Beef - General
R-CALF USA has asked President Trump and House and Senate leaders to conduct a review the beef supply chain and consider “whether a physical and geographical restructuring of the meatpacking industry is required.”
“We need more small plants!”—-The tiny violin solo of the beef industry. To start: there are 853ish USDA beef kill plants in the US, the big four run 27 of them.
USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report estimated March placements to be the lowest since the data series began in 1996.
The anger and frustration of some cattlemen has turned to accusations and proposals for change that will have long-term implications and unintended consequences for the cattle and beef industry.
Indiana farmer survives 12 days of fever, pneumonia, and dehydration due to COVID-19 and he warns others that the fragile and frail aren’t the only people at risk.
Kansas officials are actively working to keep the state’s beef packing facilities operational in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, including a plan to quarantine positive citizens in some vacant state facilities.
Today on Farm Journal Live, Paul Neiffer will have tips on how to quickly apply for the latest round of pandemic aid. We’ll also talk with Casey Bradshaw of Consolidated Beef Producers about tightening packer capacity.
An economic analysis released by the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association says the total actual and future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cattle industry is forecast to exceed $14.6 billion.
Cargill’s High River, Alta., beef harvest facility has slowed to one shift beginning this week to prioritize the health and safety of employees, reducing harvest to about 1,500 head per day.
Dozens of workers at Tyson’s Pasco, WA, beef plant have tested positive for COVID-19, but the plant will remain open under heightened health and safety procedures.
Changes are coming, thanks to the sudden lock-down America and much of the rest of the world are experiencing due to COVID-19.
JBS USA says its Greeley, Colo., beef plant will be closed through Tuesday for “deep cleaning” in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19 among its thousands of employees. Two employee deaths have been reported.
Another steep decline in both fed cattle and feeder cattle was reported last week. Negotiated cash fed cattle sales were the second smallest since mandatory price reporting began in 2001.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer are asking President Donald Trump to investigate possible irregularities in the cattle markets over the past several weeks.
During a Facebook Live address to cattlemen Monday night, R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard outlined four actions his group proposes to “restore balance to our dysfunctional cattle markets.”
Officials in Weld County , Colo., and Hall County, Neb., are monitoring cases of COVID-19 that are linked to JBS USA beef packing facilities.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment asks ranchers to voluntarily reduce the number of acres they intend to burn in the Flint Hills this spring.
Voting on Facebook is now open! It will close Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at midnight.
Unprecedented volatility in fed cattle markets during March produced a strong increase in negotiated cash sales from feedlots to packers the final two weeks of the month.
Texas congressman Mike Conaway told AgriTalk radio he believes an investigation into packer profits is likely, but encourages cattlemen and processors to continue working to feed Americans during the COVID-19 crisis.
Cash prices charged higher in feedyard country this week, leaving CME futures in the dust. Feeder cattle recovered most of the previous week’s losses.
The Beef Checkoff and fifteen state beef councils won a major court victory as the U. S. District Court of Montana ruled in favor of USDA and the Montana Beef Council in the matter of R-CALF vs. Sonny Perdue and USDA.
The current cattle market situation creates significant disparities between the current supply and demand situation and expectations for coming supply and demand conditions.
Cattle prices are on a historic ride. Producers are trying to make sense of it all, as well as industry insiders, as the COVID-19 story is far from over.
“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.