By MORGAN GARRISON
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) annual CattleCon took place Feb. 3-5 in Nashville, Tenn. The most anticipated seminar at the event – the annual CattleFax Outlook – was brimming with information for cattle producers to ponder in the early months of 2026. It seems drought, volatility, changing producer demographics and tight supply continue to be driving forces behind a market which experts are saying doesn’t show any signs of slowing down in the near term.
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