Global Beef: What Does That Mean For You?
Gain a global perspective on beef production and marketing trends.
In the global marketplace, the U.S. beef industry is in a pretty good position. There are a couple of reasons. One is reliability; the United States delivers what is promised. The other reason is quality. The United States consistently produces high-quality beef — greater than 80% USDA Choice or better. According to Rabobank AgriFinance researcher and analyst Don Close, those are the good reasons that U.S. beef exports earn premium prices.
The Link
Avoid the sale.
How many times have you gone to a farm sale? I look forward to some, but other farm sales are the end of the line for that place or that family. A neighbor passed away recently, and they had his farm/estate sale. None of his kids or grandkids have any desire to farm. They sold everything on the auction block. They even sold his tin drinking cup that had to have been from his childhood. It had a little lamb embossed on the side. The auctioneer grouped it in with two other tin measuring cups, and it was gone for $15. They sold his old Farmall tractor that had never been off that place. It still ran — the new owner drove it home. The land sold, too, but there was a big price difference from the cup. It sold in smaller tracts after they had a dozer tear down the fence and make what looked like a driveway on each piece.
Angus Proud: Nickey Smith
AngusLink helps Louisiana cattleman gain more for his calves.
The southern portion of Louisiana is prone to extreme weather, and Nickey Smith has firsthand experience with that.
“We were in the cattle business when Katrina hit in ’06,” Smith says. “We took all of our cattle up into the middle pasture, since we knew we’d have trees fall on the fencelines. We just had to be prepared for it.”
May 10, 2022 | Vol. 15 : No. 5
Are Alternative Protein Sources a True Competitor to Beef?
Agricultural economist cites studies about consumer demand for plant-based protein.
When selecting meat in the grocery store, the product cut, price per pound and visual appeal are just some of the factors that influence the purchasing decision. For curious consumers, plant-based protein sources may also drive the purchase for those who follow a primarily vegetarian diet but occasionally eat meat or fish, known as flexitarians.
Market Closeout
What motivates us? What gives motivation to change?
If you were to ask me what group of people I want to surround myself with, it would unquestionably be cattlemen. To succeed in this business, you must have grit, integrity and passion — which are three of the traits I admire most. My best friends have always been cattlemen, obviously because we shared common interests, but also because you know cattlemen must have the capability to put the needs of others over their own. That is a great trait to have in a friend.
In The Cattle Markets
Cattle-on-feed analysis.
The consensus for the April Cattle on Feed inventory level was for a slight increase, and the actual number came in at 102% of year-ago levels at 12.1 million head. Both marketings and placements were expected to be lower, with a typical wider disparity in the estimates for the placements. The higher overall total is due to lower actual marketings and higher actual placements. There were no indications that placements would be higher. As higher placements are the main surprise, the market response is likely to be somewhat muted, although still generally negative in the short run.
