Latest News From Beef

Price discovery in today’s fed cattle market “appears to be functioning effectively in even the thinnest regional fed cattle markets,” according to an analysis by University of Arkansas agricultural economists.

The Biden administration and some cattle groups blame meat industry concentration for producers getting a smaller share of consumer dollars for beef than they did decades ago. The Meat Institute disputes such claims.

Ray Marxer began working at Matador Cattle Co. in 1974, retiring as general manager in 2011. The ranch, owned by the Koch family since 1950, recently sold to Rupert Murdoch, a businessman, media tycoon, and investor.

Evaluating market fundamentals has led most analysts to project stronger price trends over the next few years. But just how high could prices go? Studying market patterns over the last 30 years provides valuable clues.

Developers of Cattlemen's Heritage Beef Company are seeking investors for a proposed $450-million beef packing facility to be built in western Iowa south of the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.

A federal judge has again delayed the sentencing of the former owner of Easterday Farms and Easterday Ranches following his conviction for wire fraud the resulted of losses of $244 million.

Less than 8 months ago, the Hertzogs opened a meat processing facility without any help from investors or federal funds. The family is finding success through breaking the mold and busting through traditional barriers.

The Biden Administration’s Action Plan to invest $1 Billion to expand competition in the U.S. meat packing industry and strengthen enforcement of antitrust regulations drew mixed reactions from cattlemen.

The Biden Administration’s $1 billion Action Plan unveiled Monday to aid farmers, ranchers and consumers would do none of the above, according to the North American Meat Institute.

The Biden Administration unveiled a new, four-pronged action plan to aid independent meat processors, strengthen the Packers & Stockyards Act, and issue new "Product of USA" labeling rules.

Organizers have cancelled the annual Lawry’s Beef Bowl ahead of Saturday's Rose Bowl for the second year in a row due to concerns over the rising cases and the emergence of the Omicron COVID variant.

The December Cattle on Feed report, released on Friday, was the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year decreases in feedlot inventories, though November and December totals were only down slightly.

Concerns over the COVID-19 variant headlined news last week. Bob Utterback of Utterback Marketing and Mark Gold of StoneX Group both say they are friendly on cattle and hog prices, but caution about outside influences.

Western Kansas ranchers faced the extreme in December. With winds clocking in north of 100 mph, warnings of wildfires came fast. And as ranchers face a long recovery, neighboring ranchers are rushing in to help.

Cattle markets have improved significantly in the final weeks of 2021, with market analysts projecting those positive trends to continue in 2022.

Critical fire weather is forecast through Dec. 26 for portions of North and West Texas, with Dec. 24 holding the most potential for wildfire activity, particularly in the Panhandle

Canadian officials reported the first case of BSE in six years. South Korea has suspended all beef imports from Canada as a precaution until it can gather more information about the case.

The Kansas Livestock Association reports a total of 396 donations were made to the wildfire and severe storm relief fund through Dec. 21, including two large donations from meat processors Tyson and Cargill.

After 35-year-old Chad Schmit died unexpectedly at the Minn. Beef Expo this year, the Shorthorn Assoc. pulled together a final sale that turned into a fitting tribute for a man who loved show cattle and helping youth.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has awarded Sand County Foundation a three-year grant to accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture among private landowners in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan watershed.

Fierce winds across Kansas this week sparked a slew of wildfires, as some ranchers lost their homes, barns and livestock. Around Paradise, Kan., there are some ranch families who say there is nothing left.

Hurricane-force winds and dry pastures resulted in multiple wildfires in western Kansas on Wednesday. The Kansas Livestock Association is coordinating relief efforts for affected ranchers.

China has agreed to resume imports of Brazilian beef following more than three months of suspension due to two atypical cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) were discovered in Brazil.

A Colorado rancher was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in a cattle ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 100 investors of nearly $5 million.

U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and Trust In Food sign letter of agreement to collaborate through Trust In Beef Program to empower beef producers.

The Association says both are widely supported across the U.S. cattle and beef industry.

Economic advisors to the White House suggested Friday that America's large meat packers have used their market power to drive up consumer prices while underpaying farmers resulting in a huge jump in net profits.

The House passed legislation providing for the first major update of U.S. International ocean-shipping laws in more than two decades. That comes as the nation continues to grapple with bottlenecks at its ports.

November employment data was called disappointing despite the unemployment rate dropping slightly. Retaining workers has become difficult even as employers raised pay, which eventually gets passed along to consumers.

​Low Carbon Beef, LLC, a cattle certification program that enables cattlemen to earn premiums by reducing carbon emissions, announced it has secured approval as a USDA Process Verified Program Service Provider.

Tyson Foods said Monday it will give approximately $50 million in year-end bonuses to its frontline, hourly workers. These one-time bonuses will be based on tenure and range from $300 to $700.

While Cargill and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union appear to have avoided a labor strike at the High River, Alberta, beef plant, a shut-down could produce significant disruptions to the U.S. cattle market.

A tentative agreement between Cargill and its unionized workers at the High River, Alberta, beef processing plant has been reached, avoiding a possible strike on December 6, 2021.

FTC orders Tyson Foods, Inc., Walmart, Amazon, Kroger and other large wholesalers and suppliers to turn over information to help study causes of empty shelves and sky-high prices.

When nearly 300,000 Oklahoma acres burned in April of 2018, Terry Burleson found himself caught in the wind-driven flames. His escape is nothing short of a miracle.

After John Moody was ran over by his tractor in March, USPS mail carrier Allen Dix made a life-saving delivery that went above and beyond his job. Dix received the USPS Hero Award for his remarkable rural route rescue.

Market leverage continues to move toward the cattle feeder as prices rose for the third consecutive week. Cattle on feed numbers were slightly lower while placements and marketings were near industry estimates.

Montana Senator Jon Tester introduced a bill that would halt imports of beef from Brazil after repeated issues with delayed reporting of BSE. The bill has support from U.S. cattle organizations.

U.S. Senators and Representatives introduce legislation that seeks to return fairness to the cattle marketplace dominated by four major meat packers.

Animal protein prices will remain firm in 2022, says Rabobank, but significant challenges will remain and markets will be driven by the transition to more sustainable animal protein, biosecurity challenges and COVID.

Warren County, Missouri, has been selected by American Foods Group (AFG) as the planned location for a new state-of-the-art beef processing facility, pending final approval.

Brazilian authorities said two reported cases of a neurodegenerative disorder in Rio de Janeiro were not related to BSE, but NCBA calls on Secretary Vilsack to immediately suspend all imports of fresh beef from Brazil.

Brazil's Ag Ministry said that two cases of a neurodegenerative disorder in patients in Rio de Janeiro state were not related to beef consumption, tamping down fears of possible "mad cow" disease causing human illness.

Four U.S. Senators announced they’ve reached a compromise on measures they see as improvements to the cattle market, combining components of previous bills into a new Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act.

A Ukrainian man suspected of collecting $2.3 million in ransom after using REvil ransomware to attack about 2,500 targets, including the June JBS SA cyberattack, has been arrested, according to Europol.

Prosecutors said Robert Blom altered purchasing agreements, misled investors and sold the same groups of cattle to multiple buyers using the money to pay back previous investors.

In testimony before the House Ag Committee, the Meat Institute said the current labor shortage is a significant factor driving U.S. food prices higher.

Cow and bull slaughter for 2021 continues outpacing last year’s totals, and cow processing plants are operating at higher capacity utilization levels than fed cattle plants.

As labor woes continue to cripple meat processing plants, Missouri is rolling out a unique concept to answer many processors’ biggest need. The classroom on wheels will provide workforce development at a pivotal time.

"I have a sense of certainty that she knew, as that day was the first cold morning of fall, that she had lived out the last of her summers. A chapter in our history closed on that hill on that perfect fall afternoon."