Beef Industry Health
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. When it comes to exporting our agricultural goods, the cattle industry is perhaps the one segment that is, let’s say, suffering the least.
Dan Halstrom, president and CEO at the U.S. Meat Export Federation, says everyone is feeling the pinch, some worse than others, but the meat industry is hanging on …
HALSTROM … “Yeah, I think, from an export standpoint, yeah, a lot of noise in the marketplace. As you know, we have a lot of headwinds, a strong U.S. dollar, especially in Asia, low beef supply in the U.S., but to spite all that, demand continues to be resilient or even record-breaking in some of these countries.”
And with one big exception, Halstrom says, the markets are there …
HALSTROM … “So, starting with the beef side, you know, we’re down 1% year-to-date, but almost all of that’s because of China. China, since April, basically has not relisted of our beef plants. 400+ establishments not approved for China.”
Halstrom says there is plenty of demand in China, but so far, the negotiations have failed …
HALSTROM … “It’s not demand related. Demand is good. And the key customers, like the Sam’s Club, are needing and wanting our U.S. beef back. So, it’s obviously a political situation.”
Halstrom says he’s not sure when, but he’s fairly confident things will get worked out.
