Operating in the rugged mountain country of Los Angeles County, cattleman Mike Williams faces the same challenges producers encounter across the West — water scarcity, forage pressure, labor shortages and market fluctuations. He talks candidly about how “survival mode” keeps many ranchers reactive instead of proactive, and how shifting to make time to focus on better financial systems and margins is essential to finding more consistent profitability. Mike is an advocate of low‑stress stockmanship and how small, continuous improvements compound into major gains.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Ambrook. (www.ambrook.com)

Higher prices in the cattle industry are the result of cattle producers increasing the quality of our product, with 84% of fed cattle grading Choice or higher and 12% grading Prime today. However, herd expansion is occurring at a very slow pace, and Randy Blach, CEO of CattleFax, reminds producers that the market could be volatile in 2026, so adopting risk management strategies is critical.

We also sat down with Dr. Kip Karges from Lallemand to talk about the importance of fiber digestibility, how it impacts the rumen’s efficiency and therefore, calf growth. Learn more at https://www.lallemand.com/en/

Atmospheric Scientist Matt Makens returns to the show following his presentation at CattleCon, bringing an in‑depth look at the spring weather outlook for producers. Matt breaks down the latest trends in moisture patterns, temperature shifts, and spring weather forecasts, emphasizing the critical need for late‑winter precipitation after a dry December and January.

He also explains why much of the western U.S. will rely on end‑of‑season storms to support rangeland and crop conditions, and what producers need to know as we transition into a Neutral ENSO phase with promising indications of El Niño development later this year.

This episode delivers essential, science‑based guidance to help you plan for spring.

This show is brought to you by John Deere (https://www.deere.com/en/).

Innovation is driving efficiency for the everyday cattle producer, and forage plays a crucial role in the cattle herd’s success. Scott Birker shares how his partnerships have shaped new ideas and solutions in baling and forage equipment to help his family save time and labor, giving Scott more time to focus on his family and the future of their multi-generational farm in Iowa. From the ground up, Scott’s hay and forage success lead to the success and quality of his cattle. Together, Scott and Kaylene Ballesteros are on the show talking about evaluating return on investment on equipment as they make lasting decisions. Learn more at https://www.deere.com/en/.

Gene Copenhaver took the reins as NCBA President after CattleCon 2026. He and his son Will join the podcast and share how they’ve worked together to transition majority ownership of Copenhaver Brothers Farms to Will and how they partner to make business decisions. Gene is excited for his year leading NCBA, especially as he sees young cattlemen and women who are eager to get involved in beef production and step into leadership, and one of his goals this year is to support the next generation. The Copenhavers are dedicated to their family and supporting other family operations across the country. This episode is brought to you by John Deere (https://www.deere.com/en/)

Maddux Cattle Company, located in southwest Nebraska, was homesteaded in 1886 and has grown in the last 140 years and now sustains about 2,500 cows and 5,000 yearlings. In 2026, the Maddux Cattle Co. is dispersing their mature bred cow herd at the Ogallala Livestock Auction. In this conversation, John Maddux walks us through the background of this decision and the opportunity for producers to acquire some of the genetics that they’ve spent decades investing and perfecting.

https://www.madduxcattle.com/

With CattleCon 2026 just around the corner, Feb. 3–5, in downtown Nashville — we’re taking a look at some of the standout highlights heading to Music City.

In this episode, we preview what’s ahead with Grammy-nominated songwriter and keynote speaker Jimmy Yeary, who shares how the power of storytelling connects country music with the lives of cattlemen and women, and NCBA President Buck Wehrbein, who highlights what attendees can expect as he wraps up his term, from new convention features to can’t-miss networking events.

If you’re planning to attend CattleCon, or still making the decision, this is your inside look at why Nashville is the place to be.

We’re tackling a critical topic for every cattle producer: business continuity and biosecurity during a disease outbreak. Joining us are Dr. Julia Herman, DVM and beef cattle specialist at NCBA, and Dr. Danelle Bickett-Weddle, DVM with Preventalytics. They discuss how the Secure Beef Supply (SBS) was created, how a USDA grant has helped NCBA improve educational resources SBS planning, and its importance for keeping cattle moving during a disease event. They give steps to make biosecurity manageable for any operation and tips for emerging threats like New World Screwworm. Prepare your operation for any scenario!