The United States Cattlemen’s Association announced an official decision to not sign the Checkoff Memorandum of Understanding as presented to industry leaders through the Beef Checkoff Enhancement Working Group.

Natural and organic beef market share has been increasing over the past few decades.

Beef’s getting better, to judge by the uptrend in quality grades and resurgent consumer demand. However, an increasing share of that demand has been for ground beef – and an average pound of that versatile staple now sells for more than $4.

Cattle prices have set records for the past five years in a row, and that has increased prices at the meat case, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural economist Ron Plain.

The meat market for 2015 looks to be interesting.

Beef producers are meeting the demands of modern beef production and can look forward to future decades with optimism.