NASHVILLE, TENN (RFD-TV) — Frigid cold and winter weather are sweeping through many parts of the United States, with the official start of winter quickly approaching. Analyst Sam Hudson, vice president of Corn Belt Marketing, said the cattle markets will be closely watching fluctuating temperatures this week for signs of livestock stress.
“I would say the temperature fluctuations are probably a bigger danger and threat overall,” he explained. “Sometimes, if it just gets cold and can stay cold and kind of freeze over, sometimes that’s a better situation all the way around. But this is that time of year you get those types of weather systems.”
Hudson said snow has been piling up across fields in his area of Illinois in recent days, but noted that farmers and ranchers in the region need any moisture they can get right now.
Today’s Weather Forecast
A mid-January winter storm delivered snow, ice, and extreme cold to a broad swath of the U.S., disrupting transportation, stressing livestock systems, and adding cost and complexity to winter farm operations as producers look toward spring.
January 26, 2026 01:10 PM
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Heavier weights and strong late-year slaughter supported December production, but lower annual totals highlight ongoing supply tightness heading into 2026.
January 26, 2026 11:19 AM
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Rising import pressure and tougher export competition are likely to persist into 2026, supporting domestic supplies while capping export growth.
January 26, 2026 09:56 AM
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council published a joint press release regarding the advancement of legislation to delist the Mexican Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act.
January 23, 2026 05:05 PM
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026. Dr. Derrell Peel, with Oklahoma State University, joined us to break down cattle-on-feed numbers and provide his broader market outlook.
January 23, 2026 04:40 PM
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USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.
January 23, 2026 03:39 PM
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