Saying things that need to be said.
Well Done
In my 53 years of covering the cattle industry, I have never seen a group of cattlemen have such a successful and impactful year as this group had in 2025. And it’s not the national organization, whose primary focus seemed to be raping the beef cattle checkoff for as many tens of millions of dollars as they could. In fact, we didn’t hear much from the NCBA in 2025 on the issues that really matter to cattlemen: industry concentration, packer collusion and mandatory country of origin labeling. But how could the NCBA say anything on these issues since they are the biggest packer-backers in the business? Instead of the top-heavy staff-driven group who gets the vast majority of its funds from the checkoff, the group that had the most impact, R CALF, didn’t rely on your checkoff dollars and their spokespersons weren’t NCBA hired hands, but were actual cattlemen and cattlewomen. It also helped immensely that R CALF has the most knowledgeable, hard-
working and courageous CEO in Bull Bullard who has the knowledge and ability to communicate the rancher’s position like no one else. Despite having to depend on dues and calf rollover auctions instead of check-
and collusion were proved for all the world to see, even NCBA’ers who either said there was no reason to rein in the packers or there was nothing to see here.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
off dollars, R CALF has become the largest cattle producer-only trade association dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry.
On A Roll R CALF’s biggest victory came when their claims concerning packer concentration
So why then did Tyson Foods and Cargill pay a combined $87.5 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging they conspired to inflate beef prices for consumers by restricting supply? The plaintiffs accused the companies in a 2019 lawsuit of inflating their beef prices by purposefully withholding supply. Then another member of the Big Four, JBS, also settled with ranchers in a related cattle price-fixing case for $83.5 million.
The lawsuits that forced the packer settlements were filed in 2019 by R CALF USA, four individual rancher members of R CALF, and later the National
Farmers Union.
Evidently there was something to see here after all!
Then on Oct. 3, 2025, a federal district court in South Dakota ordered that ranchers and R CALF can proceed with their lawsuit challenging the lawfulness of the USDA’s new rule requiring electronically readable (EID) eartags for certain cattle and bison transported across state lines.
In its opinion and order, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, Western Division, denied the USDA’s motion to dismiss the ranchers’ claims based on lack of standing. It further denied the USDA’s request to strike portions of the ranchers’ claims.
In response Bullard said, “The court’s decision is an important first step in this litigation. By rejecting the USDA’s arguments, the court has determined that this case can proceed on the merits. A key question as this
continued on page 2
FDA Conditionally Approves Merck Animal Health’s EXZOLT™ CATTLE-CA1
For Prevention and Treatment of New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) Larvae (myiasis)
Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a conditional approval for EXZOLT™ CATTLE-CA1 (fluralaner topical solution). This innovative product is in the newest class of parasiticides known as isoxazolines. The pour-on solution is effective for the prevention and treatment of infestations caused by New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae (myiasis). It is also conditionally approved for the treatment and control of cattle fever tick (Rhipicephalus microplus).
“The threat of New World screwworm represents a growing concern to U.S. agriculture, potentially causing devastating economic losses for cattle producers that could reach hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Rick DeLuca, president, Merck Animal Health.
“EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1 is the first novel ectoparasiticide introduced for beef cattle in several decades, and its conditional approval reflects our commitment to bringing new, innovative solutions to market that address resistance concerns. We worked closely with the FDA to accelerate availability so that veterinarians and cattle producers will have access to a powerful new tool to protect cattle from these serious parasites, helping to safeguard the industry’s economic future and the nation’s beef supply.”
EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1 was granted conditional approval based on demonstration of safety and a reasonable expectation of effectiveness when administered according to label directions based on global studies conducted by Merck Animal Health in recent years.
“Merck Animal Health has a proud legacy of innovation, providing science-based solutions and supporting producers in adopting sustainable parasite management programs including resistance control,” said Holger Lehmann, D.V.M., Ph.D., vice president, pharmaceutical research & development, Merck Animal Health. “We are pleased that the FDA previously established an accelerated regulatory pathway for novel treatments that address life-threatening diseases through expanded conditional approval and priority zoonotic animal drug designation. Without this regulatory route, the registration of EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1 would not have been possible in such a short time.”
EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1 is a pour-on that delivers the active ingredient fluralaner to act systemically against infestations. It is approved for use in beef cattle two months of age and older, and in replacement dairy heifers under 20 months. It is not approved for use in bulls intended for breeding (one year of age and older), dairy calves, and veal calves. There is a 98-day meat withdrawal period.
EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1 is conditionally approved by FDA pending a full demonstration of effectiveness under application number 141617.
EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1 will be available by prescription in 1 L or 5 L presentations in
continued on
by
Green Thieves
Normally I’m a pretty peaceful guy, but you want to know what really makes me mad? It’s these fake-meat vegheads who are stealing our terms like steak and burger to describe their plant-based and lab-concocted vegetarian and vegan products that they can’t sell on their own merits. To get people to buy their rubbish they are trying to pull the wool over the consumers’ eyes and trying to trick them into buying their inferior fare. And with several of these fake meat companies going broke and Beyond Meat teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, the veg-heads are getting really desperate. We don’t have to guess how this can get out of hand in a hurry unless we nip it in the bud. Take milk for example. We’ve gone from cow, goat and sheep milk to oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, pea milk, macadamia milk, rice milk, hazelnut milk, flaxseed milk, pistachio milk, banana milk, walnut milk, potato milk, sesame milk, peanut milk and even hemp milk. What’s next asparagus milk? Or how does a refreshing arugula milkshake sound? And all of them brag they’re better than cow’s milk despite the fact that many of these so-called “milks” lack essential amino acids found in real milk and may contain inflammatory seeds and oils that can play havoc with the human digestive system. Not to mention that most of these new “milks” lack the calcium and vitamin A that are found in real milk. And many are too high in starch. Pimply faced teenagers might also be interested to know that some fake milks have been found to cause acne. Poultry growers should also be foaming at the beak that some veggies have coopted their names too like “eggplant drumstick” and even a vegetable called fat hen! That alone should be grounds for a defamation lawsuit! Horse people should be infuriated that there are vegetables called Horse gram, horseradish and sorrel. And there’s no doubt that sheepherders have less money in their purse because of an inferior vegetable called shepherd’s purse. Not to mention lamb’s lettuce. The veg-heads have even
LEE PITTS
LEE PITTS
News with a View...
and whether the agency acted reasonably in issuing it. Because this case involves a federal agency regulation implemented during the Biden administration that imposes an unnecessary and costly burden on America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, we believe this mandate should be targeted for elimination by the Trump administration.”
Once again the plaintiffs in the case included R CALF, two of its members Kenny and Roxie Fox, the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, and the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance.
It seems like we received a press release or a pro-rancher opinion piece every week from R CALF where they were either announcing another victory or taking positions that would benefit all ranchers. R CALF left no doubt where ranchers stood on topics like emergency approval for tick-born cattle disease treatment, disapproval of the Forest Service Grasslands management plan, supporting the “Make America Healthy Again” movement and announcing their approval of the rewriting of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) legislation.
Mending The Fence
Since its inception, R CALF has pushed hard for mandatory country of origin labeling (mCOOL) for all beef sold in the U.S. so it was only natural that they welcomed a House bill to restore mCOOL. You may recall that prior to the latest run-up in cattle prices the only other time cattlemen have seen profits in recent memory was during the brief period when we had mCOOL. That was before our government caved in to the demands of the World Trade Organization.
beling for beef, and put an end to the monopolistic control that packers and retailers have over our beef supply chain. Doing so will incentivize America’s ranchers to rebuild and expand the U.S. herd to meet our national security needs and ensure that consumer beef prices are determined by competitive market forces.”
Like A Bulldog
R CALF and other like-minded folks were also responsible for bringing to President Trump’s attention the growing concentration of the beef industry. Said Bullard, “That America is now aware that concentration in the beef packing industry has distorted the ranchers’ cattle market and the consumers’ beef market was firmly established by President Trump’s directive to the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into beef packer price-fixing, price manipulation and illicit collusion.”
Bullard and R CALF have been complaining for years about the monopoly control of the packers with no meaningful government enforcement of our U.S. antitrust laws or the Packers and Stockyards Act. “We must go back about 18 years,” says Bullard, “to early 2008 when we learned that Brazilian-owned JBS wanted to purchase our nation’s fourth-largest beef packer, National Beef Packing Co., along with Smithfield Beef Group and the then-largest U.S. feedlot, Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding. We immediately requested the U.S. attorney general block the mergers, we asked the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee to launch an investigation, and we filed a private lawsuit to enforce our U.S. antitrust laws.”
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Now we seem closer to mCOOL than at any time since then. It’s the least that President Trump could do for the cattlemen who helped get him elected after he recently stabbed ranchers in the back by quadrupling Argentina’s quota of beef that could be sent to the U.S. in an effort to lower the price of beef in grocery stores and to support a like-minded political ally, Argentina’s President, Javier Milei. Many ranchers were offended by the move and giving ranchers back mCOOL would go a long way towards mending that fence.
“Global packers are importing beef from about 20 different countries,” says Bullard, “including Argentina, and because we do not have a mandatory country-of-origin labeling law for beef, the global packers do not need to reduce the price of imported product compared to domestic product. This negates any theoretical benefit of using more imports to drive down domestic beef prices. The president should immediately require mCOOL labels on beef so American consumers can choose to help rebuild and expand our nation’s contracted cattle herd.”
“For decades the government has been inviting more imports from countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Namibia,” says Bullard, “claiming these increased imports would provide consumers more choices and lower consumer beef prices. This did not work. We urge the President to manage imports, restore mandatory country-of-origin la-
“By early 2009,” continued Bullard, “after the Department of Justice had filed an antitrust enforcement action, JBS withdrew one of its proposed acquisitions – the purchase of National Beef Packing Co. That was our first antitrust victory, albeit a partial one, and it was the first meaningful antitrust enforcement action filed by the Department of Justice in decades on behalf of our industry.”
“Although the Justice Department’s action slowed the formation of our monopolized beef supply chain, it didn’t stop it, and our industry continued to shrink while monopoly-structured cattle and beef markets persisted. So, we formally requested a second investigation. We asked the USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration to investigate the beef packers’ cattle procurement practices. That investigation took several years, and a report was issued in 2014 stating that the packers’ use of alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) has a negative price effect on fed cattle, but no enforcement action was taken.”
“After cattle prices started their inexplicable collapse in 2015 – even while beef prices were at record levels – we filed our third formal request for an investigation, this time asking the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to determine why cattle prices collapsed and why there was intense volatility in the live cattle futures market. This resulted in yet another government investigative report that came out in 2018 but again, no enforcement action was taken.”
“Undeterred, in late 2018 we
made our fourth request for a government investigation – this one to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission – in which we asked for an investigation into packer-related or packer-directed trading activities. By 2019, it was clear the government was disinterested in launching a thorough, probing investigation that would reform the monopolistic structure of the beef supply chain,” said Bullard.
“And so, in 2019 we filed a national class-action antitrust lawsuit alleging the four largest beef packers unlawfully colluded to suppress cattle prices while inflating beef prices. After we filed our lawsuit, and after the National Farmers Union joined with us, many other segments of the beef supply chain filed companion lawsuits – including consumers and retailers – which has attracted even more attention to antitrust concerns in the beef-packing industry,” said Bullard.
R CALF was as tenacious as a bulldog in going after the packers and in 2025 they were finally rewarded with the huge class action lawsuits that were settled in the rancher’s favor.
During the COVID pandemic beef couldn’t be found in some grocery stores and President Trump called upon the Justice Department to investigate the beef packers’ possible role. Now he’s doing it again. Said Trump, “Action must be taken immediately to protect consumers, combat illegal monopolies, and ensure these corporations are not criminally profiting at the expense of the American people. I have asked the DOJ to immediately begin an investigation into the meat packing companies who are driving up the price of beef through Illicit collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation. We will always protect our American ranchers, and they are being blamed for what is being done by majority foreign owned meat packers, who artificially inflate prices, and jeopardize the security of
our Nation’s food supply.”
In conclusion Trump said, “The “Big Four” meat packers currently dominate 85 percent of the U.S. beef processing market, up from just 36 percent in 1980. Two of these companies, including the largest meat packer in the world, are either foreign-owned or have significant foreign ownership and control.”
It sounds like Trump is now singing from R CALF’s songbook.
A Serious Dilemma
R CALF is not resting on its laurels, if anything they are ratcheting up their efforts especially concerning imported beef. “We have become increasingly dependent on imports,” said Bullard. “In 2020, imports made up about 18 percent of domestic consumption, but in 2024 imports made up about 22 percent of domestic consumption. This tells us that America’s dependency on imports is growing, and that puts national security at risk. We now face a serious dilemma. Excessive beef imports are used by the monopolistic meatpackers, in combination with their unfair market practices, to drive cattle producers out of business and displace domestic beef production. Last year our shortfall in domestic beef production was a near record of about 3.2 billion pounds.”
“The solution must be to rebuild and expand our diminished cattle industry so it can begin meeting our national security objective of achieving self-reliance in beef production,” said Bullard. “To accomplish this, the monopolistic control of our cattle industry by the handful of global meatpackers must cease. We pledge to work with President Trump and his administration to restore competition to our diminished U.S. cattle industry so cattle producers and consumers alike can once again be confident that prices for cattle and beef are determined by competitive market forces, not monopoly power and excessive import
penetration by foreign beef that is not even labeled as to its country of origin.”
“We want to take managerial power away from the dominant packers and substitute corporate power with competitive market forces that will incentivize our industry to rebuild and expand so America can become self-reliant in beef production,” said Bullard.
We guarantee you won’t hear such positions being taken by the packer-backers at the NCBA.
Fighting For The Future
Since I first began writing about the cattle business over 50 years ago we have one million fewer ranchers and we can’t even meet the domestic demand for beef. Nor can we withstand any black swan events or economic shocks to the system, like Tyson’s recent announcement that they are shuttering their Lexington, Nebraska plant and reducing their plant in Amarillo to a single shift a day. It’s clear they’d rather buy their beef cheaper from overseas.
The way I see it ranchers have been left with one of four choices: (#1) You can ignore the problems like the NCBA is doing and hope you don’t become another sad statistic in the story of how we lost the cattle business in this country; (#2) Become a contract producer like the chicken farmers have done and become a serf on your own land; (#3) Sell the ranch and the cows and go live in Sun City; or (#4) You could join R CALF in fighting for the future of the American rancher. ▫
New Task Forces to Probe Meat Industry’s ‘Anti-Competitive Behavior’: Trump
BY PETER THOMAS RICCI / MEATINGPLACE.COM
President Donald Trump ordered on December 6, 2025 the creation of “Food Supply Chain Security Task Forces” to investigate “anti-competitive behavior” among meat processors and other food industry players.
Announced via executive order, separate task forces will be created through the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, and will “take all necessary and appropriate actions” in their investigations of not just the food supply chain, but moreover, “whether control of food-related industries by foreign entities is increasing the cost of food products in the United States or creating a national or economic security threat to Americans.”
“Anti-competitive behavior, especially when carried out by foreign-controlled corporations, threatens the stability and affordability of America’s food supply,” Trump’s order stated. “In recent years certain companies in the American food supply chain have even settled civil suits accusing them of price fixing for tens of millions of dollars. … My Administration will act to determine whether anti-competitive behavior, especially by foreign-controlled companies, increases the cost of living for Americans and address any associated national security threat to food supply chains.”
Should Attorney General Pam Bondi uncover “criminal collusion,” Trump continued, criminal proceedings will commence “as appropriate,” including grand juries. The task forces are to provide updates to numerous congressional leaders first within the next 180 days, and then within the investigation’s first year.
Trump’s issued the order a month after his opening salvo against the nation’s meatpackers, when he directed the DOJ to “immediately” begin an investigation into “illicit collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation.” Both Bondi and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins quickly stated their support for the investigation, though news later broke that the DOJ had recently concluded a 2020 investigation of beef packer concentration without filing any charges.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Rollins has met with Trump in recent weeks to discuss U.S. beef prices, as have trade advisor Peter Navarro and United States Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller. ▫
managed to insult pig growers, which I thought was impossible, by naming a vegetable pignut. What’s next, ham of yam I am? (This is starting to sound like a Dr. Seuss story.)
If I was from Switzerland I’d be furious that there’s a vegetable called Swiss chard which is extremely bitter. I’d be annoyed by the implication if I was Swiss. There’s not a more lovable animal on the planet than elephants and the veg-heads had the nerve to ride on the pachyderm’s good reputation by naming one vegetable elephant garlic and another elephant foot yam. I’m told that it tastes an awful lot like elephant foot toe jam.
I’m telling you if we don’t stop this madness of veg-heads riding on our good name it won’t be too long before we end
up with ribeye of beet, rump of tofu, brisket of turnip and Porterhouse butter nut squash. There will be brussel sprout filet mignon, turnip green London broil and Lima bean steak. YUCK! On one hand you have the worst tasting foodstuff in the Lima bean and the best tasting food on the planet in steak.
In the future I can envision walking into a grocery store and seeing carrot ribs, tenderloin of potato, tomato top sirloin, collard greens ground round, fluted pumpkin flank, celery shanks, cucumber skirt steak, lettuce stroganoff, T-bone of cabbage, back-rib bell peppers, loin of spinach, stew meat soybeans and the vegetable that needs our good name the most: zucchini chateaubriand.
The veg-heads will continue to steal other words usually associated with meat like barbe-
Take your marketinJ.{ program to the topf
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cued Bok choy, aged radicchio and chickweed Quarter Pounders. I ask you, where and when will it all end?
It’s bad enough that vegetables and fruits have to be identified as to what country they were grown in, an advantage not granted to meat. To take advantage of their protection from foreign imports perhaps we should take a page out of the veg-head’s book and start calling beef “second generation corn,” which would be as devious as the veg-heads using our words. Only in this case it would be entirely true. Cattle eat the corn and people eat the cattle. ▫
FDA cont from pg 1
the first quarter of 2026. Use of EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1 is restricted to the labeled indications; off-label or extra-label use is prohibited by federal law for conditionally approved products. For more information about EXZOLT CATTLE CA1, visit ExzoltCattle-CA1.com.
Merck Animal Health recently received market authorization in Mexico for this product for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm to help control the spread of the parasite and protect cattle.
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION: EXZOLT™ CATTLE-CA1 (fluralaner topical solution)
Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children. Acci-
dental exposure may cause skin and eye irritation. Highly flammable. Keep away from heat, sparks, open flame or other sources of ignition. Use only for the prevention and treatment of infestations caused by New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae (myiasis) and treatment and control of cattle fever tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) in beef cattle 2 months of age and older and replacement dairy heifers less than 20 months of age. Not for use in bulls intended for breeding 1 year of age and older, dairy calves, and veal calves. Cattle must not be slaughtered for human consumption within 98 days of treatment. For complete safety information and product dosing instructions, refer to the product label. ▫
Temple Grandin Honored in Smithsonian’s Portrait Exhibit
SOURCE: AGDAILY REPORTERS
Dr. Temple Grandin has had a milestone month celebrating both her legacy and the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Grandin made a recent unannounced visit to 4-H’s Clover Capital, meeting with National 4-H Council Associates to discuss the future of food and farming, where Grandin spoke about the need for experiential learning in agriculture.
“Her groundbreaking designs transformed livestock handling and reshaped modern agriculture,” AmyJo Hasselquist, account manager with Food, Ag + Nutrition, wrote in an email to AGDAILY.
Grandin emphasized how experiential education can open doors for youth who may not see themselves in agriculture yet. She is a 4-H alumna and credits her horse equitation project for sparking her early passion: “what gave her the spark.”
Grandin was joined by John Festervand of Colorado State University’s College of
Agricultural Sciences, producer of her new documentary An Open Door, now available on streaming platforms. The film highlights her life, innovations, and influence on today’s educators and young ag leaders.
Hasselquist noted that the gathering offered a rare moment bringing together one of agriculture’s most influential thinkers and one of the nation’s largest youth-development organizations, “spotlighting the growing collaboration needed to train the next generation of problem-solvers our food system depends on.”
Grandin’s Smithsonian Portrait Debuts
Grandin’s visit coincided with a historic honor: The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery unveiled her official portrait as part of the upcoming exhibition “Portrait of a Nation: 2025 Honorees,” opening December 12.
The exhibition celebrates four individuals whose contributions have shaped American life. According to Rhea L. Combs, the Smithsonian’s director of curatorial affairs, “This year’s Portrait of a Na-
tion Award honorees represent a few of the many disciplines of innovation that have shaped the nation’s trajectory … audiences will discover new sides of four luminaries — each of whom has greatly impacted American life.”
Grandin’s portrait, “Brocken Spectre and Glory: Portrait of Temple Grandin,” painted in 2022 by David Lenz, depicts her standing among cattle at Wisconsin’s Waseda Farms, home to the first Grandin-designed handling facility in the state. The unusual atmospheric effect behind her, a “brocken spectre and glory,” symbolizes her belief “that every person is important and can contribute to society in unique ways.”
Grandin’s career has shaped modern livestock welfare, has expanded public understanding of food systems, and opened pathways for neurodivergent thinkers entering agriculture and science.
The Smithsonian’s exhibition runs December 12, 2025, through November 8, 2026, with free admission. ▫
Dr. Jim Lytle, DVM
Dr. Jim Lytle, DVM, was born James Victor Lytle, April 7, 1949, in Prescott, Arizona, to Victor and Ethel Lytle. He died Oct. 28, 2025, in Flagstaff following a brief illness. He was 76.
Lytle’s formative years were spent in Prescott. He was involved with sports and spent summers on the family ranch near Tombstone. He was an Eagle Scout and enjoyed many outdoor activities with his father. He graduated from Prescott High School in 1967.
Lytle then attended Colorado State University for undergraduate studies and graduated from CSU Veterinary School in 1974. During college, he met Chris Painter, and the two were married June 29, 1974.
The couple moved to North Platte, Nebraska for his first job as a veterinarian, then transitioned to Wickenburg in 1976 when he was hired at Bar S Animal Clinic. Shortly thereafter, he purchased the clinic and provided care for large and small animals as well as horses and cattle on surrounding ranches. Due to his amazing work ethic and undying loyalty to animals
American Gelbvieh Association Elects Board of Directors
Members of the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) elected five candidates to the board of directors at the AGA Annual Meeting held December 5, 2025, during the 55th Annual AGA National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
Newly elected board mem-
and the families who owned them, Lytle earned a name for himself around the region.
He also contributed to the Wickenburg community in countless ways. He helped kids with their 4H projects, served on board for Wickenburg Community Hospital, worked the Desert Caballeros Ride, and served on Wickenburg Volunteer Fire Department. He was also known for helping young veterinarians get started in the business.
In 1994, he and Chris partnered with Ben and Claudia Billingslea on the Forepaugh Cattle Company where he spent a lot of time when he wasn’t traveling as a vet. He cowboyed at Forepaugh and of course, provided vet services.
Lytle loved his time as a volunteer firefighter. After the department transitioned to a fulltime, paid staff, he took a seat on the board of the Wickenburg Rural Fire District and was serving as chairman at the time of his death.
In 2000, he sold Bar S Animal Clinic and ventured into traveling ranch work. For the next 25 years, he worked tirelessly taking care of large ranches border to border, operating out of their home. He was involved with Arizona Cattle Growers Association, Arizona Cowpunchers Reunion Association, and Arizona
bers are Dalton Bennett, Red House, Virginia; Gary Carlisle, Redmont, Utah; and Josh Phillips, Lathrop, Missouri. Re-elected to serve a second term were David Larson, Clearbrook, Minnesota, and Brent Overmiller, Smith Center, Kansas.
The AGA board of directors also elected individuals to serve in leadership positions on the executive committee for 2026. Dan Warner, Arapahoe, Nebraska, was re-elected president. Stuart Jarvis, Phillipsburg, Kansas, was re-elected vice president. Brent Overmiller was re-elected secretary. Gregg Hartman, Pueblo, Colorado, was elected treasurer.
Other members of the board include Greg “Bubba”
Livestock Incident Response Team (ALIRT), an organization formed after 9/11 to investigate and respond to potential bioterrorism in livestock herds.
Lytle’s family remembers him as a hard worker, but Lytle always said, “If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.” They also remember family times of fishing and traveling, his support of their sports events and saddle club activities.
He is survived by his wife Chris of Wickenburg; son Shawn (Alexis), Gilbert; daughter Erica (Michael) Morrell, Peoria; brother Bob Lytle, Prescott; sister Betty Warman, Mexico City; grandchildren Vivian, Jacari, Micah and Emery; as well as extended family and many lifelong friends.
Lytle was building a fund for which vet school graduates could apply to have part of their student loans paid back if they served large animals, especially cattle ranches. The fund is currently administered through the Bill Owen Cowboy Artistry Memorial Scholarship Fund. In lieu of flowers, the Lytle family encourages donations be sent to Bill Owen Cowboy Artist Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Dallas Laone Accounting, 7380 S Eastern Ave., #124-365, Las Vegas, NV 89123. ▫
Anderson, Marion, North Carolina; Zack Butler, Milton, Tennessee; Troy Forbes, De Smet, South Dakota; William McIntosh, Georgetown, Kentucky; John Shearer, Canton, Kansas; Mark Stock, Waukon, Iowa; and Justin Taubenheim, Amherst, Nebraska.
Retiring members of the 2025 AGA board of directors were Mark Covington, Montrose, Colorado; Tom Vehige, Billings, Missouri; and Cory Voss, Bruning, Nebraska. ▫
Pictured is the 2025-26 AGA Board of Directors. Back row (l to r): David Larson, Clearbrook, Minn.; Zack Butler, Milton, Tenn.; Mark Stock, Waukon, Iowa; John Shearer, Canton, Kan.; Troy Forbes, De Smet, S.D.; Greg “Bubba” Anderson, Marion, N.C.; Gary Carlisle, Redmond, Utah; Justin Taubenheim, Amherst, Neb.; and Josh Phillips, Lathrop, Mo. Front Row (l to r): Brent Overmiller, Smith Center, Kan.; Gregg Hartman, Pueblo, Colo.; Harold Bertz, AGA executive director; Dan Warner, Arapahoe, Neb.; and Stuart Jarvis, Phillipsburg, Kan. Not pictured: Dalton Bennett, Red House, Va., and William McIntosh, Georgetown, Ky.
The Impact of Tyson’s Closure on Beef Slaughter Capacity Utilization
SOURCE: SOUTHERN AG TODAY
This year, there have been several Southern Ag Today articles discussing the impacts of tight fed cattle supplies on prices, cattle on feed, slaughter weights, and total beef production (Anderson 2025a, Anderson
2025b, Maples 2025). On November 21, Tyson announced that they would be closing their Lexington, Nebraska plant in January 2026. Following the announcement, there have been a lot of questions revolving around the impact of the closure on national slaughter capacity utilization (CU).
The Lexington, Nebraska plant had an approximate daily capacity of 5,000 head. That equates to approximately 20% percent of Tyson’s daily capacity (25,800 head/day) as a company. In Martinez et al. (2023), we showed a measure of national slaughter capacity utilization, which measures the ratio of operational cattle slaughter capacity over total physical capacity.
To estimate the impact of the closure on the national CU, we use 2025’s monthly slaughter with an adjusted 2025 slaughter CU. The adjusted CU is simply adjusting the national CU with the daily 5,000 head taken out. Figure 1 displays the monthly national federally inspected (FI) slaughter capacity utilization with the previous 5-year average (thick blue line), 2024 (orange dotted line), 2025 (grey thin line), and 2025-Adjusted (green dashed line).
The adjusted capacity utilization is closer to the previous 5-year average. Evaluating data through November, the average for the 5-year average was 90.1 percent while the 2025 and 2025-adjusted average through November are 83.1 percent and 87.7 percent, respectively. In November, slaughter capacity utilization averaged 83.5 percent, which was lower than November 2024 (88.4 percent), the previous 5-year average (89.8 percent), and the 2025-adjusted (87.8 percent).
Overall, 2025 has seen declining fed cattle numbers in the cattle on feed reports and higher fed cattle prices, leading to low or negative packer margins. While the supply chain is offsetting tight cattle supplies with larger carcasses, the closure of the Lexington plant certainly signals there is excess capacity at this time.
This is the first large scale plant to close since 2013, when Cargill closed their Plainview, Texas plant, which was also during a time when cattle supplies were tight. There have been reports that Tyson is looking to buy that Plainview plant. Additionally, there are some plants that are reported to come online in 2026 and 2027. It is fair to question if the adjusted capacity utilization is a new norm, or simply a short run adjustment by the supply chain. ▫
Nevada Ranchers Turn to Virtual Fencing to Manage Cattle
Across Nevada’s rangelands, hauling barbed wire and setting fence posts remains a necessary, albeit labor-intensive, task for ranchers. Now, with help from University of Nevada, Reno researchers, some are testing “virtual fencing,” a GPS system that lets them guide cattle remotely in real time using handheld software – no physical barriers required.
The technology allows ranch managers to design grazing rotations that experts from the University’s Extension and Experiment Station units, both part of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, say benefit the ecosystem by protecting riparian areas, boosting forage for wildlife and reducing wildfire fuel, all critical benefits for Nevada’s fragile rangelands.
“Virtual fencing technology isn’t brand new, but it’s emerging in a way that finally makes sense on working rangelands,” said Paul Meiman, an Extension state specialist who also conducts research as part of the Experiment Station. “It offers tremendous promise for both federal land management agencies and ranchers because it provides a level of flexibility in grazing management that we’ve never had before, especially when managing landscapes with sensitive riparian areas.”
With support from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Meiman, also a professor of rangeland and ecology management in the College’s Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences, has teamed up with ranches to test the technology across tens of thousands of acres of rugged Western terrain.
How does virtual fencing work to manage grazing in Nevada rangelands?
At Maggie Creek Ranch, which encompasses nearly a quarter-million acres of private and public land in Elko, Meiman collaborated with ranch manager Jon Griggs to “train” a herd of 200 yearling heifers. After a virtual fence company helped Meiman and his team install two tower-based receiver stations, which can each transmit signals up to 10 miles depending on terrain, the team outfitted each animal with a GPS-enabled collar and set digital grazing boundaries in the software.
“As a cow approaches the invisible boundaries, the collar emits a beep as a warning,” Meiman said. “If the animal persists into the restricted zone, it delivers a mild pulse along with another beep. Over time, the cattle learn the pattern and
adjust their movements on their own.”
In what resembles a Pavlovian feat, the herd was sufficiently conditioned within three days.
“Virtual fencing gave us a level of control that we don’t typically get on large, open rangeland,” Griggs said. “We were able to place cattle exactly where we wanted them and move them through the pasture more efficiently. For operations like ours, it shows real promise, especially in areas where traditional fencing or herding just isn’t practical.”
After three years of participation, Griggs said the technology improved grazing efficiency while supporting ecological balance on the ranch, where mule deer, wild turkeys, waterfowl, porcupines and raccoons share habitat with cattle and horses. A conservation leader, Maggie Creek Ranch has earned the National Environmental Stewardship Award for its land management practices, while Cottonwood Ranch in Wells, Nevada, which has been instrumental in the virtual fencing project, received the 2025 Rangeland Stewardship Award from the Bureau of Land Management.
Using virtual fencing to control cheatgrass, reduce wildfire risks and improve forage quality
While Meiman, Griggs and a crew from Cottonwood Ranch evaluated virtual fencing from small to large working pastures, a separate University research team tested the technology at a participating ranch in Paradise, Nevada, to direct grazing on invasive cheatgrass species to protect native grasses, improve forage for livestock and reduce wildfire risks. The team included Tracy Shane, assistant professor in the College’s Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences; her student Austin Lemons, a graduate student in the Department’s animal and range management sciences; and researchers from the U.S. Forest Service.
“Cheatgrass is a persistent challenge for rangelands because it sprouts early, outcompetes native perennial grasses and quickly depletes soil moisture and nutrients,” said Lemons, who, in addition to his full-time studies, is an active officer in the Army National Guard and conservation manager at the Dayton Valley Conservation District. “Once established, it forms dense, dry stands that are highly flammable, increasing wildfire risk.”
The project initially planned to use traditional barbed-wire fencing, but logistical constraints and archeological concerns prompted the shift to virtual fencing.
“We started our collaboration with a brief training period to introduce the cattle to the virtual collars and help them learn and respond to the technology’s invisible boundaries,” Lemons said. “From there, ranchers managed the movements of their herds by adjusting grazing patterns and providing feedback to refine the system through an app.” Lemons and Shane deliberately grazed cattle on cheatgrass in the fall rather than the typical spring timing.
“The advantage of this ap-
proach is that after summer, cheatgrass often greens up again while most native plants do not, directing cattle to focus primarily on the invasive species,” Lemons said. “This has the potential to reduce the seed bank from fall-germinated cheatgrass, remove dry litter that fuels wildfires and reduce quality of germination sites for cheatgrass reestablishment in the spring.”
Early results and what comes next
The experiment showed promising early results.
Across both research projects, ranchers contributed by tracking herd movements and collecting data. At one study site, the targeted grazing treatment reduced cheatgrass biomass from 400 pounds per acre to just over 100 pounds per acre, reducing the carry-over litter and fuels by 75 percent.
Ranchers also reported practical advantages.
Concentrating cattle in narrow grazing zones encouraged animals to eat a broader mix of plants rather than just their preferred species. The result was more uniform pasture use and healthier rangelands overall.
“By guiding cattle to work through each grazing area before moving on to the next, we immediately saw reduced pressure on preferred grasses and better long-term sustainability of forage resources,” Griggs said.
Because meaningful ecological changes typically take years to emerge, Lemons and Shane track short-term indicators such as stubble height, streambank conditions and vegetation patterns that support native species.
“Any range management research involving changes in grazing practices usually takes three to 10 years before we start seeing real, measurable changes in the vegetation,” Shane said. “That’s why we rely on shortterm indicators to track progress, but the real ecological results come with time, patience and continued commitment.”
Cost challenges of widespread adoption of virtual fencing
While virtual fencing offers many benefits, its cost and operational challenges may slow adoption at ranches such as Maggie Creek and Cottonwood. Each base station linking collars to the management app costs roughly $10,000, in addition to a service fee of $60 per animal per year. Additionally, dense tree cover and rough topography can cause connectivity issues with the virtual fence system, occasionally limiting real-time monitoring of cattle locations and the ability to change virtual fence locations.
Support from the Nevada Agricultural Foundation, Nevada Division of Forestry, Nevada Department of Wildlife, USFS and BLM has helped make virtual fencing accessible by providing collars and base stations for participating ranchers. Looking ahead, the University’s project teams aim to expand pilot testing of the technology for wider adoption across Nevada’s rangelands. ▫
Figure 1.
Monthly National Federally Inspected Slaughter Capacity Utilization
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Israel, US Seal Agricultural Trade Deal to Cut Prices & Boost Exports
BY PESACH BENSON / THE JERUSALEM POST
Israel and the United States signed a new agricultural trade agreement in early December, setting what officials described as
“The new agreement is a significant step towards reducing the cost of living in Israel and strengthening strategic ties with the US –our most important economic and political partner,” said Barkat.
“We have succeeded in creating a balanced framework that will increase competition, lower prices, and give Israeli exports a renewed advantage in the American market. Alongside this, we are investing heavily in Israeli farmers in order to maintain food security, strengthen settlements, and protect the borders.”r 10 SecondsUp Next
challenges in global markets. “Increasing quality agricultural exports means higher quality and more available local produce,” he said.
“In the anti-Israeli reality in countries that were once friendly and have become hostile, the US is an important anchor for Israeli food security. At the same time, we must identify the opportunities to realize the government’s decision to increase agricultural production by a third in the coming decade.”
Dichter added that the agreement ensures “full shelves here, alongside significant support for Blue and White agriculture and food security.”
Israel to grant around 300 US food exemptions
Under the deal, Israel will grant duty exemptions to about 300 American food and agricultural products. Some exemptions will take effect immediately, while others will be phased in over the next decade. The list includes beef, poultry, lamb, dairy products, eggs, oils, juices, and a wide range of fresh and frozen produce. The changes are
U of Agriculture
Brooke L. Rollins has announced that Nevada has met US-
“We are strengthening the backbone of America’s food system by forging true partnerships with states and empowering local producers,” said Secretary Rollins. “Today’s action builds on our commitment to deliver clear, accountable food safety standards and support small businesses—while delivering safe food to families and communities.”
“The Nevada State Meat and Poultry Inspection Program will significantly expand our local meat processing capacity, strengthen the supply chain, bolster Nevada’s agricultural economy and ensure greater access to safe, locally produced food,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “This initiative was a priority in my first term, and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this program and enjoying our Nevada-raised
expected to increase imports, heighten competition, and help ease consumer prices.
Negotiations are ongoing to secure expanded American concessions for Israeli exports, which Israeli officials say is key to restoring competitiveness in the US market. About 70% of Israeli goods exports to the United States currently face new tariffs, and Jerusalem hopes to reverse that trend in the next stage of talks.
To help local producers adjust, the government is working on a national support plan built around technological innovation, including artificial intelligence and advanced agricultural tools aimed at improving efficiency and resilience.
The United States remains Israel’s largest trading partner. In 2024, Israel exported $17.3 billion in goods and $16.7 billion in services to the US, while importing $9.3 billion in goods and $4.8 billion in services. The new agreement is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. ▫
meat products.”
Nevada becomes the 30th state with an approved MPI program, supporting more than 1,500 small processors nationwide with the benefit of state inspection. FSIS will work closely with the Nevada Department of Agriculture and local stakeholders to ensure seamless implementation and continued trust in food safety standards.
In FY 2025, USDA committed $14.5 million to support state inspection programs. The FY 2026 budget recently appropriated by Congress renews this commitment by providing an additional $15.2 million to strengthen inspection capacity.
USDA also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) to deepen cooperation with states. ▫
DxE Animal Activist Sentenced in ChickenTheft Case
BY TOM JOHNSTON / MEATINGPLACE.COM
Ajudge in Sonoma County, Calif., sentenced an animal activist convicted of stealing four chickens from Petaluma Poultry in 2023 to 90 days, according to a report by the Press Democrat.
The sentence requires Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) member Zoe Rosenberg to serve 30 days in jail and 60 days through a jail-alternative program, followed by two years of probation. She is to turn herself in by Dec. 10.
Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Gnoss also ordered Rosenberg to stay at least 100 yards away from the Petaluma Poultry facility, which is owned by Perdue Farms.
In October, a jury found Rosenberg guilty of one count of felony conspiracy and three misdemeanors related to breaking into the plant and stealing chickens as part of what she and DxE contends are rightful rescues of allegedly abused animals.
Rosenberg read a statement, not expressing remorse for her actions but for failing to rescue more chickens, according to the report, which quoted Gnoss as saying, “Not once did I hear you say you’re sorry for your criminal conduct.” ▫
State Grant Expands Butcher Training to High Schoolers
PETER THOMAS RICCI/ MEATINGPLACE.COM
The state of Minnesota has continued in its initiative to train the next generation of butchers.
According to a report from KTTC, Dover-Eyota High School, 100 miles south of Minneapolis, now offers an elective course for students to learn how to break down deer carcasses, handle specific cuts of meat, and process both grinds and sausages.
To launch the class, the school utilized $11,000 from the Meat Education and Training Grant Program through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, which aims to train students in meat cutting and butchery for potential careers in the industry.
Minnesota is among many states that have launched training programs to address the acute shortage of butchers in the United States. Recent examples include Northcentral Technical College in Wisconsin, the Penn State University’s Butcher Apprenticeship Program, and the two-year Kentucky Master Butcher Program. ▫