Weekly Roundup September 11, 2026

 This week on The Headquarter’s Range, we break down the latest cattle market activity and policy updates, including key takeaways from FCA’s Fall Quarterly and other developments impacting Florida cattle producers. 

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SPEAKER_00 0:00

We rode at a high lobe for most of the day. And we made a big circle and brought them all down through the coolies and draws to the big roundup round. River was rising from three days of rain. We brought them through to the headquarters range.

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Where were you when the world stopped turning? September 11th, 2001, 25 years ago today, at the recording of this weekly roundup. Date that changed our country. Date that changed our world. I was at the Over Street Ranch in Northern Polk County, dayworking, gathering cows. I'll never forget it. Never forget the people I was with. Never forget the feelings we had. Never forget the days after that when our country came together. Always remember it. Always give thanks to live in the greatest country in the entire world, United States of America. Now in less somber tones, welcome to the Headquarters Range weekly roundup from the Florida Cattlemen's Association. I'm Dusty Hawley, FCA's executive vice president. We're coming to you after an outstanding fall quarterly meeting here in Kissimmee. We had a tremendous crowd, strong discussions, and excellent participation from cattlemen and cattle women across Florida. Our opening general session focused on the pasture mealybug, and I believe everyone who attended left understanding just how serious this situation has become. The pasture mealia bug, heliococcus summer villi, is damaging pastures and grass crops across Florida. It feeds on plant sap and can cause rapid decline and complete dieback in limpograss, bahia grass, Bermuda grass, hay fields, turf grass, sugarcane strikes directly at one of Florida cattle production's greatest advantages. We've always been able to grow predominantly perennial forage over a longer season with relatively low inputs than operations that depend more heavily on annual or cultivated forage systems. This pest continues to threaten that foundation. We still have questions to answer about its movement, its biology, and the management tools that will work under Florida conditions. But the message from this week's general session was clear. Everybody is working together to find these answers. FCA, our state agencies, UFIFus, researchers, extension professionals, landowners, and other industry partners all have a role. Based on the damage we are seeing and the fact that this pest is now affecting more than one state, we also need to lead the effort toward an appropriate disaster declaration and whatever state and federal assistance may be available. We will be reaching out to officials in Tallahassee and Washington. We cannot promise a quick or simple solution, but we can promise that FCA is treating this like the crisis it is. This is a serious this is as serious a production issue as our industry has faced in years, and it's going to require an all hands-on deck response. At the same time, we cannot take our eyes off the New World Screwworm. Texas officials now report confirmed screw worm cases in seventeen counties and on thirty nine premises. Just this week, an infestation was confirmed on the hind leg of a working ranch horse in Presidio County, the first equine case of the current United States incursion. Movement restrictions remain in place in affected Texas areas. Sterile fly releases and surveillance are continuing, and producers everywhere need to stay vigilant. Inspect animals regularly, pay close attention to even small wounds, and immediately report suspicious larvae or wounds that are not healing normally. The mealybug may be the most immediate invasive pest crisis confronting Florida forage production, but screw worm remains a grave animal health threat. We have to be capable of dealing with both at the same time. That combination of research, producer experience, and grassroots direction was on full display throughout the quarterly. Our committees had big crowds and worked hard to turn member concerns into association policy and action. That is how FCA is supposed to operate. Our members identify the problems, work through them in committee, and give our officers, staff, and volunteer leaders the direction to carry that policy forward. Friday morning's Board of Directors meeting was equally strong with impressive attendance from across the state. District three deserves a special mention. Only one state director from that entire district was absent. That kind of commitment matters. We also had a tremendous stakeout Thursday night. It was a full house with a number of state legislators joining us along with cattlemen, cattlewomen, families, and friends from around Florida. A special thank you goes to Florida Cattlewomen President Deborah Whaley, the Florida Cattlewomen, and our Osceola County Cattlemen and Cattlewomen for hosting us. They did an outstanding job. It was especially meaningful to gather here in Osseola County, the home county of our association, for a good night of food, fellowship, and fun. We were also proud to recognize Kendall Brown, an agriculture teacher in the community of Harmony and Florida's twenty twenty seven Teacher of the Year. Agriculture teachers have a tremendous influence on the next generation, and it was a privilege to have her with us. Kate Ramsey has also completed her first week with the FCA staff, and she has hit the ground running. We are glad to have her on the team and look forward to the work ahead. Now let's turn to the cattle market. The Futures Board found some strength Thursday. Nearby live cattle settled at $217.82.5, up just under $2. Nearby feeder cattle settled at $332.57.5, up $2.87.5 cents. The CME feeder cattle index increased to $328.96. Friday trading is still underway as we record, so those Thursday settlements are the latest official closes, not a final weekly close. The stronger futures are encouraging. But the rest of the market deserves a careful look. Thursday afternoon, choice boxed beef declined two dollars and forty cents to three hundred and seventy-eight dollars and thirty-seven cents. Select declined twenty-eight cents to three hundred and fifty-two dollars and six cents. That left a choice select spread of twenty six dollars and thirty-one cents. Corn and soybean futures also moved higher Thursday. That matters because rising feed costs can quickly change the value of additional weight and put pressure on backgrounding and feeding decisions. USDA's latest steer carcass weight figure was $969 pounds, two pounds heavier than the previous week, and 16 pounds heavier than a year ago. Those heavier carcasses add beef to the system even while cattle numbers remain historically tight. Trade is another piece of this market. Cattle Facts reported July beef exports at approximately 199 million pounds, down a little more than 6% from last year. July imports were approximately 542 million pounds, up nearly 19%. The administration has also expanded lower tariff access for an additional 300,000 metric tons of lean imported beef over a three-month period. That policy deserves close attention in Florida. Imported lean beef competes most directly in the grinding beef market, which can affect the value of coal cows and bulls. The cattle many Florida producers are selling this time of year. So the market story remains a mixed one. Historically tight domestic cattle supplies and strong underlying demand remain supportive. But higher beef imports, softer wholesale values, heavier carcasses, and rising feed costs all have the ability to influence the market. Closer to home, USDA's Florida auction are reporting showed more encouraging movement in the feeder trade than in slaughter cows. At Arcadia on Wednesday, slaughter cows were four to eight dollars lower, and slaughter bulls were steady. Feeder steers, bulls, and heifers were generally steady to two dollars higher. Okeechobee reported receipts of more than eleven hundred head on Tuesday, with feeder cattle generally steady. Those local reports are a good reminder that a national futures number never tells the whole story. Weight, class, condition, health program, uniformity, lot size, and the buyers present that day all affect what cattle bring in a Florida auction ring. In Washington, President Trump's beef and ranching announcements from last Friday remain a major part of the policy discussion. One executive order directs stronger enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, closer cooperation between USDA and the Department of Justice, and additional scrutiny of unfair or anti-competitive practices. It also directs USDA to expand opportunities for qualifying state inspected meat to move in interstate commerce, provide technical assistance to small processors, and developed a guaranteed loan program for small and regional beef processors. FCA supports creating additional regional processing opportunities while maintaining the food safety and inspection standards that protect consumers and the reputation of American beef. Processing capacity can create a valuable option for producers, but consumer confidence must remain non negotiable. A separate order directs the administration to review options for country of origin labeling and to examine whether further regulatory or legislative action is needed. That is a review process, not an immediate return to mandatory country of origin labeling, and we will watch how USDA carries it out. That order also directs a review of federal policies affecting ranchers and addresses wolf management and livestock depredation in affected areas of the country. There are potentially positive opportunities in these actions. There are also details that matter greatly. FCA will continue judging each proposal by a straightforward standard. Does it strengthen American cattle producers, preserve competitive markets, protect food safety, and avoid unintended harm to cattle values? In Tallahassee, our most immediate work coming out of the quarterly will be engaging state officials about the pasture mealybug crisis and the need for an organized disaster response. We will also continue reminding Floridians about Amendment two on the November ballot. Amendment two is an agricultural specific, tangible personal property proposal involving qualifying farm equipment and tools located on agriculturally classified land. It is separate from the homestead proposal identified as Amendment three. Amendment two requires sixty percent approval and it directly matters to Florida agriculture. Before we look ahead, I want to recognize a longtime FCA member and friend who needs the support of our cattle community. Wayne Brown Jr., out of the Ocala area, has spent many years serving this industry, including through his work in the animal health sector and as an animal health product and supply salesman. He has supported cattle producers, volunteered his time, and encouraged young people with their agricultural projects. Wayne is now at the top of the Heart Transplant list. This coming Monday, September 14th, the Ocala Stockyard will hold a rollover auction fundraiser beginning at one o'clock. Producers can donate an animal to the Wayne Brown pin, designate a dollar amount from the sale of their animals, or contribute directly through the stockyard. We sincerely appreciate Tabitha Belliny, Burton, and everybody at the Ocala Stockyard for stepping up and doing this for Wayne. He is a good man and a good friend, and I have no doubt Florida's agriculture family will show up for him. Also, congratulations go to FCA past president Dale Carlton. He was the winner of the Tacta TAM Defend 360 camera given away during the quarterly. Members who joined or renewed their NCBA membership dues were entered in that drawing. Thank you to everyone who participated. Strong MCA membership gives Florida cattle producers a stronger voice in Washington. Here's a pro tip. If you want to have a chance at winning the drawing each year, you should let Dale Carlton recruit you. Dale won last year, a pair of boots. This year he won a camera. Now, it doesn't hurt that Dale does a great job getting out there and recruits a bunch of meeple people, uh total cow crews, etc. So great job, Dale. Um, and uh little hard work seems to up your luck a little bit. Strange how that happens. Looking toward next week, the North Florida Commercial Heifer Pen Show and Sale is September 18th and 19th at the University of Florida's beef teaching unit in Gainesville. Check in and judging our Friday. And two of my good buddies, Dr. Tim Marshall and John Williams, and FCA president, are gonna be judging that. And then there's gonna be a lunch and an auction on Saturday. That's right. An auction. These heifers, there's a number of multiple headlots, up to two, and a handful of single lots. One, these heifers are docile, quality, and when you buy them, this money goes directly to the youth that raise them. So if you're looking for a handful of good commercial heifers, you might want to show up in Gainesville Saturday, the 19th, and make a bid or two. Farther ahead on the calendar, the Carl McKettrick Redfish Roundup is scheduled for October 2nd and 3rd. Entries are open, and part of the proceeds help support a scholarship through the Florida Cattlemen's Foundation. It's a good opportunity for fellowship and a good way to invest in the next generation. Check it out. Carl McKettrick Redfish Roundup. The application deadline for the Florida Forest Service Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program is October 9th. That program may be useful to cattle producers who also own or manage pine timber in one of the 44 eligible northern Florida counties. And also, please put December 10th and 11th on your calendar for the FCA year-in quarterly meeting in Okeechobee. On to weather. Cattle country across most of Florida peninsula remains hot and humid. Wow. Shocked. With highs generally around 90 degrees and recurring afternoon thunderstorms expected into next week. The forecast for Kissimmee, Arcadia, Okeechobee, and Gainesville shows scattered to widespread rain chances through much of the coming week. Some locations could receive heavy downpours, while another pasture only a few miles away might not get nearly as much. That's familiar Florida weather, but it has practical consequences. Producers trying to put up hay will need to watch for narrow cutting and drying windows. Heavy rainfall can create temporary flooding and difficult cattle working conditions, while continued heat and humidity keep heat stress and fly pressure in the picture. And where rain brings some green color back into the pasture, keep looking closely. Do not assume every weak or declining patch is simply dry weather stress or that a little rain has solved it. Pasture mealybug damage can resemble drought or nutrient problems, and early detection matters. Beyond Florida, dry conditions and portions of cattle country across the southern plains remain important. Whether their influence is grazing conditions, herd decisions, feeder cattle movement, and ultimately the national supply picture. That is one more reason weather belongs in the market conversation, not off to the side from it. So here are three things to remember from this week. First, the pasture mealybug is a genuine crisis for Florida forage production. Our industry is working together, but we still have important questions to answer. And FCA is going to push for the state and federal attention this threat deserves. Second, cattle supplies remain tight and the futures market regain some strength on Thursday, but higher beef imports, rising feed costs, heavier carcasses, and softer boxed beef values mean producers still need to more than one number. Third, grassroots participation matters. The crowd of the quarterly, the work in our communities, the attendance of the board meeting, and the fellowship of the stakeout all showed what FCA can accomplish when its members show up and work together. What are we watching next week? We will be following the industry response to the pasture mealybug, including research and management guidance and our conversations with state and federal officials about disaster assistance. We will continue monitoring new world screw room activity in Texas, movement restrictions, surveillance, and the implications for Florida preparedness. On the market side, we will watch cash cattle trade, boxed beef movement, feeder demand, grain prices, and whether Thursday's future strength can carry forward. We will also be watching Florida's weather, the upcoming heifer and bull sales, and most importantly, the way Florida agriculture comes together for Wayne Brown at O'Cala Stockyard on Monday. One last note for our Allied members. Headquarters Range is planned as a weekly program. We'll be glad to talk with Allied members interested in sponsoring it. Thank you, everyone, who made this fall quarterly such a success. Thank you for subscribing, and we hope you will listen to their headquarters range roundup every Friday. And before we go, just a little green swamp wisdom. You know, my grandfather always told me the only way to really ever get ahead in life is to have something making money for you while you're sleeping. I hope you've enjoyed this week's episode of the Headquarters Range weekly roundup. Please give us a like, subscribe, leave us a review, punch up them five stars, let folks know this is a program worth listening to.

SPEAKER_00 15:42

I was a loner, drifting cow. A girl never figured in my master plan. You came along and you opened my eyes to a feeling I'd never before realized. We found we are I feel school at the headquarters. Yes, we are I feel at home at the headquarters. We are too life, we are tempted. Someone died us to show us the way we leave his work and brains of the code to the herd of the dead. And if we ask forgive, the starlights will be changed, we'll join the boat at the headquarters rain. Yes, if we ask forgive the starlights will be changed, he'll take us home to the headquarters rain.