Rancher
Barring a major setback, it appears that America’s beef markets are moving past the worst of the COVID-19 disruptions that have caused upheaval in recent weeks.
“A lot of folks think we should mandate with a law—a federal LAW, mind you, because those always work out so well—that more feeders sell in the cash market. But tying feeders’ hands like this isn’t the answer.”
The President made a broad statement Tuesday about cattle imports, asking USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to look into terminating bringing in cattle from other countries. However, a decision could come with consequences.
Industry analysts say there is a 1 million head backlog of cattle waiting for a harvest slot, and working through those heavy front-end supplies could take months.
Cattlemen in western North Dakota are urged to watch for suspicious activity in the region after at least three cattle were shot and butchered in pastures.
Misinformation floating around about the Beef Checkoff in recent weeks has producers seeking answers to questions about the state of our industry. Greg Hanes, CBB CEO provides some key information.
Harvest numbers continue to improve as more plants ramp up leading to a steep decline for wholesale beef prices. Feeder cattle saw moderate demand and higher prices.
Bi-partisan legislation was introduced in the Senate on Tuesday that would require 50% of a packer’s cattle purchases each week be negotiated on the cash market.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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 current cattle market situation creates significant disparities between the current supply and demand situation and expectations for coming supply and demand conditions.
Using unique Japanese Akaushi cattle, the brand partners with producers, who find higher premiums than they would under other business models.