Cattlemen’s Call Podcast

Heifer Development Farm Shines with Sustainable Practices

Minnesota cattle farmers Rachel Gray and her son Nick Grundmeier share about their unique heifer development program. Little Timber Farms has come a long way since its dairy farming days, and now their innovative practices include seeding with drone technology, rotational grazing, bore water, and bale grazing in addition to their genetic advancements. Rachel, her father, and her son Nick have made decisions that maximize the profitability and longevity of the business and the land. They are proud to represent Minnesota as the 2024 Region III Environmental Stewardship Award Program winner, sponsored by USDA NRCS, Corteva Agriscience, and USFWS.
 

Before Disaster Strikes: Key Preparations

We are breaking down what farmers and ranchers need to do to prepare for an emergency on their operation – whether it’s a flood, a wildfire, an equipment accident or a foreign animal disease outbreak J.J. Goicoechea and Kip Wills are on the show giving advice ranging from how to prepare for a helicopter to land on your operation for a medical emergency to who should be the first points of contact when something unexpected happens. They give practical steps to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.

The Collaborative Edge: Transforming Feedlots Through Combined Recommendations

Tune into a practical discussion between veterinarians and nutritionists delivering practical perspectives on optimizing feedlot performance through combined recommendations. This conversation with TELUS Agriculture’s Drs. Kee Jim, Matt May, and Breck Hunsaker covers critical market challenges, strategic calf procurement decisions, and the transformative role of data analytics in modern feedlot operations. The experts also explore the future of branded beef programs and the evolving relationship between commercial cattle producers and feedlots. This episode offers valuable insights for feedlot operators, cattle producers and industry professionals navigating today's complex market dynamics while preparing for future opportunities in beef production. Learn more about TELUS Agriculture at www.telus.com/agriculture.

Downey Ranch: Stewards in the Flint Hills

Barb Downey and Joe Carpenter with Downey Ranch were honored as the 2024 Environmental Stewardship Award National winners. Hear how their family navigates transition planning with their two daughters, how they initiated rotational grazing and bale grazing, and their experience with GPS collars on their cattle. Through experimenting with different practices, Downey Ranch has found ways to save on input costs and time while dramatically increasing their forage’s nutrients and organic matter. The ESAP Program is generously sponsored by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Corteva and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Third Party Verification Programs

We are diving into different verification programs and what opportunities are available for cattle producers. Cattle producer Nancy Jackson, DVM, of Southern Cross Farm, Clint Berry with Superior Livestock, and John Saunders, CEO of IMI Global and Where Food Comes From, talk through the importance of producers telling their stories and how tranparency impacts the entire supply chain. Saunders shares how these programs offer marketing avenues and are driven heavily by the consumer. This show is brought to you by IMI Global and Where Food Comes From, learn more at www.imiglobal.com.

Moisture, Temperature, and Extreme Weather – What 2025 Has in Store

Beef cattle farmers and ranchers are preparing for spring 2025 and all that comes with it — calving and planting. Meteorologist Matt Makens once again joins the podcast to highlight the weather challenges in the months ahead, namely dry conditions in many western parts of the country. As beef producers evaluate their ability to retain heifers and build up their herd numbers, much of those decisions are reliant on moisture, so listen in to hear Matt’s thoughts and advice to producers. Plus, we chat with our friends at Farm Credit to hear why creating a relationship with your ag lender is important and what you can do to establish that long-term business partnership that will sustain your operation in the good times and the bad. Learn more at farmcredit.com .

Nebraska’s Buck Wehrbein Shares His Journey to Become NCBA President

Buck Wehrbein has decades of experience feeding cattle, learning and growing from great mentors, and participating in NCBA leadership. Buck and his wife, Sandy, talk about their experiences living in Texas, raising a family on a feedyard and their decision to return to Nebraska. Buck shares what he sees as challenges for the year ahead and where he sees opportunities for young producers brave enough to take risks and engage with the industry. Hear from Buck as he begins his journey as NCBA President.
 
#NCBAPresident #NCBA #CattleCon #Mentorship #CattleMarkets #CattleFeeding #Leadership

Protecting Your Herd: The Secure Beef Supply Plan

Biosecurity has been getting a lot of attention recently. With foreign animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) making headlines, understanding the role that producers, veterinarians, transporters, and state and federal agencies is important if an outbreak occurs. Producers and experts on cattle health issues, Monte Bordner, Dr. J.J. Goicoechea, and Dr. Julia Herman are on the show discussing what the Secure Beef Supply Plan is, why biosecurity is important to operations of all sizes, and what simple steps you can take to protect your herd and profitability if a disease outbreak occurs. They address concerns many producers have and give examples of when biosecurity protocols made a difference in their herds. This episode is brought to you as part of the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program grant that NCBA received to improve educational resources around Secure Beef Supply. Find more information at www.ncba.org/producers/biosecurity-resources.
 
 
#Biosecurity #SecureBeefSupply #HerdHealth #AnimalDiseasePrevention#CattleCare #ProducerTips #DiseasePreparedness #FootAndMouthDisease#ProtectYourHerd #BeefIndustry #NCBAResources #FarmSmart #LivestockManagement #HealthyCattle

Building a Better Future for Rural Veterinary Practices

In this episode of the Cattlemen's Call Podcast, host Lane Nordlund speaks with Dr. Rosslyn Biggs from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Dr. Wyatt Catron, a practicing veterinarian in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. The conversation explores the critical role veterinarians play in rural livestock operations, the challenges of the veterinary profession, and solutions for addressing shortages in rural communities.
 
#CattlemenCare #VeterinaryMedicine #RuralVeterinaryShortage #BeefIndustry #NCBA #LivestockCare  #CattlePodcast #cattlemenscallpodcast #veterinarian #livestock #cattlecare #animalcare

Beef for Backpacks: Feeding Wyoming's Future

On this episode of Cattlemen’s Call, we’re diving into the impactful Beef for Backpacks program, a collaborative effort led by Wyoming First Lady Jennie Gordon, the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, and 307 Meat Company. This inspiring initiative ensures food-insecure children in Wyoming have access to nutritious, protein-rich beef. Tune in to hear from First Lady Gordon, Kelcey Christensen, and Breean Waller about how this program is changing lives, fostering community support, and demonstrating the ranching community's power to give back.
#BeefForBackpacks #CattleCommunity #WyomingHungerInitiative #RanchingForGood #ProteinPower #FoodInsecuritySolutions #WyomingCattlemen #CattlemenCallPodcast #GivingBack #HolidaySeasonOfGiving #WyomingBeef