THE REAL WORLD

What a difference a year makes in attitude and circumstance. Mother nature has again shared her kindness with most of the regions throughout the nation. In some cases, her kindness went a little too far as through my tours, there are pastures we just could not get into because of moisture content. But the amount of precipitation in most locales has made pastures lush, croplands bountiful and an abundance of forage for winter feed. The beef cattle industry will see some very exciting times in the years to come. Bullish… hell yes, as all signals point to higher prices. As the number of farms and ranches steadily decline in North America, so has the North American inventory of breeding stock. The USDA reported on January 31, 2022, that the beef cow population had dropped 2% lower from the previous year. The Canadian drought of 2021 was a major cause in the drop of Canadian numbers and the heat and drought in the Midwest USA in 2022 has added to the US data which we will get to see a year from now. The markets have been strong and steady… no doubt quality still maintains it’s advantages in the market share. Even through this inflation scare, consumer loyalty has remained constant, as people still must eat protein that comes from a reliable, traceable source. We must remember that restocking the North American continent will not be achieved over night. Unlike poultry or swine production, it takes years to replenish breeding stock and as replacements are held back for breeding, market numbers dwindle and so will the supply of red meat… not only in North America but worldwide. It’s nice to see that this fresh new attitude has become contagious after being cooped-up for the last two years. The 4-H and Junior shows across Canada have been highly successful as the youth of the cattle nation share friendship and competitiveness in these summer months. These young men and women are the future of our livestock industry and the betterment of our society. Although winning is a goal, participation is the most important goal! Many thanks must go to the parents for their patience, time, and money to see their son or daughter learn and compete. To all the organizers behind the scenes whether you are a 4-H leader, a show chairman, a steer buyer, or a show sponsor, thank you for being a part of this educational component of the livestock industry. Although it looks like an early harvest, August is a great month to tour pastures… your own and your customers as we prepare for marketing and promotions for the fall run.