News Update
August 1, 2016
U.S. Beef Outlook
While the United States has a quality advantage in today’s beef market, the industry must look to the future to stay ahead of curve, according to Kansas State University (K-State) Agriculture Economist Glynn Tonsor. North American beef has cornered the market on a grain-finished product thanks to the country’s genetics, meat quality, research and outreach, he adds.
“We are the center, globally, of grain-finished beef production. So, we do compete globally with a lot of grass-finished, and there’s some growth of grain-finished elsewhere,” Tonsor says.
While Tonsor says we have an infrastructure that supports grain-finished beef, one of the disadvantages of United States’ cattle production is the cost of production.
For more from Tonsor, tune into this week’s The Angus Report. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday and 7 a.m. CST each Monday morning on RFD-TV.
Zippy Duvall, AFBF, Regarding
National Biotech Disclosure Into Law
“President Obama’s signature today (July 29) will put a stop to the harmful patchwork of state GMO (genetically modified organism) labeling laws and set in place a uniform, national disclosure system that will provide balanced, accurate information to consumers.
For decades, biotechnology has made it possible for farmers to grow safe and healthful crops, while reducing their environmental impact. We are pleased that Congress and the administration have moved swiftly to prevent consumer confusion and protect agricultural innovation.”
Regaining Cattle Market Dollars
Old college friends who shared many miles on judging teams, Sam and Thomas decided to get together to reminisce at a recent cattlemen’s convention.
After graduation, they had gone separate ways, Thomas, back to grow the family ranch in South Dakota to include 400 commercial black cows, while Sam started a custom feedyard in Kansas with a great reputation for feeding high-quality cattle for grid targets.
Family notes exchanged, their conversation soon shifted to industry trends and what Thomas was trying to accomplish with his herd. Sam, always keeping an eye out for a future customer, asked if he had ever followed calves through the feedlot and to the rail. Thomas said that’d never made sense to him so he weaned and sold the same day at the local sale barn.
When Sam mentioned he had customers who made an extra $80 to $100 per head selling on the grid, his friend leaned in to hear more; calf prices were sure lower than 2014, so he wondered how he could get some of that back.
Continue reading in the Angus Media news article online.
June Farm Prices Received Index Decreased 1.4 Percent
The June Prices Received Index (Agricultural Production), at 93.5, decreased 1.4% from May 2016. At 87.3, the Crop Production Index decreased 3.6%. The Livestock Production Index, at 98.6, increased 0.7%. Producers received lower prices for cattle, lettuce, oranges and strawberries but higher prices for broilers, hogs, milk and corn.
Compared with a year earlier, the Prices Received Index is down 11%, the Crop Production Index is 1.0% lower and the Livestock Production Index is down 19%.
In addition to prices, the indexes are influenced by the monthly mix of commodities producers market. Increased monthly movement of wheat, hay, dry beans and peaches offset the decreased marketing of cattle, oranges, milk and broilers. The Food Commodities Index, at 97.3, decreased 1.7% from the previous month and is down 14% from June 2015.
To continue reading, access the USDA NASS report online.
Evaluating Carcass Quality at the NJAS
Understanding how Angus cattle perform beyond the farm or ranch is an important component of the carcass steer contest hosted during the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS). Thirty-three steers were a part of the 2016 NJAS carcass steer contest, where juniors were able to learn firsthand what ranchers are targeting when raising cattle.
Hosted in Grand Island, Neb., July 3-9, the NJAS and the carcass contest continues to grow. Once checked in, the steers were weighed and taken to the JBS beef plant in Grand Island where the steers were harvested and graded. Within five days, carcass data was received and ranked by carcass merit. The top steers were announced at the NJAS awards ceremony July 8.
“The carcass contest is a great way for juniors to find value in their cattle outside of the showring,” says Chelsey Smith, American Angus Association assistant director of events and education. “It teaches the juniors what the ultimate end product is, and reinforces what the Angus and beef industry is about; a safe and wholesome product for our consumers.”
Read more in the Angus Media news article online.
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