It’s the Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff “Tigger” Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they hear the latest announcements from the USDA and the Trump Administration. Plus the Meat Animal Research Center ranks Gelbvieh cows as number 1, hear the results and the latest sales calendar on this all new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show. This Saturday at 1:30 Pm eastern time, right here Rural Radio Channel 143 or the SiriusXM App. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel.
Gelbvieh Cows Rise To The Top
Data from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) shows that Gelbvieh females rank #1 for percent retail product.
The 2025 Across-Breed EPD (Expected Progeny Difference) Table, released by the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) and compiled by geneticists Larry Kuehn and Mark Thallman at the USDA U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), provides key performance benchmarks for the Gelbvieh breed compared to other beef breeds (using Angus as the baseline).
Additionally, historical and cumulative USMARC Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) data highlights several notable performance characteristics of the Gelbvieh breed.
Key Performance Benchmarks
2025 USMARC Across-Breed EPD Adjustment Factors for Gelbvieh
To compare a Gelbvieh bull’s EPD directly to an Angus bull, commercial producers use the specific USMARC adjustment factors. The 2025 adjustment factors for Gelbvieh relative to an Angus baseline of 0.0 include:
JBS Executive Met With Trump One Day Before Beef Import Announcement
New reporting is raising questions about the timing of a meeting between a major JBS shareholder and President Donald Trump.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Joesley Batista, a major shareholder in Brazilian meatpacker JBS, met with Trump at the White House on August 20th.
The meeting reportedly included discussions about whether lowering the 26-percent tariff on Brazilian beef could help reduce high U.S. beef prices.
The meeting happened just one day before Trump announced a major expansion of tariff-free beef imports.
On August 21st, Trump announced that up to 300-thousand metric tons of beef, or about 661 million pounds, could enter the U.S. over the next 90 days without the additional tariff.
Trump said the imported beef would be sold at 25 percent below current market prices.
The administration says the move is designed to give consumers some relief from high beef prices while American ranchers rebuild the nation's cattle herd.
But cattle groups are concerned.
U.S. Cattlemen's Association President Justin Tupper says additional imports could hurt the market signals that are encouraging ranchers to rebuild their herds.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall also says the policy could trade long-term herd expansion for short-term price relief.
Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer says the 300-thousand metric tons sounds like a lot, but represents only about 2 percent of annual U.S. beef consumption.
Schweitzer says the bigger concern is how packers and buyers could use the additional supply to pressure cattle prices.
The timing of the Batista meeting has also drawn attention because JBS is one of the four largest beef processors in the United States.
JBS is headquartered in Brazil but has a major presence in the American beef industry.
The reporting does not establish that Batista caused or influenced Trump's decision to expand tariff-free beef imports. The administration had already been looking at ways to increase beef supplies and lower consumer prices.
Meanwhile, Trump has also been criticizing consolidation in the beef packing industry and calling for ranchers to have more opportunities to process their own cattle.
The bigger question for cattle producers is whether increased imports will actually lower prices for consumers — and whether those imports could weaken the market incentives ranchers need to rebuild the American cattle herd.
REFERENCE: https://westernagnetwork.com/jbs-billionaire-met-with-trump-ahead-of-tariff-free-beef-import-move?fbclid=IwY2xjawUDwgdwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTJXcVFiOUFlYlVmVEdyREZzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEejMaEAxo3R03ZI04un8ZIODnHU9HGmNRG3L2fWqI4ZsW7Q_MqPrnDKRPSKgs_aem__abaxtbnMpgIPVslwYWC_w
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/how-a-brazilian-billionaire-helped-shape-trumps-beef-import-plan-9f969669
Ranchers First: USDA Unveils Plan To Rebuild America’s Cattle Herd
On Monday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a major new effort aimed at rebuilding America’s cattle herd and putting ranchers at the center of the nation’s food supply.
It’s called the Ranchers First Initiative, and USDA says it builds on the Trump Administration’s plan announced last October to strengthen the American beef industry.
The initiative focuses on five major areas.
First — Helping Ranchers Keep More Heifers
USDA is creating a new insurance option called the Beef Retention and National Development, or BRAND, endorsement.
The goal is to make it easier for ranchers to keep heifers for breeding instead of sending them to the feedlot.
The program would provide insurance protection for the economic value of keeping that heifer as part of the breeding herd for up to two years.
Second — Helping Ranchers Recover After Disasters
USDA is expanding the use of the Emergency Conservation Program, or ECP, on certain Grassland Conservation Reserve Program acres.
That means ranchers could use the program to rebuild fences, water systems and other critical infrastructure after wildfires and other natural disasters.
The goal is to get ranches back up and running faster and help protect the nation’s cattle inventory.
Third — Expanding Local and Regional Beef Processing
USDA is expanding its efforts to strengthen smaller, regional beef processors.
A new SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program will help processors expand, create cooperatives and increase processing capacity.
USDA is also creating a Regional Processor Continuity Effort to help small and mid-sized processors stay in business and become more resilient.
The department says nearly 20 percent of current beef processing capacity could become available as the cattle herd grows, creating an opportunity for more American-owned processors and cooperatives.
Fourth — Putting More American Beef in Government Food Programs
USDA says it will prioritize American-raised beef in federal food purchasing.
That could include beef purchased for places such as prisons, hospitals, schools and other government institutions.
The goal is to increase demand for American beef while supporting U.S. ranchers and locally owned processors.
And Fifth — Bringing More New Ranchers Into the Business
USDA says it will expand support for beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers.
New producers can receive help through FSA loans, conservation programs, livestock insurance and other resources.
USDA also plans to work with the Department of War and the Department of Veterans Affairs to help servicemembers transition into careers in agriculture.
Secretary Rollins says the overall goal is simple: rebuild the Great American Beef Herd, strengthen independent ranchers and make sure more American cattle operations can be passed on to the next generation.
References:https://ocj.com/2026/08/usda-rolls-out-ranchers-first-plan-to-rebuild-u-s-cattle-herd/
https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/08/31/secretary-rollins-announces-ranchers-first-initiatives-rebuild-great-american-beef-herd?fbclid=IwY2xjawUC8x5wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTJXcVFiOUFlYlVmVEdyREZzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe9gd4nc5zoJx5jfdFKsrWxDA1QuPmLIj68ZJdAbVyb4cKdIKByZBDXPhIMNM_aem_axnqKjHOWKZjIX7Kevx1-g
Cattle Groups Push Back On Trump Plan To Let Ranchers Process Their Own Beef
Cattle and meat industry groups are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s plan to make it easier for farmers and ranchers to process and sell their own meat.
Trump says the idea is designed to reduce the power of the country’s largest beef processors.
In a social media post Friday, August 28 Trump said he has directed legal documents to be prepared that would give farmers and ranchers more freedom to process their own livestock.
But the details of the plan are still unclear.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says USDA plans to announce changes that could include removing outdated regulations, waiving some requirements and making it easier for ranchers to sell meat across state lines.
The administration may also provide more support for small meat processors.
But the Meat Institute says ranchers already have several options, including custom processing and state or federally inspected facilities.
The group warns that allowing uninspected meat to be sold commercially could put food safety and consumer confidence at risk.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association agrees, saying weakening federal meat inspection standards is not the answer.
The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association is also opposing the idea.
The group says producers can already process animals for their own use, but generally cannot sell uninspected meat commercially.
Their message is simple: food safety is not red tape, and consumer confidence is not optional.
Trump’s proposal comes just one week after his announcement allowing an additional 300-thousand metric tons of imported grinding beef into the United States without the additional tariff.
Cattle groups have opposed that move as well, saying more imported beef could pressure cattle prices and discourage ranchers from rebuilding the U.S. herd.
Trump says both policies are aimed at lowering beef prices for consumers while helping American ranchers.
REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/trump-plan-to-expand-rancher-processing-draws-industry-backlash/
North Dakota Meat Processor Up For Sale After More Than 50 Years
A long-time North Dakota meat processor is up for sale.
M and W Beef Packers in Mandan has been in business for more than 50 years, and the three current owners are now retiring.
The company was founded in 1974 by Wesley and Vita Moore and has operated continuously ever since.
The sale includes the company, a 7-thousand-square-foot USDA-inspected processing plant, a separate garage and shop, and all of the equipment.
And despite the owners’ decision to retire, the business has been growing.
Revenue more than doubled over a three-year period through 2024, reaching 4-point-4 million dollars.
The company reported an annual growth rate of more than 20 percent during that time, with gross margins near 24 percent.
M and W processes and supplies beef, pork, lamb and bison to restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and institutional customers.
Its products are distributed through major companies including Cash-Way, Sysco and US Foods.
The company also produces its own Dakota Trails brand of seasonings, which are sold at more than 13 regional retail locations.
M and W Beef Packers has been an independent meat processor serving ranchers and customers across the Northern Plains for more than five decades.
Now, with the current owners retiring, the future of this long-standing Mandan business is up for grabs.
REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/historic-n-d-meat-processor-announces-sale/
Feeder Cattle Sale Dates & Deadlines
September 2 - 3: Superior Livestock Auction Labor Day Sale
September 7: Western Video Market Haythorn Ranch Consignment Deadline
September 14: Northern Livestock Video Fall Premier Sale
September 15: Western Video Market Haythorn Ranch Sale
Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry
Harold Bertz – American Gelbvieh Association
https://gelbvieh.org/
Follow on Facebook: @AmericanGelbvieh
Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation
https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/
Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos
Contact Us with Questions or Concerns
Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via:
Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms.
Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC
Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production.
Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC.
https://tiggerandbec.com/
Industry References, Partners and Resources
For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources:
American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/
EquineMarket.Com: https://www.equinemarket.com/
Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/
Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com
LivestockMarket.Com: https://www.livestockmarket.com/
RanchChannel.Com: https://ranchchannel.com/
RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/
Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/
Sire Buyer: https://www.sirebuyer.com/
Superior Livestock: https://superiorlivestock.com/
Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/
Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/
