Canada and the U.S. are more intertwined in beef than most producers realize—and Ryder Lee is one of the people making sure that relationship works.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Ryder joins hosts Jim Johnson, Dr. Jessica Sperber, and Ian Wheal to explore how Canadian cattle production mirrors—and differs from—the U.S. industry. Drawing on decades of experience from a cow-calf upbringing to leading the Canadian Cattle Association, Ryder breaks down the geography of Canadian feeding, the reality of cross-border cattle flows, and why traceability has evolved from a disease response tool into a competitive market advantage.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Canadian cattle country compares regionally to the U.S.—from Alberta feedlots to Ontario’s covered barns
• Why Canada runs at roughly 1/10th the size of the U.S. herd, and what that means for trade
• How cross-border feeder and fed cattle flows support packing plants on both sides of the border
• Why Canada became a net feeder importer—and why that dynamic shifts year to year
• How BSE shaped Canada’s national RFID traceability system and why it’s now a market access tool
• What the Canadian beef grading system shares with—and how it differs from—USDA quality grades
• Why the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef has put Canada at the forefront of global sustainability conversations
• What Ryder sees as the biggest policy challenges and opportunities for Canadian producers over the next decade

Links:
Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.com\
Learn more about the Canadian Cattle Association: www.cattle.ca\
Read more from Drovers: www.drovers.com\
Learn more about Breedr: www.breedr.co\
Learn more about Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com