The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is organizing a beef market study tour to Texas next March to give Iowa farmers firsthand insight into some of the most pressing challenges shaping the U.S. cattle industry.

The four-day tour March 9-12, 2026, will take participants to the heart of Texas cattle country to explore how federal and state agencies are addressing emerging livestock-health threats such as New World screwworm as well as how trade dynamics, record prices and low cattle numbers are reshaping cattle supply chains. 

“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 tour.

The U.S. cattle inventory is at a historic low, contributing to record cattle prices. Brummer noted that rebuilding herds takes nearly two years from breeding to raising a market-ready steer, a much slower turnaround compared to hogs or poultry.

Texas cattle feedyards are also feeling the further impact of biosecurity measures that have cut off the supply of feeder cattle from Mexico to fend off the resurgence of New World screwworm, an invasive pest that has moved northward from Central America into northern Mexico, which is historically the top supplier of live cattle to the U.S.

At the same time, the beef market is impacted by 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 beef suppliers to the U.S.

“The risk for cattle producers is you’ve got this underlying domestic supply tightness, which is a fundamental story that takes time to correct. What you don’t necessarily know how to navigate is the Texas border being closed and the Brazil 50% tariffs, because those two things are a ‘tweet’ away or executive order away from being resolved, and the market can change overnight based on that,” Brummer said. “The risk of that volatility is what drove the focus for this trip. It impacts everybody, but especially Iowans. We’ve got quite a few family farms that are raising cattle either in a cow-calf operation and in feedlots.”

Zach Brummer


Tour itinerary

The market study tour starts in Dallas with a visit to the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the oldest and largest cattle organization in Texas. 

Participants will also engage in meetings at Texas Farm Bureau headquarters in Waco as well as with the Texas Beef Council, Texas Animal Health Commission and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

The tour also includes visits to several leading cattle ranches in the Waco, San Antonio and Houston areas, including Graham Land and Cattle Company, which has the capacity to finish 30,000 head of cattle in its feedlot.

Additionally, participants will discuss the possible long-term implications of Mexico’s potential to expand its beef processing capacity if the border remains closed for an extended period of time. 

While the key focus of the trip is to investigate how market issues  impact members who raise cattle, Brummer noted that corn growers could also benefit from the first-hand knowledge gained on the study tour due to potential fundamental changes in feed demand. 

Selection process

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

Each participant will be required to pay $850 to fund a share of the cost of the tour, which includes airfare, double-occupancy hotel accommodations and meals. There is an additional charge for single rooms. Spouses may apply to be considered for participation and will be charged the full cost of the trip, estimated at $2,245.

All applicants should be in good health and able to handle a rigorous travel schedule. 

Applications must be submitted by Dec. 14. Space is limited, and early applications are encouraged. 

For more information or to apply, visit IowaFarmBureau.com/StudyTour. Applicants selected for the study tour will be notified in late December.