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As the impact of COVID-19 continues, trying to stay afloat may be too much for some operations to withstand. Many face a tough reality: liquidating cows and a shrinking industry.

The South saw another wide trading range last week as prices ranged from $95 to $115 per cwt. for cash fed cattle with just two packers active in the negotiated cash market.

Modeled after a set-aside program used in Canada after the BSE crisis in 2004, the Fed Cattle Set-Aside Program proposal would fund placing cattle on a maintenance diet for 75 days.

A cattle group is floating the idea of a set-aside program for the cattle industry. Pro Farmer’s Jim Wiesemeyer and Greg Henderson of Drovers will have the details on today’s Farm Journal Live.

Tyson Foods said on Wednesday it will discount prices on certain protein products the remainder of this week, and some beef items could be discounted 20% to 30%.

As COVID-19 impacts the supply chain, beef prices in grocery stores have started to skyrocket. Is $7.99 per pound for ground beef common? An interactive map shows just how high prices are getting for consumers today.

Early week fed cattle sales were steady at $95 to $100 per cwt., and $150 dressed. Friday, however, saw one major jump in and buy a few thousand cattle at $105, $5 higher than last week.

Making certain your cows, heifers, and bulls are receiving the minerals that they require is one of the chores that can be easily overlooked during the busy summer season.

Consumers first saw beef supply disruptions in March when the shutdown of food service shifted demand to the retail grocery side where supply chain bottlenecks and a surge in demand resulted in temporary shortages.

Light cash trade continued with a wide price range. Two of the major packers were active in the market, with one actively making an effort to support prices.