Working Ranch Radio Show

With replacement females costing what they do today, what’s another productive year worth from a cow already in your herd? University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educators Randy Saner and Shannon Sand join us to explore when that extra year adds value—and when it doesn’t. From replacement costs and young cows leaving the herd too soon to feed expenses and the productivity of older cows, we look at the factors that help determine whether keeping her another year will pay.

Link to: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Beef Cow Replacement Forecast 2026-2027

#WorkingRanchRadio #Ranching #BeefCattle #CowCalf #CowLongevity #ReplacementHeifers #HerdManagement #RanchProfitability #NebraskaExtension

Historically low cattle numbers are creating challenges throughout the beef industry, but what does that mean for the infrastructure needed to feed and process those cattle? Dr. Stephen Koontz, agricultural economist at Colorado State University, joins us to examine how reduced cattle supplies are affecting feedlot capacity, packing plant operations, and competition within the industry. We discuss the economic pressures facing both sectors, potential changes ahead, and whether the industry will need to adjust to a smaller cattle herd over the long term. Plus, what could these structural changes mean for cow-calf producers, and what should ranchers be considering as they make decisions for the future of their operations.

#WorkingRanchRadioShow #CattleIndustry #CattleMarkets #CattleNumbers #CowCalfProducers #BeefIndustry #FeedlotCapacity #MeatPacking #CattleEconomics #Ranching #StephenKoontz #ColoradoStateUniversity

As the fall calf marketing season moves forward, where does the cattle market stand, and what should producers be considering? Bailey Ballou with Superior Livestock joins us to discuss current market fundamentals, feed costs, calf prices, and marketing strategies, including the value of weaning and vaccination programs. Then, Dr. Mitch Blanding with Zoetisdiscusses the importance of herd health, from protecting the developing fetus to preventing and managing bovine respiratory disease. Plus, Tim's Two Cents highlights Zoetis' Born of the Bond documentary and the importance of supporting rural veterinarians, and Don Day joins us with our weekly weather update.

#WorkingRanchRadioShow #CattleMarket #SuperiorLivestock #Zoetis #CattleMarketing #CalfPrices #HerdHealth #BovineRespiratoryDisease #BeefCattle #Ranching #CowCalfProducers #BornOfTheBond #RuralVeterinarians #TimsTwoCents #DayWeather

Are the numbers and talking points we hear across the cattle business really telling us the whole story? This week, Chad Conard joins me to challenge some commonly repeated narratives—from the aging rancher and shrinking cow herd to beef production and imports—and look at the context behind the numbers.

Plus, Cameron Cody with Harper Industries talks DewEzebale beds, feeding equipment and the Butlerbrand.

#WorkingRanchRadioShow #CattleIndustry #BeefIndustry #Ranching #CattleProducers #DewEze

The life you planned in agriculture may not be the life you ultimately live—and that doesn’t mean it turned out wrong. Glen Waters, cattle sales specialist with Purina Animal Nutrition, joins us to share how growing up with cattle helped shape his career in the industry, why staying involved in cattle production today gives him a valuable perspective when working with ranchers, and why he’s optimistic about the next generation in agriculture. Then we change gears and turn our attention to Washington as Justin Tupper, president of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, gives us an update following his recent trip to D.C., including the latest movement on the Farm Bill, recent actions involving the cattle industry, and other conversations taking place in Washington that could impact cattle producers.

#WorkingRanchRadioShow #WorkingRanch #Ranching #CattleIndustry #BeefIndustry #Agriculture #RanchLife #CattleProducers #PurinaAnimalNutrition #NextGenerationAg #AgCareers #FarmBill #USCattlemen #Cattlemen #AmericanAgriculture

Sometimes the toughest years force us to rethink the way we manage our ranches. Northern California rancher Kyle Farmer joins us to share how a devastating wildfire changed the way he looked at rebuilding and ultimately led him to become an early adopter of virtual fencing. We’ll talk about how that technology has changed his approach to grazing, water and infrastructure development, fire mitigation, and even how he uses his time on the ranch. It’s a conversation about looking beyond the way things have always been done and considering what might better prepare our ranches for the future.

#WorkingRanchRadioShow #Ranching #VirtualFencing #Halter #GrazingManagement #Wildfire #RanchManagement

The cattle market has backed off its summer highs, but is some perspective in order? Kyle Shobe with Superior Livestock joins us to recap the Big Horn Classic, discuss where the calf market stands today, and look at the outside forces creating uncertainty. Plus, meteorologist Don Day joins us for our annual long-range weather outlook, taking us from fall through winter and into spring as El Niño takes control of the forecast.

#WorkingRanchRadioShow #CattleMarket #BeefMarket #CattlePrices #CalfMarket #SuperiorLivestock #BigHornClassic #Ranching #CowCalf #BeefIndustry #ElNino #WeatherOutlook #LongRangeForecast #RanchWeather #DonDay

What does the commercial cow that actually pays her way look like? Trey Patterson (Padlock Ranch) and John Maddox (Maddux Cattle Company) join us to discuss building a cow for the long haul—balancing fertility, genetics, management and production without losing sight of profitability. We’ll look at why maximizing performance isn’t always the answer, the value of heterosis, and how to build a cow that fits your environment and your operation.

#WorkingRanchRadioShow #CommercialCattle #CowCalf #BeefCattle #Ranching #CattleGenetics #Heterosis #CowHerd #BeefProduction #RanchManagement #CattleProducers #CommercialCow #RanchProfitability #BeefIndustry

Coming off the Video Royale sale in Winnemucca, where does the cattle market stand as we head toward the fall calf run? This week, Superior Livestock’s Trent Stewart looks at what the summer sales are telling us, what buyers are paying for, and how weight, delivery date and rising feed costs could impact marketing decisions. Plus, why he says this market is still “defying gravity” and why 2028 may be the year to watch.

#WorkingRanchRadioShow #CattleMarket #CattlePrices #BeefCattle #CowCalf #FeederCattle #SuperiorLivestock #VideoRoyale #CattleMarketing #Ranching #BeefIndustry #LivestockMarketing

Should today's record cattle market change the way you make culling decisions? This week, Texas A&M's Dr. Ron Gilldiscusses which culling principles should never change, where the current market may justify a different approach, and the traits that lead to a more profitable, longer-lasting cow herd. Plus, in a lightning round of real-world scenarios, Dr. Gill weighs in on which cows stay, which ones go, and why.

Also, Don Day explains why this El Niño may have more in common with weather patterns from the 1950s than more recent El Niño events—and what that could mean for our long-range outlook.

#WorkingRanchRadio #CowCalf #BeefCattle #Ranching #CullCows #CowHerd #HerdManagement #CommercialCattle #CowLongevity #CattleManagement #ReplacementHeifers #BeefIndustry #RanchLife #Profitability #TexasAgriLife

Data centers are becoming a bigger part of the conversation across rural America, but what do they actually mean for the communities where they're built? Tony Pipa with the Brooking Institution is our guest as we discuss what's driving the rapid growth in data centers, the opportunities they may bring, and the legitimate concerns surrounding water, power, land, jobs and long-term economic impacts. We also look at what rural communities should be asking before making decisions that could shape their future for decades.

#DataCenters #RuralAmerica #ArtificialIntelligence #RuralDevelopment #Agriculture #Ranching #Energy #WaterResources #EconomicDevelopment #WorkingRanchRadioShow

Has the cattle market found its new normal? Superior Livestock representative Clint Berry joins us to discuss what the recent Week in the Rockies sale is telling us, why he remains bullish on the long-term outlook for the beef industry, and what producers should be thinking about as they prepare to market this year's calf crop.

Plus, Purinabeef nutritionist Dr. Elizabeth Belew shares practical strategies to help position your herd for next year's success, and meteorologist Don Day has your long-range weather forecast.

#WorkingRanchRadio #WorkingRanchMagazine #CattleMarket #BeefIndustry #SuperiorLivestock #WeekInTheRockies #CowCalf #CattleProducers #Ranching #LivestockMarketing #RiskManagement #BeefNutrition #Purina #Weather #Agriculture

As summer progresses, forage quality can begin to decline long before the pasture looks like it's running out. That subtle change can impact intake, digestion, weight gain, body condition, and ultimately your bottom line. Oklahoma State University professor Dr. David Lalman joins us to discuss when late-summer protein supplementation makes economic sense, which classes of cattle stand to benefit the most, and how producers can evaluate whether the return on investment is worth the added input. Whether you're dealing with drought or simply managing maturing forage, this conversation offers practical insights to help you make more informed grazing and supplementation decisions.

#WorkingRanchRadio #WorkingRanchMagazine #Ranching #CowCalf #Cattle #Livestock #RanchManagement #BeefProduction #GrazingManagement #ProteinSupplementation #ForageQuality #CattleNutrition #PastureManagement #DroughtManagement

Screwworm has dominated headlines across the cattle industry, but what happens after the initial crisis? Jared Wareham (Horizon Venture Management) and Chelsea Good (Good & Associates) join us to examine where the industry stands today—from the economic impact of a closed Mexican border and changing cattle markets to the latest technology being deployed to combat screwworm. We also explore the longer-term implications that may emerge from today's response, including shifts in beef production, processing, and global competition that could influence the U.S. cattle industry for years to come.

#WorkingRanchRadio #WorkingRanchMagazine #Screwworm #CattleIndustry #BeefIndustry #CowCalf #CattleMarkets #BeefProduction #Livestock #Ranching #AnimalHealth #AgTech #USDA #CattleProducers #BeefBusiness

The first major summer video auction is in the books, and the results from Superior Livestock Auction's Corn Belt Classic are providing an early look at where the calf market may be headed this fall. Bailey Ballou joins us to discuss the fundamentals continuing to support historically strong cattle prices, what buyers are rewarding in today's market, and how health programs, genetics, and demand are influencing premiums. Plus, we break down the sale region by region across the country to see where the strongest markets emerged and what those results could mean for your operation.

#WorkingRanchRadio #WorkingRanchMagazine #SuperiorLivestock #CornBeltClassic #CattleMarket #CattlePrices #CowCalf #Ranching #LivestockMarketing #BeefIndustry #CattleProducers #Agriculture

Technology is changing ranching—but only if it leads to better decisions. This week, Shane White of Ceres Tag discusses wearable livestock technology and how data on feed efficiency, fertility, and grazing behavior may reshape cattle management. Then Gabe Wight of HerdAdvisorjoins us to tackle one of ranching's biggest challenges: getting records entered and using them to improve marketing, culling, breeding, and profitability. Two technologies. One goal: helping ranchers make better decisions.

#WorkingRanchRadio #ranching #cattle #cowcalf #livestock #agtech #precisionlivestock #cattlemanagement #grazingmanagement #ranchmanagement #beefproduction #agriculture

A historic amount of American farm and ranch land is changing hands—and for many families, the biggest challenge isn't the legal paperwork. It's having the conversations that need to happen before the paperwork is ever signed. Today, land transition strategist Sonja Howle joins us to discuss the growing wave of agricultural land transitions, why so many families find themselves unprepared, and how understanding your family's values and vision for the land can shape better decisions for future generations.

Plus, later in the show, why one cattle nutrition expert with Lallemand Animal Nutrition says, “yeast is not yeast is not yeast,” and what that means for getting more performance from your forage.

#workingranchmagazine #WorkingRanchRadio #ranchlife #ranching #beef #cattle #livestock #cowcalf #BeefCattle #CattleManagement #Ranchers #AgPodcast #RuralAmerica #Agriculture #FamilyRanch #LandTransition #FarmTransition #SuccessionPlanning #FamilyLegacy #WorkingLands #LandStewardship #AgLand #RanchManagement #ForageManagement #CattleNutrition #Probiotics #GutHealth #ForageUtilization

If you had an extra $50,000 to invest into your ranch today… what’s the smartest way to use it?

In part two of this special roundtable discussion, Zach Hopson, Dallas Mount, and Paul Foster discuss the worst ways to spend money, when equipment actually makes sense, paying down debt versus keeping cash available, and how ranchers are beginning to use AI and technology to improve decision-making, grazing management, and overall business efficiency. A practical conversation about deploying capital, managing risk, and building a stronger ranch business while cattle markets remain strong.

Plus, a conversation on the first and only intranasal BRD vaccine offering protection against IBR, BRSV, PI3, Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica... and it's safe to use in calves 1 week of age and older.

#workingranchmagazine #WorkingRanchRadio #ranching #ranchlife #cowcalf #cattle #livestock #ranchbusiness #ranchprofitability #agtech #virtualfencing #AIinAgriculture #riskmanagement

If you had $50,000 to invest into your operation today… where would it go? Today is part 1 of a 2-part conversation with three ranchers from different operations answer the exact same question. Zach Hopson from East Texas, Dallas Mount from Eastern Wyoming, and Paul Foster from Northern Wyoming each bring a different perspective shaped by their own environments, business structures, land access, risk tolerance, and long-term goals. From cattle trading and infrastructure development… to water projects, labor efficiency, diversification, working capital, and preparing the next generation… this conversation becomes much bigger than simply “how to spend $50,000.” It’s a practical, honest discussion about priorities, profitability, resilience, and building operations that can survive long-term.

#workingranchmagazine #WorkingRanchRadio #ranching #ranchlife #cowcalf #cattle #livestock #beef #cattlemanagement #ranchprofitability #grazingmanagement #agbusiness #customgrazing #RanchingForProfit

Cattle markets are strong… but are producers truly managing risk, margins, and marketing decisions — or simply reacting to the market around them?

This week Abby Greiman of http://www.Ever.Ag joins us for a practical conversation on cattle marketing, breakevens, risk management, and why surviving cattle cycles often isn’t about swinging for the fences. We discuss understanding your costs, putting a marketing plan in place, and utilizing tools that can help protect operations when markets eventually turn.

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