Big Four Beef Packers Deny Collusion

The ‘big four’ beef packers, in dramatic questioning during a House Ag hearing this week, denied breaking antitrust laws by colluding to create record profits. It was a dramatic moment in an hours-long hearing, as Ag Chair David Scott asked the ‘big four’ beef packer CEOs if they’d worked together to set prices, netting 15 billion in profits last year …

CoBank: Rising Meat Prices Will Test Consumer Demand

U.S. consumer demand for meat at the retail level remains exceptionally strong despite rising prices caused by increased production costs and supply chain challenges. A new CoBank report says that may change soon. Once the full effect of increased costs of producer price inflation shows up in the retail meat case, demand will get tested. “Retail meat prices will remain …

Busy Week for the Beef Checkoff in Alabama

The Beef checkoff program in Alabama has a busy week of events coming up at various points across the state. Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Director of Education and Outreach, Ali Cantrell, told us they have events taking place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. To learn more about Beef Checkoff funded activities in Alabama, contact the ACA office in Montgomery, or go to their website. …

Florida Beef Council Member Attends Orientation Event

The Florida Beef Council (FBC) continues their efforts in promoting beef across the state, but it takes cattle ranchers from the state serve on the Board to make decisions as to how those Beef Checkoff dollars are spent in the state each year. Will Butler from Okeechobee, FL became one of the newer producers to serve on the FBC Board back in …

Georgia Beef Board Preparing for May Beef Month

May will be Beef Month in Georgia, and the Georgia Beef Board (GBB) continues their efforts to prepare for a variety of promotions that will be held this year. GBB Director of Public Relations, Taylor Evans, runs through what they have planned thus far. For more information about May Beef Month in Georgia, contact the GBB office in Macon at 478-474-1815. Sponsored …

Beef Sustainability Campaign Reaches 96 Million Consumers

A Beef Checkoff-funded campaign called, “Rethink the Ranch,” was executed by Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. It introduced the public to beef producers who make science-driven decisions to keep their herds, environment and businesses healthy enough to pass on to the next generation. The campaign increased consumer confidence in beef and beef production by inviting consumers to learn more about …

U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released their April Cattle on Feed Report and the new numbers show the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.1 million head on April 1, 2022. The inventory was 2 percent above April 1, 2021, …

Veterinarians Heading to Capitol Hill

On April 27th, a group of veterinarians will head to Capitol Hill to meet with senators and representatives to talk about legislation that will increase access to veterinary services in rural areas. They also want to talk about legislation to help in reducing the spread of diseases that pose a threat to animal and public health. The American Veterinary Medical …

Senator Previews Support, Opposition to Cattle Market Reforms

The chief sponsor of cattle market reform legislation, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, recently spoke with farm reporters about his expectations for upcoming hearings on his bill later this month. Grassley says he knows what the top four beef packing company executives think of his Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. “What they think about it is, everything’s alright, nothing needs to …