Cull cows and bulls are continually getting higher despite runs at most California sale barns. Typically they would be selling 300 a week this time of year, but due to dry conditions ranchers are culling early to save feed. When this run is over by Mid May, look out! I expect butcher cow and bull prices will be right up there with fat cattle. Maybe that will be enough to help NCBA realize that something needs to be done about The Big Four Packers monopoly. Hamburger is strictly supply and demand and is not controlled by a fictitious market that can be manipulated by those who have the cash to do it. Hopefully as cutter cow prices escalate, cow plants will start taking livestock away from the choice cattle plants. At that point, JBS, National, Cargill and Tyson may actually have to compete over fats again and we can get more negotiated trade. Combine that with more regional plants being built nationwide, more ranchers, farmers and backyarders selling direct to the consumers and plummeting national and global cow numbers, and we are setting up for a big time shortage of market livestock. Hay prices are going to be record levels I’m afraid, and that will cause even more producers to exit the business. Farmers will want to save some of that money for years ahead because there will be several million less head of livestock to feed. Those who are in a position to hang on or have thee guts to pay $300/ton for hay are going to be in the drivers seat. I don’t think the fake beef, aka “dogfood”, is going to fly, and I hope the packers who invested millions, including some closer to home than you would expect, lose their shirts. I am disappointed that they have so little appreciation for our industry that they would invest millions in companies making lab grown beef with the intention of busting the American Rancher. Yet our Cattlemen’s Association doesn’t see a problem with these same packers being the most influential voice in our industry.

202 225 3121 – S. 3229

HR. 5992 Call Washington D.C. and tell our House and Senate members to support the Cattle Market Transparency Act. You can bet those who are bought and paid for by the NCBA are calling Washington in opposition of the bill we so desperately need to give us some footing in the market place. Maybe the packers are paying them off in fake meat stocks! This bill has a really good chance of passing despite the strong opposition from the packers and NCBA, so go ahead and make the call and be a part of the team that kept the cattle industry viable and independent. We don’t want to be contract growers for Tyson or JBS