that went out to readers, the editor crew tests their knowledge of beef production and cattle inventories in the U.S. and worldwide. Listen in to see how you fare against the so-called experts.