AS Australia lives up to its reputation of being a land of extremes, the Week in Beef team takes a look at what the extreme weather is doing to the cattle industry.

Victoria is currently on alert for more bushfires, a heatwave has hit New South Wales and Southern Queensland the Gilbert River in North Qld is preparing for a major flood. Plus:

• James Nason talks about how the Indonesian Government’s lowered cap on beef pricing could impact Australia’s live cattle trade.
• Northern Territory cattleman Frank Shadforth awarded an Order of Australia medal for his lifetime of work mentoring at risk youth.
• The number of the week takes a rest for the Beef Central team to look at what might happen in the year ahead – from cattle prices, to exotic diseases and whether Australia might send a live export boat to the United States.

Available every Thursday afternoon on the Beef Central website, or via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, I Heart Radio, Podbean and other podcast platforms. Search for: The week in beef and click subscribe.

Previous Week in Beef episodes

22 January – Heifers shine at weaner sales | LSD in Bali | Gun buybacks coming

15 January – Fire, floods cause havoc | China tariff impacts | Weaner sale trends

18 December – Top trends that defined 2025 “the Goldilocks year”

11 December – Big numbers hit saleyards | Activists high court win | State of play in WA

4 December – EPBC uncertainty | Nutritionist’s live ex support | How to judge Wagyu beef

27 November – Big saleyard rush | Future of live export | New largest city in the world