INDUSTRY NEWS

Global supply chains, already hit hard by the pandemic, are facing further disruption and cost inflation after Russian forces invaded Ukraine Feb. 24.

Cattle and beef markets continue to show good and improving strength into 2022. The opening weeks of February communicate potential tightening of, most notably, feeder animal supplies into the summer.

Seven of the nation’s top cattle operations were recognized as Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) regional winners for their environmental conservation efforts during the 2022 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in Houston, Texas.

A previous article considered what continued drought might force the industry to do in terms of additional herd liquidation. Another scenario is that drought across the country subsides and is not a significant factor in 2022.

Meat-packing giant JBS announced Feb. 1 that it has agreed to pay $52.5 million as a settlement against claims of beef price fixing.

One estimate that analysts like to calculate from the Cattle Inventory report is feeder cattle supplies outside feedlots as of Jan. 1.