Do America's trade policies push ranchers out of business? That's a protectionist's view, but there's no evidence suggesting ranchers “displaced” by beef imports – nor being unduly damaged in the marketplace.
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.
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.
Cybercriminals, cholesterol spiking ice crème flavors or just plain silly lawsuits? It’s becoming harder to distinguish which activities should cause our alarm.
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.
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?
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Both the inventory of beef cows and total cattle numbers in 2023 will be the lowest since 2014. After seven years of low returns, ranchers now look forward to 2023 with prospects for significant profits.
Ultimately, the beef industry is a consumer business – every dollar that flows into the industry results from a consumer spending money on a beef product.
Country-of-origin labeling for beef proved to be unproductive and ineffective in creating value for either consumers or producers, argues Nevil Speer. Worse yet it comes at a cost – government programs are never free.
Prospects for new entrants in a business are generally low if profitability requires economies of scale, large capital investment, and/or high levels of government regulation. The packing business checks all the boxes.
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.
How do cattle producers get better? That happens with less social media and more spreadsheets; less pandering and more professionalism; less Matrix and more Moneyball.
From a first harvest to what will likely be a final 50th season, farmers are celebrating moments of Thanksgiving and marking milestones to last a lifetime.
Every cowboy has a story about how choices his ancestors made resulted in the life they're living today. Many of us are thankful for blessings we didn't recognize as such at the time.
Is the U.S. government attempting to take charge of our food system? John Nalivka suggests current funding programs aimed at strengthening the U.S. beef industry are at odds with the dynamics of the industry.
Want to make producers better off? Squishy facts, alarmist narratives and politicians won’t get it done. Instead, the path to prosperity follows real data, critical thinking, and free enterprise.
Harassment of Dr. Frank Mitloehner by journalists with an anti-animal ag agenda went about as well as a drunken tourist playing chicken with a bison in Yellowstone.
The overall condemnation of beef livers due to abscesses and the severity of those abscesses costs the U.S. beef industry $409 million annually. It's a problem that must be addressed.
Although the hit series highlights the struggle of the Dutton ranch fighting to maintain a family legacy, a rather ironic story truth surfaces and an unfortunate reality hits home.
What happens when we assign the "Monty Hall Problem" to our decision-making process for the beef industry? The difference being we know what's behind each door, but will we choose correctly?
We live in such a hurried world, and don’t get me wrong, I hurry with the best of them. But I never want to hurry so much that I fail to show up for others. Doug Parrett knew the importance of prioritizing people.
Carbon counting – which is ill defined – may be one more regulatory hurdle akin to federal lands grazing management plans with somewhat undefinable outcomes but are ridden with regulations.
Last week’s cash market topped $150! It’s a timely opportunity to review the need for regulatory intervention into the cash market (i.e. the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022).
