Episode Details

The Plains are on fire, cattle are ripping, and diesel’s lock is starting to crack. On this Friggin’ Farm & Ranch Report for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, we start with over 1 million acres burned across Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma, Nebraska alone pushing 800,000 acres with the Morrill Fire at 643,000 — the biggest single recorded wildfire in modern state history. June live cattle futures close at 253.15, up 4.20, blowing past the 246 breakout level, boxed beef flips back to a 0.96 Choice‑over‑Select spread, and WTI shoves through 100 while diesel hangs around 5.46. We hit: – Markets: live and feeder cattle, record 248.38 cash, lean hogs, corn, beans, Chicago and KC wheat, metals and rates – Cattle & beef: boxed beef inversion ending, placements second‑lowest March since ’96, cow herd at 75‑year lows, packer leverage and DOJ probe – Sale barns & horses: Lone Star Stockyards run, OKC West calf trade, San Angelo, screaming replacement females, Superior & Western Video, NCHA Super Stakes, Billings Livestock, Heritage Place, and a 1.5‑million‑dollar Houston steer – Inputs: WTI 100.45, Brent 110.68, diesel “lock” window, Hormuz war‑risk insurance and what that means for your fuel and fertilizer bill – War Reel: Day 60 of the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran, tanker seizures, Iron Dome to the UAE, UAE leaving OPEC and the downstream hit to ag – Rural Americana: UnitedHealthcare’s rural prior‑auth reversal, ReConnect broadband money restored, Plains fire fallout, Colorado River drought, SDRP deadline – Policy/Macro: Farm Bill H.R. 7567 hung up over pesticide preemption and E15, Monsanto v. Durnell at SCOTUS, HPAI in dairy, screwworm program, Trump–Xi ag summit, FY27 ag appropriations – Reading the Herd: how the calls on cattle breakout, boxed beef flip and diesel lock did, plus a quick Kentucky Derby nod It’s not a “get rich” market, it’s a “don’t screw it up” market. Get to your sale, lock your diesel if you need to, and file your SDRP paperwork before the deadline. Brought to you by Lone Star Stockyards in Wheeler, Texas. Sale every Tuesday at 11 AM Central. Bill Martin: 970‑302‑5834 Sheldon Field: 806‑736‑0040 Office: 806‑677‑0777 lonestarstockyards.com Move your ass — we’re burnin’ daylight.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices