There is still a long way to go before the cattle herd starts heading in a positive direction but analyst Lance Zimmerman with Rabo AgriFinance says there are several encouraging signs.
“I would imagine because we do have some of that incentive out there to try and rebuild these herds. We’ve had good rain in certain areas. We’ve rebuilt hay supplies in some areas where it was awfully tight through the central plains this past year. We’ll start to see that number bottoming out earlier than the beef cow number, but we still have a ways to go before we see it trending strongly in a positive direction.”
Zimmerman says he expects the next round of calves to be very high quality and will help grow demand moving forward.
At CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney discusses profitability, consumer demand, and how the integrated U.S.–Canada beef supply chain impacts cattle producers across North America.
February 06, 2026 04:59 PM
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Top issues facing the beef industry took center stage at CattleCon this year in Nashville.
February 06, 2026 04:58 PM
San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association’s Trenton Priddy preview this year’s event, which is now streaming on RFD+
February 06, 2026 03:55 PM
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Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who sits on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, spoke exclusively with RFD NEWS about what Congress is doing to address screwworm concerns, including funding for a sterile fly production facility in Mexico.
February 06, 2026 12:07 PM
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HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy calls on cattle producers to retain breeding cows while Ivomec receives emergency authorization to prevent New World screwworm.
February 06, 2026 11:48 AM
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SharkFarmer host Rob Sharkey takes us on a tour of the John Deere showcase on the trade show floor of CattleCon 2026 in Nashville.
February 06, 2026 11:19 AM
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