INDUSTRY NEWS

After setting new value records in June and July, U.S. beef exports to South Korea slowed 9% from a year ago in August to 22,307 metric tons (MT), while value dropped 11% to $157.4 million.

Uncertainty over trade policy, weather and African swine fever dominated agricultural markets last quarter, causing greater volatility across the industry that’s affecting producers, supply chains and end users, according to the latest Quarterly Rural Economic Review from the CoBank Knowledge Exchange division.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced two significant leadership changes Sept. 18, 2019.

President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed a limited trade deal Sept. 25 that includes reduced tariffs on U.S. meats.

The USDA reported Sept. 1 feedlot inventories at 10.98 million head, down 1.3% from one year ago. This is the first year-over-year decrease in monthly cattle on feed totals in 33 months, since December 2016.

Montana-based news outlet Western Ag Reporter (WAR) launched a week-long Twitter campaign Sept. 23, urging producers to take to social media in an effort to enlist President Trump’s aid in bringing balance back to the cattle markets.