$6 Calves, Drought, and the Smallest Herd in 70 Years
From LaneCast Ag Podcast by Lane Nordlund Ag Broadcaster
February 10, 2026 · 13 min · Episode 63
About this episode
Lane Nordlund discusses cattle prices and inventory with market analyst Don Close at CattleCon.
Cattle prices are sky-high, inventories are at historic lows, and drought is creeping back into the conversation across the West. So where does the cattle cycle go from here? Broadcasting from CattleCon in Music City, Lane Nordlund sits down with market analyst Don Close of Terrain to break down the latest USDA Cattle Inventory Report — showing the smallest U.S. cattle herd since 1951 — and what it really means for cow-calf producers. #LaneCast #LaneCastAg #AgPodcast #CattleMarkets #CattlePrices #BeefIndustry #CowCalf #RanchLife #CattleCycle #USDAReport #CattleInventory #HerdExpansion #ReplacementHeifers #BredCows #CalfPrices #AgEconomics #MarketVolatility #DroughtWatch #WesternRanching #AgTalk #CattleCon #TerrainAg
People in this episode
Host: Lane Nordlund
Guest: Don Close
Topics covered
- cattle prices
- drought
- cattle inventory
- cow-calf producers
- market analysis
Keywords
- cattle prices
- USDA Cattle Inventory Report
- drought
- cow-calf producers
- cattle cycle
- historic lows
- market analysis
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: USDA, Terrain
Places: U.S., Music City
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