Strong cattle prices, record beef demand, and renewed policy attention are giving the North American cattle sector reasons for optimism - but supply constraints and cross-border issues remain front and centre, says Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). RealAgriculture's Shaun Haney was at CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, this week, to discuss the state of the cattle industry, trade relationships, and the policy challenges shaping the years ahead.
There's strong momentum in the cattle industry right now with tight supply and high demand driving well-earned profitability across North America, though concerns remain about long-term supply without cowherd expansion. Trade is a central theme of this year's conference, with tri-national cooperation among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and the upcoming USMCA review seen as critical to maintaining a "do no harm" approach for beef markets.