Search - Drovers

The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take immediate steps to address the impact the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on the U.S. cattle market.

Market researchers say sales of shelf-stable food items such as fruit snacks, dried beans and energy drinks jumped in the week ended Feb. 22 as the corona virus began to spread.

In his State of the Rural Economy testimony before Congress this week, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said USDA is working to develop a voluntary label for beef products that will conform to WTO regulations.

“Every time there is a downswing or times get hard, some people will revert to stealing. If things don’t start picking up, people will start picking things up.”

Using unique Japanese Akaushi cattle, the brand partners with producers, who find higher premiums than they would under other business models.

Some American beef packing companies are adding to worker’s hourly pay and sick leave in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Some will earn an additional bonus for working all their shifts through May 3.

Panic meat buying emptied shelves and drove the Choice beef cutouts nearly $48 per cwt. higher. Cash fed cattle were higher, but not at a proportionate level.

Packer margin is significant. However, why is packer profitability the only focus, and we are not as outraged about the other “elephant in the room” issue within our market?

National Ag Day was launched in 1973 to recognize the important contributions of America’s farmers and ranchers to America.

USDA’s January 1, 2020 Cattle report estimated 94.4 million head in the U.S. cattle herd, slightly below last year’s total.