356: Cash Cattle Hit New Highs While Risks Keep Building with Dan and Samantha

Dan Gerhold and Samantha Cozza-Wright join Lauren once again today for a deep dive into the cattle market as prices continue pushing into uncharted territory. Cash cattle continue setting new highs, feeder cattle remain historically strong, and optimism remains widespread across much of the industry. But beneath the surface, questions are beginning to emerge about what comes next. Dan and Samantha discuss cash market strength, feeder cattle demand, basis levels, beef demand, imports, processing capacity, and the risks producers should be paying attention to as the industry moves through the second half of the year. They also examine the growing global appreciation for U.S. beef, why consumers continue supporting high beef prices, and how producers can position themselves for success while protecting against future market uncertainty.

Links:

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
CattleUSA App IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cattleusa/id1673147759
CattleUSA App Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edgarmcbee.cusamobile&pcampaignid=web_share
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/
Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusa.shop/products/cattleusa-drive-premium-daily-newsletter?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&brid=YWdncwFNXt0EmdzFy5cJJBp84J9g
CattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/
Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/
Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Cash cattle continue finding support at historically high price levels
• Feeder cattle futures have recovered significant ground following recent volatility
• Strong beef demand remains one of the market's biggest bullish drivers
• Wide basis levels continue creating opportunities and challenges for producers
• Video auction prices reflect continued confidence in future cattle markets
• Packer capacity and plant closures remain important long-term concerns
• Beef imports continue increasing despite historically tight cattle inventories
• Risk management remains critical even during record-setting markets
• Export opportunities could expand as more consumers discover U.S. beef
• Producer optimism remains high, but future market risks cannot be ignored
• Deferred futures continue creating difficult hedging decisions
• Market fundamentals remain supportive, but uncertainty still exists beyond the near term

Chapters:

06:00 Feeder cattle futures, basis levels, and video sale activity

10:00 The challenge of managing risk in a historically strong market

13:00 LRP opportunities and protecting fall cattle sales

16:00 Herd rebuilding, cow slaughter, and long-term supply concerns

20:00 Why foreign visitors are falling in love with American beef

23:00 Beef demand, exports, imports, and global market opportunities

26:00 Checkoff dollars, consumer perception, and industry promotion

30:00 Grain markets, feed costs, and outside market influences

33:00 The biggest risks facing cattle producers heading into 2026

36:00 What Dan and Samantha are watching most closely moving forward

cattle market, cattle market update, cattle prices, record cattle prices, cash cattle market, cash cattle prices, feeder cattle market, feeder cattle futures, live cattle futures, feeder cattle index, beef demand, beef industry, cattle industry, cattle producers, ranchers, cow calf producers, cattle feeding, feedyard economics, cattle marketing, risk management, livestock risk protection, LRP insurance, cattle hedging, basis levels, video cattle sales, cattle cycle, herd rebuilding, heifer retention, cow slaughter, beef exports, beef imports, global beef demand, profitability, cattle market outlook, agriculture podcast, cattle podcast, Dan Gerhold, Samantha Cozza-Wright