Weekly Roundup September 25, 2026

This week on the Headquarters Range Weekly Roundup, Dusty Holley breaks down a volatile week in the cattle markets, including a sharp drop in daily cattle slaughter and the factors creating uncertainty across the beef supply chain. He also covers Florida’s temporary agricultural transportation waiver, the latest on the pasture mealybug response and UF/IFAS Challenge 250, plus important FCA and NCBA membership reminders as the fiscal year comes to a close.

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SPEAKER_00 0:00

We rode at a high low foremost 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

Welcome to the Headquarters Range weekly roundup from the Florida Cattlemen's Association. I'm Dusty Holly, FCA's executive vice president. I sure hope you listened last week when you heard from Abbey Royal. This week, Abby is on a Florida Cattlemen's Foundation supported extension producer trip to the western part of our country, where they're looking at feedlots, packing plants, where Florida calves end up in our production system. I hope it's a great trip, and I hope Abby's going to force all those extension agents and producers to listen to this week's HQR while they are all getting ready to head home. Safe travels, friends. Hope it was a great trip. It's been another busy week across Florida Cattle Country, and I want to begin with a good example of what makes this association work. Kate Ramsey and I had the opportunity last night, Thursday evening, to attend the Latchwood County Cattlemen's Association meeting. We appreciated the hospitality, the good conversation, and the chance to spend time with local cattlemen and cattlewomen. That meeting followed a very successful North Florida commercial heifer pin show and sale that was held in Lachua County last weekend in cooperation with UF Fife's Extension. The heifers that sold in that sale, and we talked about it a few weeks ago, that it was hunting up, John Williamson, Dr. Tim Marshall were judges. Those heifers averaged $7,300 per head, with a couple of the pairs bringing over $8,000 per head. What a great investment in the future youth of our industry. Great job, volunteers, great job, kids, great job, everybody that participated in that. Awesome job, Alachua County. Impressive results. They reflect the quality of the cattle offered, strong buyer interest, and a great deal of work by the producers, organizers, extension professionals, and volunteers who made that event possible. We have many county cattlemen's meetings coming up this fall, and FCA wants to support those county affiliates. Our county associations are where the grassroots work of FCA begins. We are also looking forward to upcoming district meetings that will bring county leaders together to exchange ideas and strengthen communication across the state. If your county has a meeting, program, sale, youth activity, or another project coming up, please let us know. We want the opportunity to send an FCA representative when we can, and we want to highlight the good work happening in our counties through the Florida Cattlemen and Livestock Journal. From that strong local activity, let's turn to the cattle markets. The market has been unsettled this week, but the broad fundamentals remain supportive. Thursday's live cattle futures finished nearly two dollars lower, settling a little above two hundred and nineteen dollars. The active feeder cattle contract was also moderately lower, while the CME feeder cattle index remained just above three hundred and thirty-seven dollars. As we record this Friday, live cattle are roughly another dollar lower, while most nearby feeder contracts are showing modest gains. Since Friday's trading is still underway, Thursday's settlements remain our latest official closes. The cash fed trade has developed unevenly. Iowa cattle have traded around $219, while some Nebraska trade reached approximately $223. Trade in the Southern Plains has been slower to develop. Wholesale beef also softened Thursday. Choice box beef finished near $376, down a little more than a dollar, while Select declined only slightly. Corn moved modestly lower and remained around $5.27 per bushel. Another number worth watching is carcass weight. The latest year carcass weight was $177 pounds. That is four pounds heavier than the previous week and eighteen pounds heavier than a year ago. Those heavier carcasses put more beef into the system and offset some of the support we would otherwise expect from historically tight cattle supplies. But one of the most striking market numbers this week came from Thursday's estimated cattle slaughter. Thursday's federally inspected cattle slaughter was estimated only 90,000 head. That compares with 107,000 the previous Thursday and 115,000 on the same day last year. That means Thursday's slaughter was down 17,000 head from the previous week and 25,000 head from a year ago. Put it out another way, it was down nearly 22% from last year. That is a major disruption for a single day. Plants may attempt to make up some of that production with additional shifts, but cattle do not disappear simply because a processing schedule changes. When fed cattle are delayed, they continue adding weight and cost. That can affect feed yards, packers, cattle owners, cash negotiations, and the flow of beef through the entire system. The practical market message is that cattle values remain historically strong, but volatility is real. Tight supplies and continued beef demand are supportive. At the same time, heavier carcasses, softer wholesale price, processing interruptions, import policy, and changing feed cost can quickly move the market in either direction. Closer to home, the Arcadia stockyard reported 1,916 head across its Monday and Wednesday sales this week. Slaughter cows and bulls were steady to about $2 lower. Feeder steers and heifers weighing less than $450 pounds were generally two to six dollars lower, while cattle above four hundred and fifty pounds were mostly steady. Arcadia also noted that drought conditions, heat, and elevated fuel costs continue contributing to market instability. That helps explain why lighter calves may face more pressure while heavier cattle remain comparatively steady. Those local reports matter. A national futures price never tells the whole story for a Florida producer. Weight, condition, health, uniformity, lot size weather, and the buyers sitting around a particular ring all help determine what cattle are worth that day. Another issue affecting slaughter and the market this week is immigration enforcement activity across parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. A joint statement from the Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, and the Texas Cattle Feeders Association confirms that enforcement activity has disrupted parts of the agricultural workforce. Those organizations report that thousands of Fed cattle scheduled for processing have been delayed, creating additional cost and lost revenue. Kind of what we talked about earlier. This is a complicated issue, and the cattle industry respects the responsibility of federal agencies to enforce the law. But at the same time, the cattle must be cared for every day. The processing plants have to operate, and the beef supply chain requires a stable, dependable workforce. Those associations are asking for lawful, orderly, and transparent enforcement with due process and clear communication. That is a reasonable approach, in my opinion. Sudden disruptions do not stop at the plant gate. They can affect feed yards, dairies, transportation, grain suppliers, animal welfare, and cattle values throughout the systems. We cannot say that immigration enforcement alone accounts for every head missing from Thursday slaughter. The Packers make scheduling decisions for several reasons, but the reported workforce disruptions and delayed cattle clearly deserve close attention. We will be watching how quickly those cattle move through the system, whether plants add shifts to recover loss production, and what the disruption means for next week's cash cattle negotiations. Here in Florida, FCA continues working on the pasture mealy bug emergency. We have discussed the damage and the seriousness of this pest in previous episodes, so I will not repeat that entire background today. But the important update is that FCA continues pressing for a coordinated response involving state officials, federal officials, researchers, extension, and the cattle industry. Governor Run DeSantis' action recognizing the emergency is an important step. FCA is continuing to communicate with state and federal leaders about the need for surveillance, diagnostics, research, emergency management tools, and appropriate assistance for affected producers. We sent a letter to Governor DeSantis in September. We sent one also to Secretary Brooke Rollins that was signed by some other Gulf State Cattlemen Association. So we are staying engaged and working hard on getting these emergency declarations done for the mealybug. UF IFUS also announced a new effort called Challenge 250. The goal is to raise $250,000 in flexible funding that researchers can use when an invasive pest or disease first appears. That funding could help provide rapid diagnostic, surveillance, testing of possible control tools, containment planning, and producer education without waiting for the normal grant process to catch up. Our experience with the pasture mealybug demonstrates exactly why that kind of rapid response capability is needed. There's also important transportation relief now in place for Florida agriculture. Effective September 23rd through October 6th, the Florida Department of Transportation has temporarily suspended certain size and weight restrictions for qualifying vehicles, hauling a broad range of agricultural commodities. That includes cattle, equine and animal feed, feed ingredients, supplements, hay, corn, seed, fertilizer, agrochemicals, milk and dairy products, citrus, sugarcane, sod, forestry products, and many other agriculture commodities. Depending on axle configuration and bridge span, qualifying five-axle vehicles may operate up to 90,000 or 95,000 pounds. Four axle vehicles and straight trucks are limited to 80,000 pounds. Haulers using the waiver must carry or be able to electronically display the emergency road use permit letter and the appropriate bridge restriction map. The waiver allows travel all days and hours, but it does not override posted bridge restrictions or the other safety requirements outlined by the Florida Department of Transportation. FCA is also working with Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, FDEx, and others on the possibility of allowing red-dyed diesel to be used for certain in-state agriculture hauling. At the time of this recording, that exemption has not been finalized. It is something we are working on, but is not something producers should act on yet. The existing fuel rules remain in effect unless and until an official exemption is issued. We will provide an update if that relief is approved. In Tallahassee, Amendment 2 continues receiving positive attention. Recent public commentary from Commissioner Simpson, Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb Smith, as well as Representative Downey Alvarez and past FCA President Pat Durden has reinforced the importance of the measure. Amendment two would exempt qualifying agriculture equipment and tools from tangible personal property taxes when they are used in agriculture production or agritourism on agriculturally classified land. This is the agriculture proposal. It is not the separate homestead measure identified as amendment three. Amendment two will require 60% voter approval, and it directly affects the cost of producing food and fiber in Florida. We encourage cattle producers to understand the proposal, help their neighbors understand it, and remember that Amendment 2 is the agriculture amendment when they vote. We also want to congratulate the members of the 2027 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame class. The honorees are Jeffrey Dewey Garzulo, Lynetta and Ken Griner, and Ron St. John. Each has made an important contribution to Florida agriculture, and their selection represents a well-earned recognition of a lifetime of service and leadership. The induction banquet is scheduled for February 9th during the Florida State Fair. Congratulations to all four honorees and their families. While we're talking about service and representation, September 30th is the end of NCBA's fiscal year. If you need to join NCBA, renew your membership, or simply verify that your membership is current, now is the time to do it. I actually just paid mine this week to renew it. Florida's membership strength helps determine the seats and votes our state has on the NCBA Board of Directors. Those seats give Florida cattle producers a voice when national policy is being developed on trade, animal health, taxes, environmental regulation, and the many other issues that affect our operations. We want Florida to finish the year strongly and maintain the representation our producers deserve. This is also a good time to renew your FCA membership. Keeping your dues current supports the representation, information, and service FCA provides throughout the year. It also keeps the Florida Cattlemen and Livestock Journal coming to your mailbox. The November issue will contain important information about the upcoming FCA convention, so please make sure your membership and mailing information are current. Looking at the weather, much of Florida's cattle industry should enjoy a somewhat drier and more pleasant weekend. North and Central Florida can expect cooler nights, with some locations dropping into the upper 50s and lower 60s. Central and South Florida should see daytime temperatures generally in the middle to upper eighties. The break in humidity will be welcome, but scattered showers over the weekend will not be enough to correct the dry conditions affecting some areas. Rain and thunderstorm chances are expected to increase again around the middle of next week. So producers should continue watching local conditions rather than assuming relief will be evenly distributed. And that's true. It did feel like fall this morning. Uh there around the house, I saw not one but two pygmy rattlesnakes. They're out there and they're moving, folks. Be careful. As for upcoming dates, the Carl McKettrick Redfish Roundup is October 2nd and 3rd. Entries are open, and part of the proceeds help support a scholarship through the Florida Cattlemans Foundation. It is a good opportunity for industry fellowship and a good way to invest in the next generation. The application deadline for the Florida Forest Service Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program is October 9th. Producers who own or manage eligible timberland in North Florida may want to investigate that opportunity. And please keep December 10th and 11th on your calendar for the FCA year and quarterly meeting in Okeechobee. Before we finish, here are three things to remember this week. First, September 30th is the end of NCBA's fiscal year. Join, renew, or verify your membership so Florida can finish the year with the strongest possible national representation. Second, Florida's agriculture transportation waiver is now in effect through October 6th. It covers cattle, feed, hay, and many other agriculture commodities, but haulers must follow the applicable vehicle, axle, route, bridge map, and permit requirements. The possible red-dyed diesel exemption is still being pursued and is not yet in effect. Third, cattle prices remain historically strong, but this week's slaughter disruption was substantial. Thursday's estimated kill of 90,000 head was down 25,000 from the same day last year. We need to watch whether that production is recovered and what delayed cattle mean for the cash market. Next week, we'll be watching whether disruptions in the Central Plains packing sector are resolved, whether plants add shifts, how delayed fed cattle affect negotiations, and whether wholesale beef stabilizes. We will also continue monitoring the mealybug response, the possible fuel exemption, amendment two, cattle imports, and other developments in Tallahassee and Washington that affect Florida cattle producers. If you are an FC LA member interested in sponsoring Headquarters Range, we'd be glad to talk with you. Plan to bring this program to Florida's cattle industry every week. I know there's a couple that have shown interest. We'll be getting back to you soon. It's a great thing to be a part of. We'd sure love to have you. Thank you all for listening to the Headquarters Range weekly roundup. We appreciate your membership, your involvement, and everything you do for Florida's cattle industry. Please subscribe and join us again next Friday. Also, if you give us a rating or give us a comment, give us five stars, it'll really help us get out there to more people. So please help us out. But before we go, a little green swamp wisdom. And this green swamp wisdom actually comes from a mentor of mine when I did my internship in West Texas. Uh, the dearly departed Mr. Rob Brown once told me, Dusty, sometimes the prettiest girls don't make the best biscuit. Y'all stay well. See you next week.

SPEAKER_00 14:50

I was a loner drift in time. A girl never figured in my master plan. You came alone with my eyes to a feeling I'd never before real. We are five orders. Yes, we are I feel at home at the head over. We are getting some time. We would have the headquarters. We asked we change. It'll take us home to the headquarters.