Ranch It Up Radio Show & Podcast
Episode: Ranching Resolutions And Record Land, Cattle, & Beef Prices
Date: January 4, 2026
Hosts: Jeff “Tigger” Erhardt & Rebecca “BEC” Wanner

Episode Overview

Kicking off the new year and season, Tigger and BEC dive into the lighter side of ranch life with a roundup of humorous, practical New Year’s resolutions tailor-made for rural America. The duo then shifts gears to survey the record-shattering land, cattle, and beef prices of 2025—delivering grounded market insights for producers and ag enthusiasts. Along the way, they highlight changes in food inflation, share updates on regional cattle genetics and auctions, and tease upcoming content for cattlemen seeking operational efficiency.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rancher’s New Year’s Resolutions: Laughs with a Dose of Truth (00:25 – 09:16)

• Ranch-Style Commandments for 2026
  Tigger shares a “top resolutions” list with tongue-in-cheek commandments that every ranch family can relate to, sparking plenty of anecdotes between the hosts:
  • “Thou shall finally return the borrowed farm equipment.”
    A family story about a long-borrowed calf table prompts recognition of a universal rural dilemma.

    “Dad, did you borrow that from Vernon? Oh my gosh… X number of years ago.” — Tigger (01:13)

  • “Thou shalt keep better records.”
    True inventory management means more than guessing where the cows are.
  • “Thou shall reduce shouting by 50% while working cattle with the Mrs.”
    BEC jokes that working cattle is inherently loud, so shouting is practically a necessity.

    “How am I supposed to politely say, will you please watch out for the cow that’s coming up behind you? Don’t let her out the gate?” — BEC (03:02)

  • Confirming hand signals before backing trailers, ensuring legible ear tags, checking trailer tires, and not assuming helpers know which “black one” to sort are all hilariously familiar challenges.

    “You and I have very different [stop] signals. Mine is you raise a fist and close your fist… Yours, I can't remember. I think it's a bunch of, like, waving hands and jumping up and down.” — BEC (04:39)

  • “Every time is a training opportunity.”
    Patience and tone matter with animals—and with younger eyes watching.

    “Bad behavior is always rewarded with bad behavior.” — Tigger (07:46)
    “There could be younger eyes watching.” — BEC (08:29)

  • Neighborly spirit: “Thou shall realize the neighbor is not out to one-up me on everything. If they want to get a new truck, let them and be happy for them.”

2. Market Highlights: Record Land & Cattle Prices (11:10 – 19:58)

• Record Farmland Sale in Iowa

  • $32,000 per acre for 35.5 acres near Orange City, Iowa (early December 2025).
  • Mitch, Iowa appraisal VP: high competition among hog, cattle, and dairy producers keeps top-quality land at premium prices even as low-quality land faces weakened demand.

    “The buyer … purchased to produce corn and soybeans. As low as [prices] are, I did not expect … record prices.” — Mitch (12:54)

  • Trend: High-quality land remains strong; low-quality ground faces discounts and more no-sales.

• Historic Cattle Prices

  • 2025 saw all-time record prices for 8–9 weight steers, especially in September–October.
  • Valentine Livestock Auction (Valentine, NE): Five of the top ten highest US sales.
  • Four sales topped $400/hundredweight for eight-weights.
  • Pratt Livestock Auction (KS) and Hub City Livestock Auction (SD) also made the list.
  • Top individual sales detailed:
    • Ogallala Livestock Auction: 813 lbs @ $395/cwt (Oct 16)
    • Hub City, SD: 860 lbs @ $395.25/cwt (Oct 22)
    • Pratt, KS: 802 lbs @ $400.50/cwt (Oct 16)
    • Highest price: Valentine, NE—803 lbs @ $408.50/cwt (Sep 4)
    • Flint Hills Stockyards (St. Mary’s, KS): record-breaking run, top sale 904 lbs @ $379.25/cwt (~$3,428/head, Oct 21)

      “That sale ... became the highest nine-weight steer price ever recorded in Kansas and the second highest in US history.” — Tigger (18:36)

• Food Inflation & Beef Prices

  • BLS data: Food inflation eased slightly at the end of 2025 (2.6% annual), while meat price increases accelerated (beef & veal up 15.8% over the previous year).

    “Meats overall … rose 8.9% in November … Beef and veal prices jumped 15.8% over the last year.” — Tigger (19:46)

  • Some uncertainty due to government data gaps (budget shutdown).

3. Cattle Genetics, Auctions & Crossbreeding Demand (21:52 – 22:29)

• Demand for Galvi-Influenced Cattle
  • Producer John Fox notes consistent buyer demand, even as cow numbers fluctuate.

    “We’ve got a reputation whenever we sell our cattle… they have been performing, you know, outside of our realm. So that’s another feather in our hat.” — John Fox (22:06)

4. Tax Strategies for Ranchers (22:43 – 24:02)

• Tax Tips Preview with Shay Wanner (Casual Cattle Conversations)
  • Hannah Mann explains a 20% tax deduction for qualified farm income under recent tax law extensions.

    “You have $100,000 of taxable income, you get a $20,000 deduction. That’s incredible.” — Hannah Mann (23:39)

  • Full episode plug for further exploration.

5. Coming Up: More Market Analysis & Winter Grazing (24:02 – 25:55)

• Announcing expanded content: deeper market analysis, more strategy, and winter grazing features.
  • “Feed is the number one, largest cost ... We are talking about using that cow for exactly what she was intended for—a grazing and harvesting machine, even in the winter months.” — Tigger (24:50)
  • Future episodes will include interviews with Dakotas producers who keep cows grazing through snowpack—practical insights for reducing feed costs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Ranch Life Resolutions

• “You and I have very different [stop] signals. Mine is you raise a fist and close your fist… Yours, I can't remember. I think it's a bunch of, like, waving hands and jumping up and down.”
  — BEC, on mixed communication (04:39)
• “Bad behavior is always rewarded with bad behavior.”
  — Tigger, on animal handling (07:46)
• “There could be younger eyes watching.”
  — BEC, reinforcing the example adults set (08:29)
• “Thou shall realize the neighbor is not out to one-up me on everything. If they want to get a new truck, let them and be happy for them.”
  — Tigger (08:57)

Market Insight

• “$32,000 per acre ... as low as corn and soybean prices are, I did not expect ... record prices.”
  — Mitch, land market expert (12:54)
• “That sale ... became the highest nine-weight steer price ever recorded in Kansas and the second highest in US history.”
  — Tigger, on cattle auction records (18:36)
• “Beef and veal prices jumped 15.8% over the last year.”
  — Tigger (19:46)

Producer Experience

• “We’ve got a reputation whenever we sell our cattle… they have been performing, you know, outside of our realm. So that’s another feather in our hat.”
  — John Fox, on consistent cattle demand (22:06)

Tax Tip

• “You have $100,000 of taxable income, you get a $20,000 deduction. That’s incredible.”
  — Hannah Mann, on new tax deduction (23:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ranch Resolutions & Stories: 00:25 – 09:16
• Market Update: Land Sale Analysis: 11:10 – 14:21
• Record Cattle Prices Rundown: 14:21 – 19:58
• Food Inflation Data: 19:58 – 21:20
• Galvi Crossbreeding Demand: 21:52 – 22:29
• Tax Strategies for Ranchers: 22:43 – 24:02
• Upcoming Episodes Preview: 24:02 – 25:55

Closing & Looking Ahead

Tigger and BEC thank listeners for kicking off season six of Ranch It Up, promising more detailed market coverage and smart ranching strategies in the episodes ahead. They encourage feedback and wish all a great ranching year.

“Stay ranchy and Ranch It Up.” — BEC (26:38)

For full details, market links, and interviews mentioned, check the show notes at ranchitupshow.com.