John Nalivka

John Nalivka is the president of Sterling Marketing, Inc., which provides economic research and market advisory services to the livestock and meat industries. He became affiliated with Sterling in 1991 as executive vice president and he has owned the company since 1994. Nalivka serves clients across the red meat supply chain from producers to end-users.

Latest Stories
Today’s market creates both the opportunity and the incentive is to pay down debt, and create a solid financial statement as opposed to herd building.
Cattle producers are holding on to a younger cow herd and retaining fewer heifers.
Herd building, whether through heifer retention or buying bred heifers, is a financial decision on the part of the cattleman and timing is part of that decision.
While the current market is solid evidence for the demand outlook, the weeks beyond the Memorial Day weekend through the 4th of July will be the critical time for assessing long-term strength of beef demand.
Addressing costs to producing crops or livestock also tackles the issue of the long-term sustainability of individual farmers and ranchers and U.S. agriculture.
Trade is important to the U.S. beef industry — both exports and imports.
Most of that news and conversation centers on higher prices that will be the result in tariffs, but is there more to the story?
Decisions up and down the beef supply chain evolve around calculating costs and breakeven prices.
With the prospects for tight cattle numbers over the next 2 to 3 years, the importance of consumer demand will be critical.
While some operations are increasing cow numbers, there are a couple segments decreasing numbers or exiting for good.