March 12, 2026

The AgriNews AgriMinute podcast: Cattle herd continues to shrink

By James Henry

March 05, 2026 at 12:50 pm CST

The cattle herd has been in a contraction phase for several years. Despite record feeder cattle prices, farmers are not yet retaining enough calves to turn the cycle around. (AP photo/Ross D. Franklin/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Listen to "Cattle herd continues to shrink" on Spreaker.

One of the few bright spots in the agricultural economy has been beef cattle, as smaller cattle supplies paired with strong consumer demand for beef has driven up prices for both cattle and beef, reports Jim Henry.

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James Henry

Executive Editor