For the past several years, I’ve spoken to numerous groups about tax policy and where we are headed as a nation. I started these discussions by saying, “Where do we stand today …” and began talking through my views.

Most beef producers prefer working with livestock over sitting at a desk doing paperwork. However, successful farmers and ranchers know that organizing the future of the operation requires some inside time.

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So what should we make of the ongoing saga to cut federal jobs in this new administration? And what about when those cuts are made to critical programs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture?

Catch up as we interview Greg Hanes of the Cattlemen's Beef Board on its checkoff spending and ROI study benefits, and Patrick De Haan, a fossil fuel analyst with GasBuddy, on summer gas blends, trade tariffs and diesel prices.

I was never really fond of forcing myself out of a warm bed to check heifers at 3 a.m., but the chore didn’t seem quite so burdensome under the light of a bright moon. Still, I appreciated the effort of those little stars.