American Farmers Network, a beef and bison processing plant formerly known as Intermountain Packing in Idaho Falls, abruptly closed its doors in early April.

The Progressive Cattle editorial staff cover the top news stories from 2025.

On Jan. 19, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced a pilot program that will allow more cattle producers and meat processors access to the USDA’s beef quality grading and certification through virtual technology.

Beef exports in May, while trending below last year’s record levels, have, in many international markets, reached the highest levels so far in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

In this episode, Paul visits with Dave Nichols, an emeritus professor at Kansas State University about his experiences as a livestock judge and educator, discussing opportunities to bridge the gap between agriculture and consumers. David also visits with K-State ag economist Ted Schroeder about the changing elements in the cattle markets, and the potential pitfalls of mandating cash cattle markets. David, Paul and Carrie also share a preview of the November issue, and share what they're grateful for this Thanksgiving season.