Podcast
The Future of Beef Show
Hosted by Jim Johnson, Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal · EN
This is the place to connect with the people and ideas shaping the future of the cattle industry.
Together with an inspiring lineup of guests, we’ll share stories from the forefront of modern beef production - and show you how technology and data can make all the difference - while staying true to the values that define our industry.
Most importantly, we’ll help you figure out how to adopt these practices in a way that works for your operation, whatever it’s size.
Join your hosts Jim Johnson, Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal.
www.TheFutureofBeef.com
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
E18: 2026 Market Predictions with Patrick Linnell
Feb 1700:50:01Tap to summarizeRecord-high calf prices, tighter herds, and strong consumer demand—what’s next for U.S. beef? Patrick Linnell, Director of Market Research at CattleFax, breaks it all down.In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Patrick joins Jim Johnson, Dr. Jessica Sperber, and Ian Wheal to explore the trends shaping the cattle market today and tomorrow. From herd rebuilding and carcass weights to international trade and the role of AI in market research, Patrick gives producers and feeders the insights they need to make informed decisions.What You’ll Learn:• Why beef demand remains strong despite record prices• What’s slowing herd expansion and how it affects the cattle cycle• How carcass weights, feeding strategies, and genetics impact profitability• The influence of packing capacity and Mexican cattle imports on markets• How international trade supports U.S. beef supply• Ways AI is changing—but not replacing—market researchLinks:Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.comConnect with Patrick Linnell & CattleFax: www.cattlefax.comRead more from Drovers: www.drovers.comLearn more about Breedr: www.breedr.coLearn more about Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com
Transcribe →E16: Grazing with Dr. Jeff Goodwin
Jan 1301:02:22Tap to summarizeManaging grass, cattle, and the land drives more of beef production than ever — and few people know it better than Dr. Jeff Goodwin.In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Dr. Goodwin breaks down why grazing management sits at the center of modern cattle production. From regenerative grazing and soil carbon to linking cattle genetics with pasture quality, he shows how planning, adaptability, and system-level thinking boost profitability while supporting long-term sustainability.Whether you manage a small ranch or a large operation, these strategies demonstrate how smart grazing decisions can pay off for both the land and the bottom line.What You’ll Learn: • Why regenerative grazing isn’t slowing down — and what it means for producers • How ecosystem services like soil carbon, water, and wildlife habitat follow good grazing practices • The importance of system-level thinking: managing grass, cattle, and the environment together • How planning and adaptability drive long-term success on ranchesLinks:Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.comLearn more about the Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management: https://cgrm.tamu.edu/ Read more from Drovers: www.drovers.comLearn more about Breedr: www.breedr.coLearn more about Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com
Transcribe →15. The Future of Breed Associations with Brett Spader
Dec 1501:20:33Tap to summarizeBreed associations have long played a foundational role in the beef industry—but their purpose, value, and responsibilities are rapidly evolving. Few people understand that transformation better than Brett Spader, President of the American-International Charolais Association.In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Brett joins hosts Jim Johnson, Dr Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal to discuss how data, governance, and producer-focused service are reshaping the future of breed organizations. Drawing on a diverse career across the Kansas Livestock Association, DV Auction, Angus Media, and his own digital startup, Brett shares a unique perspective on how technology and transparency can help associations stay relevant and drive real value for cattle producers.From the rise of online bidding to the importance of records, collaboration, and connected data, Brett explains why modern breed associations must be both innovative and accountable—and how they can continue to empower breeders in an increasingly data-driven industry.What You’ll Learn:Why breed associations still matter—and how their role is changingHow technology, performance data, and governance shape producer trustThe impact of complementary breeds and genetic diversity on the beef supply chainHow online bidding and digital tools transformed seedstock marketingWhy transparency and data connectivity are essential for the industry’s futureLinks:Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.comConnect with the American-International Charolais Association: www.charolaisusa.com Read more from Drovers: www.drovers.comLearn more about Breedr: www.breedr.coLearn more about Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com
Transcribe →E14: Genetic Selections with Marty Ropp
Nov 1301:02:35Tap to summarizeGenetic progress is only as valuable as the profitability it creates, and few people understand that connection better than Marty Ropp, founder and executive officer of Allied Genetic Resources.In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Marty joins hosts Ian Wheal, Jess King, and Jim Johnson to discuss how data, genomics, and collaboration are reshaping the business of beef genetics. From lessons learned in the pork and dairy industries to the future of service-driven breeding programs, Marty shares what it takes to help producers capture more value across the entire supply chain.What You’ll Learn:• How Allied Genetic Resources built a network to support genetic improvement across the beef industry• Why connecting genomic data to real-world profitability is the next frontier• What the beef sector can learn from pork and dairy’s approach to efficiency and consistency• The importance of collaboration and feedback between breeders, feeders, and packers• How service, education, and transparency drive long-term genetic successLinks:Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.comConnect with Marty Ropp: www.alliedgeneticresources.comRead more from Drovers: www.drovers.comLearn more about Breedr: www.breedr.co Learn more about Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com
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E13: Beef on Dairy with Lorna Marshall
Oct 700:50:14Tap to summarize13. Beef on Dairy with Lorna MarshallBeef-on-dairy is transforming how we think about efficiency, genetics, and profitability in cattle production—and few people have influenced that evolution more than Lorna Marshall, Vice President of Beef Genetics at Select Sires.In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Lorna shares how she’s bridging the worlds of dairy precision and beef performance to drive genetic progress across the industry. From genomic testing to smarter sire selection, she lays out how technology and collaboration can help producers raise more consistent, high-value cattle—whether they’re working with commercial herds or crossbreeding programs.What You’ll Learn:How genomic testing is reshaping replacement heifer selectionWhy beef-on-dairy is redefining efficiency for both sectorsKey genetic trends driving profitability in modern herdsHow data and technology are changing breeding decisionsLessons from Select Sires’ approach to innovation and industry collaborationLinks:Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTokConnect with Lorna Marshall: www.selectsires.comRead more from Drovers: www.drovers.com Learn more about Breedr: www.breedr.co Learn more about Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com
Transcribe →E12: Ranching Advocacy with Tucker Brown
Sep 2201:09:23Tap to summarizefdRanching isn’t just about raising cattle—it’s about telling the story of where beef comes from and why it matters. Few do that better than Tucker Brown of R.A. Brown Ranch in Texas.In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Tucker shares how he’s using humor, transparency, and digital storytelling to connect consumers with the people behind their food. As a sixth-generation rancher, he’s bringing fresh energy to ranching advocacy while still grounded in the values that built his family’s operation.What You’ll Learn:Why advocacy matters for the next generation of ranchersHow Tucker uses storytelling to connect with consumers and urban audiencesThe role of humor and authenticity in building trustWays producers can amplify their own voices to support the beef industryWhy transparency and openness are powerful tools for ranching’s futureLinks: Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.comConnect with Tucker Brown: instagram.com/tuckerbrownrab/Learn more about R.A. Brown Ranch: www.rabrownranch.com/Breedr: www.breedr.coFarm Journal: www.farmjournal.comCorteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com
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E11: Beating the Beef Market with Dave Weaber
Aug 2601:35:57Tap to summarizeMarkets don’t have to be a mystery. Dave Weaber breaks down the numbers—and how producers can use them to stay ahead of the game.In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, we sit down with beef industry analyst Dave Weaber, who brings decades of experience helping producers, packers, and retailers understand the economics that drive our business. Dave breaks down the market forces shaping cattle prices, consumer demand, and packer margins—and explains what those numbers really mean for cow-calf producers, feeders, and everyone along the chain.From the value of grid marketing to the impact of consumer trends on your bottom line, Dave makes complex economics plainspoken and practical. His insights challenge us to think beyond the ranch gate, connect our herds to the bigger beef business, and capture more value from the cattle we produce.If you’ve ever wondered how to make sense of cattle markets—and how to use that knowledge to make better decisions for your operation—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.Links: Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.comConnect with Dave Weaber: www.linkedin.com/in/dave-weaber-a87bb34/Terrain Ag: www.terrainag.com Farm Credit Services of America: www.fcsamerica.com Breedr: www.breedr.coFarm Journal: www.farmjournal.comCorteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com
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E10: Feedlot Health with Dr Dan Thomson
Aug 1201:16:10Tap to summarizeWelcome to the 10th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Feedyard Health with Dr. Dan Thomson.From the feedlot pen to the packer line, every decision made around cattle health ripples through performance, profitability, and public trust. In this foundational episode, Dr. Dan Thomson—a PhD nutritionist, DVM, and managing partner at PAC—joins Jim Johnson, Dr. Jessica Sperber, and Ian Wheal to map the entire lifecycle of animal health and welfare in modern beef systems.With decades of feedlot consultation experience and influence on industry standards from McDonald’s to Cactus Feeders, Dr. Dan shares what it really takes to build a connected, resilient health system: early data capture, strong veterinary relationships, consistent animal handling, and a shift from reactive treatments to proactive management. From vaccine timing and calf colostrum to labor shortages and AI-driven health tags, this episode connects dots across cow-calf, backgrounding, and feedyard stages in ways few others can.What You’ll Learn:How feedyards can reduce death loss with early detection and low-tech fixesWhy trust and acclimation are essential to spotting disease before it’s too lateThe truth about antibiotic stewardship—and how to manage use without sacrificing careHow technology (from wearable tags to AI) enhances, not replaces, human expertiseWhat “whole lifecycle” animal health really means—and how it pays offLinks:🌐 Visit the show page at www.futureofbeef.com🐄 Learn more about PAC at www.pacdvms.com📱 Explore the award-winning Breedr App at www.breedr.co💻 Connect with Drovers: www.drovers.comFor more stories about advancing animal health, diagnostics, and sustainability across the beef supply chain, visit www.futureofbeef.com.
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E9: Academic Innovation with Dr Jessica Sperber
Jul 2900:47:12Tap to summarizeWelcome to the 9th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Academic Innovation with Dr. Jessica Sperber.In a special turn of the mic, this episode spotlights one of our own—Dr. Jessica Sperber, PhD in feedlot nutrition and co-host of The Future of Beef Show. From Alberta cattle roots to packing plant data and feedlot research at the University of Nebraska, Jessica shares a refreshingly honest journey through academia, mentorship, and what it really means to stay rooted in production while pushing the boundaries of science.The conversation spans her career path—from optometry dreams to meat science labs, commercial nutrition consulting, and now leading Nebraska’s extension feedlot research. We dive into the evolving role of university extension, how producers can actually use research, and why mentorship is more than a buzzword—it’s the thread that runs through every good career in ag.What You’ll Learn:How feedlot-focused research bridges academic rigor and on-farm relevanceWhy mentorship can shape careers as powerfully as technical trainingThe difference between being a student of ag and being a steward of producersHow extension services are evolving to reach more operations, more personallyWhy embracing AI and tech in the classroom is preparing the next ag innovatorsLinks:🌐 Visit the show page at www.futureofbeef.com 🔬 Learn more about University of Nebraska Beef Program: www.beef.unl.edu📱 Explore the award-winning Breedr App at www.breedr.co💻 Connect with Drovers: www.drovers.comFor more stories from the people shaping the future of ag—on the ranch, in the lab, or at the front of the classroom—visit www.futureofbeef.com. Because the next generation of ag doesn’t just inherit the future—they build it.
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E8: Connected Cattle Health with Dr Taylor Engle
Jul 1501:14:52Tap to summarizeWelcome to the 8th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Connected Calf Health with Dr. Taylor Engle.What if the best way to raise healthier, better-performing calves didn’t start with treatments, but with trust—trust in your environment, your protocols, and your team? In this forward-looking conversation, we’re joined by Dr. Taylor Engle of Four Star Veterinary Services to explore how producers can improve calf health outcomes by rethinking everything from birth to bunk.Dr. Engle draws on her unique background across swine, poultry, and beef production systems to break down calf health into manageable, practical steps. From pre-birth cow care to the critical first 60 days of a calf’s life, she reveals why environment and communication are just as important as vaccines—and why treating symptoms without context often does more harm than good.Whether you’re managing beef-on-dairy calves across multiple phases or fine-tuning your cow-calf operation, this episode is full of real-world advice and refreshing honesty. It’s a masterclass in proactive, connected care.What You’ll Learn:Why calf health starts before birth and how maternal conditioning impacts outcomesHow environment and management shape lifetime performance more than genetics alonePractical strategies for beef-on-dairy systems and high-touch calf careWhen and how to use antibiotics and vaccines—judiciouslyThe power of cross-sector communication in building trust and market valueLinks:🌐 Visit the show page at www.futureofbeef.com 🔬 Learn more about Dr. Taylor Engle’s Four Star Veterinary Services at www.4starvets.com 📱 Explore the award-winning Breedr App at www.breedr.co💻 Connect with Drovers: www.drovers.comTo explore more success stories, get early access to tools, and claim your free Breedr trial, head over to www.futureofbeef.com. Better calf health starts with better connection—and it starts here.
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