By many measures, beef demand has remained remarkably strong since the pandemic started in March.  The first half of the year was characterized by unparalleled disruptions in both beef supply and demand.   By the end of June, cattle slaughter was mostly recovered; and has been thus far in the second half of the year.  Since July, steer and heifer slaughter has averaged 0.5 percent above year ago levels.  Total fed beef production from steers and heifers is up 3.7 percent year over year from July to the end of October.  Beef demand, however, continues to be challen ..read more

The rally in the cattle markets continued this week with solid gains in both cash fed cattle and the boxed beef cutout.   The four major packers were all bidding at least $110, with a handful of cattle selling at $111 in Texas on Thursday. Cattle feeders held on to asking prices of $111 on Friday, but the lower trading CME futures prices forced them to accept $110. Trade was active with a few more cattle selling in the North than in the South. Price at $110 put the fed cattle market back to a level not seen since early June when prices were $112. Dressed prices in the north were from $172 ..read more

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI), along with 14 other food and beverage associations, sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting priority access to COVID-19 vaccines to protect workers and keep the food supply chain running. The letter, dated Nov. 11, was similar to a letter sent to Trump in June. “Our members have been on the front lines of the response to the pandemic by continuing operations and ensuring Americans have access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food,” the letter stated. “Challenges have taxed the food supply chain over the past eight months, but the food, ag ..read more

A majority of U.S. adults have a positive view of farmers’ sustainability practices, and an overwhelming majority trust farmers, according to a new national public opinion poll from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The survey of 2,200 U.S. adults found that more than half (58%) rate the sustainability practices of U.S. farmers positively, with broad agreement from a majority of adults across demographic groups.  Nearly nine in 10 adults (88%) trust farmers, a 4% increase from AFBF’s June 2020 polling, which is evidence the public recognized that food supply chain challenges brought on ..read more

How do you certify your herd to produce the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand? The short answer? You don’t. The long answer is one of the many that Kara Lee, CAB assistant director of producer engagement, will answer in an upcoming virtual presentation. The free, one-hour "Getting to Know the Certified Angus Beef ® Brand" webinar is set for November 19, 1:30 p.m. Central. CAB was designed to increase demand for registered Angus cattle by adding value throughout the supply chain, and today quality cattle are worth more to every segment. Qualifying carcasses earn upwards of $1.7 million in ..read more

Dr. Kevin Pond and Dr. Amjad Abdullat posed for a photo with the man whose name fronts the colleges of which they are deans at West Texas A&M. The ceremony on Nov. 6 was one of the reasons as to why that is. “It would be a heckuva of note if these checks bounced,” quipped Paul Engler as the cameras clicked. “I made sure they wouldn’t,” said David Terry, CEO of the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation. “We’re good to go.” The two checks were for $500,000 each – large gifts to be sure – but still just a fraction of the long-lasting and far-reaching amount that Engler, the chairman of Ca ..read more

Ohio cattleman John Grimes served for years on the Certified Angus Beef brand’s board, and reflects on its role in the broader beef industry as he wraps up his year as chairman. “The cattle production cycle is long, and so yes, we have to worry about concerns today, but where are we going to be five or ten years from now? And I think that’s a challenge of any board, is to be respectful of tradition, but also recognize we have to be progressive,” Grimes says. Each board chairman faces challenges, but COVID-19 brought trial after trial. “I would be lying to you if I didn’t take some good hearted ..read more

Tyson Foods launches an initiative to reduce deforestation in its global supply chain. An announcement Thursday (Nov. 12) says the company will focus on four commodities – cattle and beef; soy; palm oil and pulp, paper and packaging. After a deforestation risk assessment performed earlier this year with Proforest, Tyson concluded that nearly 94% of its land footprint is at no to low risk of being associated with deforestation. To proactively address the remaining six percent that was found to be at risk, the Forest Protection Standard was developed to ensure the company is continuing to target ..read more

There is nothing like a refreshing drink of water to hydrate one’s body, but what happens when the only available water is frozen? As beef producers manage the herd in dropping temperatures this winter, Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute experts stress that now is the time to make sure the watering systems are set up for full time access to clean, drinkable water. “Cattle will typically drink about 1 gallon of water per day for every 100 pounds of weight they maintain,” said veterinarian and BCI director Brad White on a recent Cattle Chat podcast. Veterinarian Bob Larson added that ..read more

In the last CAB Insider, we reported on a rapidly retreating fed cattle market scenario. However, much has changed in the two-week interim. Last week’s $1 to $2/cwt. advance is just a fraction of what many believe this November market is capable of.       Optimism early this week on news of a potential COVID-19 vaccine spilled over from the equity market, splashing big positive moves across commodity futures. Live Cattle contracts were a benefactor, with the nearby December contract nearing $112/cwt. Monday and Tuesday. This week’s spot fed-cattle market is poise ..read more