Bull Development, Meat Trade & Costs, Lab Grown Meat, & Packer Consolidation

It’s The Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they dive into breeding bull development. Plus, updates on Nebraska Fire Relief, the increasing price of meat, and Florida’s ban on lab grown meat.  Hear the market recaps, the ranch channel sales calendar and lot’s more all wrapped into this brand-new episode of The Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Season 6, EPISODE 282 Breeding Bull Development at The CK Bar Ranch Welcome to CK Bar Ranch — your trusted source for high-quality Simmental and SimAngus bulls. Based in Kadoka, South Dakota, we focus on raising durable, high-performance cattle that help producers improve herd efficiency and profitability. At CK Bar Ranch, customer success comes first. Our bulls are bred for longevity, adaptability, and easy calving, while delivering strong growth and real-world performance. Whether you’re buying at our annual sale, the Black Hills Stock Show, or through private treaty, we provide genetics tailored to your operation. We specialize in seedstock designed for commercial cattlemen, with an emphasis on maternal strength, growth, and carcass quality. Raised on native grass in the rugged Badlands, our cattle are built to perform in a wide range of environments across the U.S. and Canada. With more than 40 years of experience, owners Kelly Erickson and Amy Stilwell have built a reputation for producing reliable, ranch-ready cattle that deliver consistent results. We also make buying simple with free bull boarding until breeding season and free delivery to nearby states. Sale Details: Friday, April 3, 2026 2:00 PM MST St. Onge Livestock, St. Onge, South Dakota Online bidding available through DVAuction For more information, contact Kelly Erickson at 701-898-1583. Cattle Industry News Nebraska Fire Relief After more than 800,000 acres have burned in Nebraska wildfires, livestock producers are now searching for places to graze their animals. The Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association says there are two main options — both showing how neighbors are stepping up to help. One option is feeding cattle hay. Donations are arriving by the truckload, but hay can still be expensive. The second option is a free online tool called the Nebraska Grazing Exchange. It connects ranchers who need land with farmers who have pasture available. People who want to help can sign up, list what they can offer, and connect directly with ranchers in need. Once a match is made, the next step is moving the animals to that land. Laura Field, Executive Vice President of Nebraska Cattlemen, says support has been overwhelming. She says tough times like this bring out the best in the agriculture community. Field says some ranchers have lost up to 70 or 80 percent of their summer grazing land, and may need to move cattle to entirely different regions — even out of state. But she says help is coming from all directions — across the country. Field also says she doesn’t expect long-term economic damage. She says Nebraska’s beef industry is strong and resilient, and will weather this challenge. While moving cattle — also known as rotational grazing — isn’t new, the situation right now is complicated. Field says burned areas are filled with damaged equipment like fencing, water systems, and other infrastructure. She says groups are working with state and federal partners to match needs with resources and get supplies where they’re needed most. As for concerns about ranchers leaving the state, Field says the grass will grow back — and the cattle will return. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture adds that grazing can actually help prevent future wildfires by reducing dry plant material. Nebraska Grazing Exchange   References: https://www.klkntv.com/online-tool-connects-farmers-with-available-land-to-cattle-ranchers-in-need-of-grazing-area-after-wildfires/   Global Meat Trade & Demand A series of market-moving events, including a strike at a JBS beef plant, geopolitical tensions involving Iran, shifting oil prices and tariff uncertainty, have yet to derail strong beef demand, as wholesale prices continued to climb, according to analysis by Drovers and Sterling Marketing Profit Tracker. Market fundamentals have shifted in recent weeks. Lower fed cattle prices combined with higher boxed beef values improved packer margins while pressuring feedlots. For the week ending March 14, packer margins were estimated at a loss of $54.17 per head, narrowing from deeper losses in prior weeks. The beef cutout rose to $390.66 per cwt. Feedlot margins turned negative, estimated at a loss of $48.79 per head. Elevated breakevens continue to  pressure feedlots despite strong demand. Hamburger prices on restaurant menus are 14% higher in the last three years, but beef production costs jumped 32% since January 2023, according to a new report from food industry intelligence firm,  Datassential. Burger inflation is roughly in line with broader restaurant prices, despite the effects of chronically tight beef supplies. Food away from home — which approximates all food service including dine-in, takeout and delivery — rose 4% in 2025 and is 13% higher since January 2023, according to the federal government’s Consumer Price Index. The Datassential report pointed out that restaurant pricing strategy can keep prices on popular items in check to avoid hurting turnover, while causing cost burdens to be spread throughout the operation. Burgers in particular are a source of traffic, especially in the quick-service segment. References: https://meatingplace.com/wholesale-beef-prices-rise-despite-market-disruptions-demand-remains-strong/ https://meatingplace.com/mcflation-beef-costs-outstripping-burger-menu-prices/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260319017&utm_date=20260320-0300 Packer Consolidation Under Washington Crosshairs Efforts to scrutinize consolidation in the U.S. meat industry are gaining new momentum in Washington, as lawmakers from both parties increasingly target large packers amid persistently high beef prices. In recent months, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has floated legislation aimed at restructuring the industry, while President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Justice to investigate major beef packers for potential antitrust violations. The unusual bipartisan convergence reflects mounting political pressure to address food affordability, even as economists and industry leaders say the fundamental driver of high beef prices lies elsewhere. The renewed focus on meatpacker consolidation follows years of debate over the market dominance of the so-called “Big Four” beef packers (JBS, Tyson Foods, Cargill and National Beef), which together handle roughly 80% of U.S. cattle slaughter. Trump last fall directed the DOJ to investigate whether large packers engaged in “Illicit Collusion, Price Fixing, and Price Manipulation,” while several Republican lawmakers voiced support for stronger antitrust enforcement. At the same time, Schumer and other Democrats are preparing legislation that would attempt to curb consolidation across the food system, including potentially forcing meat companies to focus on a single protein.   Reference: https://meatingplace.com/in-depth-meatpacker-consolidation-back-in-washingtons-crosshairs/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260320014&utm_date=20260321-0630   Florida Ban On Lab-Grown Meat Update Florida’s ban on cultivated meat will stay in place after a federal appeals court upheld the law in a ruling released Monday. The case was brought by Upside Foods, a California company that produces lab-grown chicken, after the law took effect in July of 2024. A three-judge panel on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the ban does not conflict with federal laws regulating traditional poultry. The court said the state law doesn’t control how the product is made — only whether it can be sold — meaning federal law does not override it. The decision also upholds an earlier ruling from a federal district court that dismissed the case. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who supported the law, called the ruling a win for farmers and consumers. Governor Ron DeSantis, who signed the bill, has also defended the measure, saying it protects Florida agriculture from what he calls “lab-grown alternatives.” Florida was the first state to pass a ban on cultivated meat. Since then, several others — including Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, and Texas — have followed. The bans come as the lab-grown meat industry is still in its early stages. The Food and Drug Administration first approved cultivated meat for sale in 2022. Supporters of the industry argue these state laws could slow innovation, cost jobs, and limit competition. It’s not yet clear if Upside Foods plans to appeal the ruling. Reference: https://www.wlrn.org/food-and-agriculture/2026-03-24/appeals-court-upholds-floridas-ban-on-lab-grown-meat Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry Kelly Erickson - CK Bar Ranch https://www.ckbarranch.com/ Follow On Facebook: @RanchCKBar Kirk Donsbach – Financial Analyst at StoneX https://www.stonex.com/ Follow on Facebook: @StoneXGroupInc Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos Contact Us with Questions or Concerns Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via: Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Email: [email protected] Follow us: Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC. https://tiggerandbec.com/ Industry References, Partners and Resources For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources: Allied Genetic Resources: https://alliedgeneticresources.com/ American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/ Axiota Animal Health: https://axiota.com/multimin-campaign-landing-page/ Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com/#/?ranchchannel=view Medora Boot: https://medoraboot.com/ RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/ Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/ Superior Livestock Auctions: https://superiorlivestock.com/ Transova Genetics: https://transova.com/ Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/ Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/ Wulf Cattle: https://www.wulfcattle.com/