(NAFB) Beef continues to be the bright spot in agriculture in 2025 with record-high prices for producers, but one analyst is reminding producers that it won’t last forever. DTN livestock market analyst ShayLe Stewart, on the “Future of the Cowherd” webinar, says life is good right now for cattle ranchers.
But with the reduced herd inventory, Stewart says packers’ margins are tighter this year than last.
Stewart notes that producers are literally beefing up their cattle to an average of 40 pounds per head more than in previous cycles, so she cautions them about what to plan for when the inevitable herd expansion begins.
DTN livestock market analyst ShayLe Stewart.








