The R-CALF USA Round Up

Connecting the American Family to the American Farm

The R-CALF USA Round Up

Show Notes

Opponents of mandatory country-of-origin labeling often argue that consumers don't care where their beef comes from and won't pay more for a U.S. product. But Good Ranchers Founder and CEO Ben Spell has built one of America's fastest-growing meat companies around a different belief: that consumers value knowing where their food comes from. In this episode of the R-CALF USA Roundup, we explore consumer demand for U.S. beef, the importance of truthful country-of-origin labeling, and why trust, transparency, and supporting American ranchers continue to matter in today's marketplace. Blending business, faith, agriculture, and food policy, this conversation offers a unique perspective on the role consumers play in strengthening American agriculture.

Learn more about Good Ranchers here: https://www.goodranchers.com Watch Ben at the 2026 R-CALF USA Convention here: https://youtu.be/bKuxYgOOwH4?si=6H6NcMdMheJNpbQE

More from The R-CALF USA Round Up

May 8, 2026

We’re joined by Lance Neilson a cattle producer from Alberta, to talk about what’s happening in Canada right now around the government’s efforts to expand livestock traceability requirements and how that translates to American producers. This isn’t just a Canadian or American issue. It’s a parallel fight and the outcome will come down to whether producers are willing to speak up, or let someone else decide.

Sep 17, 2025

Local processors, cleaner beef, a fairer cattle market, and tech that cuts labor and waste. We sit down with Gary Hendricks of NSC Beef Processing to talk beef technology and how small-scale plants can revive rural economies.

Aug 26, 2025

On this episode, we take a deep dive into mandatory country of origin labeling and the fight to get it included in the Farm Bill. Joining us is R-CALF USA President Dave Hyde and Vice President Eric Gropper to discuss how loopholes in the current ‘Product of USA’ label hurt American ranchers, impact consumer trust, and threaten our nation’s food security.

Aug 2, 2025

The New World Screwworm is one of the hottest topics in the cattle industry right now and it has the potential to affect way more than just producers in the border states. On today's episode, Dr. Lora Bledsoe joins us to take a deep dive into what screwworm is, lessons from past outbreaks, how producers can prepare, and what a new infestation could mean in today's consolidated, politically charged industry. Sponsored by https://riskassociatesinc.net/

Jul 21, 2025

From vertical integration and climate scoring to growing corporate control over genetics, data, and market access, Brian Palmer is sounding the alarm on where the cattle industry is headed. In this episode, we discuss how policies labeled as “sustainability” could change cattle and beef production from the top down, making it harder for smaller producers to stay independent and creating an industry that we may no longer recognize. This episode is sponsored by Tri-State Livestock News and Wild Ass Soap.

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