(NAFB.com) – The CattleFax Outlook Seminar held at CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, shared expert market analysis. The U.S. beef industry is poised for another year of strong market performance, driven by tight cattle supplies and robust consumer demand. As the beef cow herd enters a stabilization phase following years of contraction, the resulting supply constraints have shifted market leverage decisively toward cattle producers. Weather conditions will remain a critical factor influencing grazing availability, herd expansion, and cattle prices. Meteorologist Matt Makens said La Niña this winter brings volatile weather changes across North America. U.S. producers will likely see drought acreage increase as it has nationwide since June. “Drought will likely increase across the Western U.S. this spring and into the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains, and Canadian prairies through this summer,” Makens said. Troy Bockleman, director of protein and grain analysis, noted that inflation eased in 2024, ending the year at 2.9 percent.