Suchergebnisse

AbstractCattle producers and markets faced massive disruptions due to COVID‐19 in both supply and demand for cattle and beef. Restaurant and food service shutdowns affected beef demand. Closures and slowdowns of beef processors caused a logjam of live cattle in the supply chain. The resulting effects on cattle producers at all levels were lower prices and abnormal cattle flows, but the magnitudes of those effects were not homogenous across size and type of cattle. In this article, we detail how the COVID‐19 pandemic has affected cattle markets and cattle producers across the different sectors. We also discuss policy responses and considerations.

AbstractRecent wide spreads between boxed beef cutout values and fed cattle prices have reignited beef cattle producers' long‐held concerns about price discovery. The recent concerns have led to policy proposals meant to increase negotiated trade volumes in the cash market. We determine how volume, day of the week, sex, grade, weight range, and other factors impact price ranges in the negotiated cash market. We find many factors, in addition to sales volume, can impact price ranges. The analysis provides insight into current policy proposals, and we discuss the need for more detailed data for precise answers to current policy questions.

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic created massive disruptions in meat supply chains including the US poultry industry. Detrimental impacts to chicken demand due to restaurant closures led to supply adjustments affecting broiler producers. The integrated structure of the broiler industry creates significant challenges in estimating grower losses. Farmers who raise broiler chickens do not own the birds and price drops are not directly felt in the same manner as in other commodities. This article examines the broiler industry and presents methodology to better understand the farm‐level impacts of COVID‐19. Further, this work is useful for policy response considerations for broiler growers.

AbstractFarm bill programs impacting beef cattle producers have been dispersed throughout previous farm bills. Greater attention on cattle markets in recent years is likely to lead to increased debate on beef cattle topics ahead of the 2023 Farm Bill. We examine cattle topics found in previous farm bills as indicators of future farm bill inclusion. We then discuss recent market events and resulting policy requests by producers. We subsequently focus on current topics that seem likely to spill over into farm bill debate, and we finish with suggestions regarding where agricultural economists can provide useful input into the policy process.