Speaker: Matt Makens, Makens Weather

In an industry where the weather can make or break your operation, staying informed is crucial. Join us for our opening session, where meteorologist Matt Makens will discuss the likelihood of El Niño developing across the region following two seasons of La Niña. Such an outcome could provide producers with a boost in moisture, with obvious implications for stocking rate decisions in the year(s) ahead. We will also discuss how any such change fits into the long-term drought pattern we’ve been in since the 1990s. The outlook will cover all of 2026 and a glimpse beyond.