Agricultural News
What's the Outlook for Beef Exports After Early Success in 2017? Jim Robb of the LMIC Weighs In
Fri, 17 Mar 2017 17:16:18 CDT
Meat markets have had a good year thus far, in terms of beef exports, which were up almost 20 percent in January compared to the same time last year. The big question everyone is asking though is, 'can we hope to keep up this momentum and a strong 2017 going? Executive Director of the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver, Jim Robb, told Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays that while markets are unexpectedly strong right now, some pullback in the coming months wouldn't be a surprise.
"The seasonal pattern is very strong in beef exports, much like our seasonal pattern in beef production," Robb said, but points out that we are coming up on the typically peak months for beef exports - July, June and August. "So, we are in the time of year where we're really going to have to watch whether these year-over-year increases can persist."
Robb says forecasts are projecting solid gains regardless what happens this year, but believes it unlikely that those gains will sustain this 20 percent average as we come off this peak period. Still, while there may be great potential for 2017, there are nevertheless a couple wildcards that could create kinks like political uncertainty and even the impacts of avian influenza among other things.
"We're getting closer to that time frame of the year," he said. "The box beef market is absolutely the key."
Listen to Hays and Robb discuss the early success in the export markets for 2017 and what prospects of continued success remain, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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