Beef Cattle

Ben Rand of Blue Line Futures says an unprecedented Western drought is shrinking crops, drying up wells, tightening hay supplies and accelerating cattle herd liquidation across the region

A historic lack of winter moisture and drying water sources are forcing Wyoming and Nebraska producers to make gut-wrenching choices. At Torrington Livestock Markets, sales volume has surged to nine times its normal seasonal average.

Despite daily volatility, cattle markets are still driven by strong demand and tight supplies. Rising fuel costs could pressure consumers, but slow herd expansion keeps the long-term outlook bullish through the decade.

On the consumer side, demand for beef continues to grow and is reaching record levels. Nebraska Farm Bureau reports an index created by the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) to gauge beef demand reached 138 last year, the highest on record and a 10-point jump from 2024.

Even after losing a major export market, the U.S. bovine genetics industry bounced back in 2025.

The Smith family captures value from cover crops twice—first as high-quality cattle feed and then as biological fuel for no-till corn and soybeans.

From incentives for conservation easements to a push for sustainable industrial growth, Gov. Bill Lee shares his strategy to protect the future of agriculture in Tennessee.

Tight cattle supplies, delayed herd rebuilding and resilient beef demand point to continued market strength, with economists saying higher cattle price highs in 2026 are still on the table.