Page 3 - MWC 03-11-2021

The Midwest Cattleman · March 11, 2021 · P3

March 11, 2021 Volume 27 No. 3

BEEF INDUSTRY OPTIMISM FUELED BY LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO EXPAND
STRONG DEMAND LOCAL MEAT PROCESSING

Despite pandemic disrup- that will continue in 2021 and On Tuesday, February 23,
tions, consumer demand for beef beyond, especially as foodservice Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
at home and around the globe operations begin to fully reopen. (D-Maine) and Congressman Jeff
remained strong in 2020, a trend The strong demand, combined Fortenberry (R-Neb.), joined by
with expected higher cattle Senators John Thune (R-S.D.),
prices, signal an optimistic Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced
future for the beef indus- bipartisan, bicameral legislation
try, according to CattleFax, to support small meat and poul-
which presented an outlook try processors.
session during the virtual The Strengthening Local Pro-
2021 Cattle Industry Con- cessing Act will increase options legislation is also cosponsored
vention Winter Reboot on for local livestock and poultry by Rep. Ann McLane Kuster
Feb. 24. producers and assist smaller (D-N.H.) and Senators Susan
continued on page 10 facilities as they adapt to the Collins (R-Maine), Angus King
COVID-19 pandemic and expand continued on page 14
BEEF REMAINS CONSUMER FAVORITE to meet consumer demand. The
Consumers who prefer beef BLM RESCINDS HAMMOND’S GRAZING PERMITS
over plant-based protein alter- By Greg Henderson
natives said they are willing
to pay nearly two dollars more The 10-year grazing permits
per meal for a burger when din- for Hammond Ranches Inc. on
ing at a restaurant, according Oregon Bureau of Land Manage-
to a recent study from Kansas ment range were rescinded last
State University. The nation- week by officials at the U.S. Inte-
wide study involved more than economist Jayson Lusk. rior Department. The maneuver
3,000 consumers that represent- Nearly 70% of respondents is the latest in a long-running
ed the population of the country identified themselves as regu- feud between Dwight Hammond,
and was conducted by K-State lar meat consumers, while the Jr., and Steve Hammond with Revocation of the permits also
agricultural economists Glynn remainder identified with such the Interior Department and the came just days before cattle were
Tonsor and Ted Schroeder and BLM, after they were convicted expected to be turned out on the
Purdue University agricultural continued on page 10 of setting fire to public lands. continued on page 14

U.S. BEEF EXPORTS EXPECTED TO INCREASE 5 TAKEAWAYS FROM A VIRTUAL CATTLE

By Derrell Peel - Oklahoma State University CONFERENCE
By Gene Johnston
U.S. beef exports totaled 2,566.7 exports down over 30 percent
Unusual times re-
million pounds in 2020, down 2.3 year over year in May and June. quire unusual solu- 1. Good news on
prices.
percent from the previous year However, exports recovered by tions. That was the Every category of
but still the third largest annual year-end with combined Novem- reasoning for NCBA’s cattle prices – cow/
beef export total. The COVID- ber and December beef exports 2021 virtual Cattle calf, stocker, feedlot
19 pandemic caused sharp dis- up 12.6 percent year over year. Industry Convention, – should be better in
ruptions in beef exports at times Figure 1 shows the shares of U.S. called Winter Reboot, 2021 compared with
during the year with monthly beef exports in 2020. that included two days last year. Much of
Japan is the largest market for
U.S. beef, increasing by 3.7 per- of online speakers de- that is attributable to
livering industry updates and an expected improvement in the
cent in 2020, to the second high- management tips. Here are five
est level ever, after declining in take-home points. continued on page 12
2019 from the 2018 all-time peak.
South Korea has been the fastest
growing beef market in recent Coming Sales-38
years in terms of total volume Life is Simple-5
and has been the second largest
beef export market since 2016. Market Report-8
Beef exports to South Korea de- Agribusiness
creased by 2.1 percent in 2020 Directory-36
from the 2019 peak. Japan and

continued on page 12