Opinion
Today’s cattle industry is sensitive to increased imports, the cattle and beef industries find benefits from robust international trade.
Too often, we forget that NOT making a decision IS a decision. We must keep moving.
Sound resource management with a drive toward increased production efficiency will support production agriculture well into the future.
A healthy dose of cynicism is said to be a good thing. But that can easily morph into defeatism. And when that occurs, it’s paralyzing.
As full-time environmentalists, ranchers must speak up when it comes to topics like beef’s impact on land water and air. Unless we share our own true stories, others will control the narrative.
Cybercriminals, cholesterol spiking ice crème flavors or just plain silly lawsuits? It’s becoming harder to distinguish which activities should cause our alarm.
An Open Letter to Superintendent Rick Nielsen, Nebo School District (Utah): “Utah school gives kids ‘disgusting’ insects to eat in class for climate assignment on cows killing the Earth.”
It’s useful to explore two measures - beef cow inventory and producer’s share - simultaneously because both are often referenced by those critical of the industry’s innerworkings.
Oregon ranchers and feedlots are concerned about Senate Bill 85, which would stop the permitting of all “industrial sized” operations.
Significant declines to the beef cow inventory have led some to argue it’s an indicator of the beef industry’s decline. Further examination of the data, however, suggests that talking point is misleading.
Regardless of how lab-grown protein products are categorized, the federal law that created the Beef Checkoff does not allow such products to be promoted.
Several market advantages exist for building high-quality genetics into your herd, but capturing the value that has been created is a different issue.
Many ranchers have successfully improved genetic potential for both growth and marbling, yet many simply wean and/or ship calves at a specified time and/or weight, forfeiting much of the value they’ve worked to create.
Real-world data confirms cattlemen are rewarded for high-quality carcasses through grid pricing. Why, then, would/should the industry regress back to selling more cattle on a cash basis?
When might cow/calf operations begin the rebuilding process? Lots of variables will ultimately dictate the answer including weather, input prices, and interest rates.
The return of issues like ‘Waters of the United States,’ and new Endangered Species Act listings are examples of misguided, ineffective, and poorly implemented policies coming from federal regulators in Washington.
The fourth installment in a series surrounding international beef trade, this one focusing on the consistent and ever-growing return on investment beef exports provide to American cattlemen.
Some of the feedback stemming from Nevil Speer’s Cowlandia column prompts the need to explore international trade in more detail.
Given the significance of international trade to the beef industry it’s important to explore the topic in more detail. This column begins with the broader economic framework.
Global consumers are changing their purchase preferences based on sustainability, and two-thirds now choose to purchase products based on environmental friendliness.
What does the cattle producer of 2043 look like? Whatever the answer, it’s clear success will come to those less focused on uncontrollable variables.
The need for telling beef’s story to the general public, to both beef consumers as well as non-consumers, has become increasingly important and critical to the long-term success of the industry.
Given the fundamental importance of the land enterprise to any farming/ranching business, time and energy are best directed towards guarding against the never-ending barrage of regulation.
Our favorite retired cowboy editor spent a few winter evenings reading the latest anti-beef ramblings. His review of “Raw Deal” is not likely to spur a spike in book sales, nor change many mindsets, we suppose...
The third column in a series focusing on cow-calf profitability with a focus on long-run profitability, and capacity to counteract business risk, is largely determined by correcting shortfalls on the cost side.
Economies of scale is not a difficult concept, and it is one that certainly does not need our government using it to decide what is fair.
This month marks the 150th Anniversary of Drovers, launched in Chicago’s Union Stockyards by Harvey Goodall in 1873.
Some industry stakeholders believe a legislative “fix” is needed for the cattle markets. Nevil Speer argues the best “fix” is no interference, allowing cattlemen to enjoy the full benefits of a free market.
The cattle market’s recent impressive gains against the backdrop of record-high beef production is evidence of the benefits of building beef demand.
By working together, beef and dairy producers can continue to uncover greater efficiencies that will benefit both industries while providing consumers with more of the high-quality products they want and need.