USMEF Spring Conference Examines Strong Global Demand Tempered by Growing Economic Challenges

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference got underway Wednesday in San Antonio, attracting a diverse range of participants including pork, beef, lamb, corn and soybean producers, as well as packers, processors, exporters and traders from throughout the United States.

USMEF Chair Mark Swanson, who recently founded food safety consulting firm Tru Grit KGMS Enterprises LLC, welcomed attendees and urged them to take the opportunity to visit one-on-one with a strong contingent of USMEF’s international staff from Asia, Mexico...

Meat Institute to House Ag: More to Beef & Cattle Markets than Packers & Producers

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the beef and cattle markets are complex, driven by supply and demand and have more participants than packers and producers who add value at each step in production.

“Too often, the policy debate around the cattle and beef industry is an overly-simplified discussion limited to cattle producers versus beef packers. It is imperative policy makers remember: packers don’t buy fed cattle from cow-calf producers; nor do packers sell beef to consumers,” said Julie Anna Potts, President...

Meat Institute to House Ag: More to Beef & Cattle Markets than Packers & Producers

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the beef and cattle markets are complex, driven by supply and demand and have more participants than packers and producers who add value at each step in production.

“Too often, the policy debate around the cattle and beef industry is an overly-simplified discussion limited to cattle producers versus beef packers. It is imperative policy makers remember: packers don’t buy fed cattle from cow-calf producers; nor do packers sell beef to consumers,” said Julie Anna Potts...

NAMI to Senate Ag: Cattle Prices at Seven Year Highs; Reject Costly Grassley-Fischer Bill

With cattle prices at seven-year highs following record beef production in February and March as the packing sector recovers from COVID-related labor shortages and supply chain issues, the North American Meat Institute today urged members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to reject the Grassley-Fischer bill’s mandates and federal intrusion in the beef and cattle markets.

“Leading agricultural economists have determined Grassley-Fischer bill’s latest draft remains costly to producers, especially producers in Texas..."

North American Meat Institute: Grassley-Fischer Bill is Still a Government Mandate on Producers

The North American Meat Institute today said the latest version of the Grassley-Fischer government mandate bill is now more onerous and more irrelevant as market driven prices for cattle producers have steadily risen to seven-year highs.

“Supply and demand has already driven the cattle markets back into balance without the radical government interference and convoluted mandates called for in the latest draft of the Grassley-Fischer bill,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “Make no mistake, the bill still contains government..."