Canada and the U.S. are more intertwined in beef than most producers realize—and Ryder Lee is one of the people making sure that relationship works.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Ryder joins hosts Jim Johnson, Dr. Jessica Sperber, and Ian Wheal to explore how Canadian cattle production mirrors—and differs from—the U.S. industry. Drawing on decades of experience from a cow-calf upbringing to leading the Canadian Cattle Association, Ryder breaks down the geography of Canadian feeding, the reality of cross-border cattle flows, and why traceability has evolved from a disease response tool into a competitive market advantage.

What You'll Learn:

• How Canadian cattle country compares regionally to the U.S.—from Alberta feedlots to Ontario's covered barns • Why Canada runs at roughly 1/10th the size of the U.S. herd, and what that means for trade • How cross-border feeder and fed cattle flows support packing plants on both sides of the border • Why Canada became a net feeder importer—and why that dynamic shifts year to year • How BSE shaped Canada's national RFID traceability system and why it's now a market access tool • What the Canadian beef grading system shares with—and how it differs from—USDA quality grades • Why the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef has put Canada at the forefront of global sustainability conversations • What Ryder sees as the biggest policy challenges and opportunities for Canadian producers over the next decade

Links: Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.com\ Learn more about the Canadian Cattle Association: www.cattle.ca\ Read more from Drovers: www.drovers.com\ Learn more about Breedr: www.breedr.co\ Learn more about Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com

Red Angus is gaining ground—and Greg Ruehle is helping lead the charge.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Greg joins hosts Jim Johnson, Dr. Jessica Sperber, and Ian Wheal to explore why the Red Angus breed is uniquely positioned at this critical moment in the beef industry. Drawing on his experience across breed associations, government affairs, and commercial beef production, Greg explains why record-low cattle supplies and surging consumer demand create a once-in-a-career opportunity—and how Red Angus intends to make the most of it.

What You'll Learn: • Why Red Angus is well-suited to rebuilding the U.S. cow herd, especially in the South • How the breed's maternal and terminal traits complement crossbreeding systems • Why the Allied Access Yellow Tag program is advancing individual animal tracking • How mandatory total herd reporting strengthens Red Angus EPD data • Why packers are increasingly opening Red Angus cattle to grid schedules • How breed associations can go beyond the herd book to drive real industry change

Links: Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.com Learn more about the Red Angus Association of America: www.redangus.org Read more from Drovers: www.drovers.com Learn more about Breedr: www.breedr.co Learn more about Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com Learn more about Whole Cottonseed: https://wholecottonseed.com/

From virtual fences to real-time herd data, ranching is entering a new era—and Andrew Fraser is helping lead the shift.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Andrew joins Jim Johnson, Dr. Jessica Sperber, and Ian Wheal to explore how smart collar technology is transforming the way cattle are managed on pasture. As President of Halter Inc., Andrew shares how a simple idea—a collar for cows—has evolved into a powerful system for controlling grazing, tracking behavior, and unlocking better decision-making for producers.

This conversation goes beyond the technology itself to focus on real-world impact. From reducing labor demands and eliminating the need for extensive fencing to improving pasture utilization and enabling more flexible grazing systems, Andrew explains why virtual fencing is gaining traction across beef operations in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand.

The episode also dives into the growing role of data in ranching—from tracking animal movement and health to the future potential of measuring feed efficiency at the individual cow level. Along the way, the group discusses how AI is being applied in practical ways, why labor and succession are critical challenges, and how technology can make ranching more sustainable, scalable, and attractive to the next generation.

What You’ll Learn:

• How virtual fencing works and how cows are trained to respond to sound cues
• Why pasture management is the foundation of productivity and profitability
• How smart collars provide real-time visibility into animal location and behavior
• The potential to measure feed intake and efficiency in grazing systems • How technology can reduce reliance on fencing and lower infrastructure costs
• Why labor savings and staff retention are key drivers of adoption
• How behavioral data can improve animal health monitoring and decision-making
• The role of AI and machine learning in practical, on-farm applications
• Why flexibility in grazing systems can unlock better land and herd performance

Links:

Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.com

Learn more about Halter: www.halterhq.com

Read more from Drovers: www.drovers.com

Learn more about Breedr: www.breedr.co

Learn more about Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com

Learn more about Whole Cottonseed: https://wholecottonseed.com/