Farmers invited to apply for Beef Market Study Tour of Texas exploring challenges shaping the cattle industry

Iowa Farm Bureau members are invited to apply for a Market Study Tour, March 9-12, 2026, visiting the heart of Texas cattle country to explore how federal and state agencies are navigating threats to livestock health, trade dynamics and how record prices and low cattle herd numbers impact and shape the cattle supply chain.

"Texas is ground zero for a lot of these issues right now, which makes it a good spot to go see what's going on in the cattle market and understanding what that means for Iowa cattle feeders and cow-calf owners," said Zach Brummer, Iowa Farm Bureau farmer education program manager, who is coordinating the trip.

The U.S. cattle inventory is at a historic low, contributing to record-high cattle prices, while Texas feedyards face added strain from biosecurity measures that halted Mexican feeder cattle imports to combat the spread of New World Screwworm from Central America. At the same time, the beef market is feeling impacts from increased tariffs on trading partners that have restricted imports, including the current 50% U.S. tariff on beef imports from Brazil, one of the largest suppliers to the U.S.

"The risk for cattle producers is the underlying domestic supply tightness, which is a fundamental story that takes time to correct," said Brummer. "The risk of this market volatility is what drove the focus for this trip. It impacts everybody, but especially Iowans. We have quite a few family farms that are raising cattle either in a cow-calf operation or in feedlots, and they're feeling these impacts."

The IFBF Market Study Tour starts in Dallas with a visit to the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Ranchers Association, the oldest and largest cattle organization in Texas. Participants will also engage in meetings with the Texas Farm Bureau headquarters in Waco, the Texas Beef Council, Texas Animal Health Commission and the USDA's Animal and Plant health Inspection Service in Austin.

The tour will also include visits to several leading cattle ranches in the Waco, San Antonio and Houston areas. Participants will also discuss the potential long-term implications of Mexico expanding its beef processing capacity if the border remains closed for an extended period of time.

Participants for the Texas Market Study Tour will be selected based on potential leadership participation in Farm Bureau and other agricultural organizations, communication skills and a willingness to share the information learned with their local communities.

Applications must be submitted by Dec. 14, 2025, and space is limited. Early applications are encouraged, as only a select group of participants will be chosen.

For more information or to apply, visit https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/studytour.