Retail beef prices are higher, but the more relevant prices are featured prices on the ads that are reported every week by USDA and provide a much more realistic picture of retail meat case activity.

Improving feeder futures prices, a stronger fed cattle market and limited supplies of feeder cattle all combined to push prices higher following Thanksgiving.

After realizing historic profits the past couple of years, beef packers now find themselves in a similar position as their cattle feeding suppliers experienced - shrinking margins and reduced leverage.

According to Biden’s economic advisors, as many as 765,000 Americans — many union workers themselves — would have been put out of work in the first two weeks of shutdowns.

With trade opportunities and negotiations soon to begin, two key trade representative positions sit empty awaiting Senate approval for the nominations.

Cash cattle trades a week following the Thanksgiving rally saw steady prices, but the steadily declining supply of harvest-ready cattle will continue to shift bargaining leverage to producers.