Between the pandemic forcing the shutdown of meat processing plants in 2020 and recent ransomware attacks on the nation’s largest meat supplier, some say concentration of the meat supply chain is a bad idea.

In an unprecedented move, the Biden administration unveiled a broad plan to tackle record retail meat prices. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said consolidation in beef, pork and poultry processing is leading to higher prices.

By-products such as cattle hides have increased in value dramatically over the past 13 months. Steer hides, which represent nearly one-third of by-product value, were 115% higher in August than last year.

Firefighters responded to a fire at the Grand Island, Neb., JBS beef facility on Sunday night.

Negotiated cash trade of fed cattle was limited in both the South and the North last week, and steady to softer prices was the result.

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has concluded their investigation into the two BSE cases in Brazil, paving the way for exports to continue to China later this month.