I doubt that anyone would deny we are living in an age of disruption. Successful dairy managers do not just “respond” to the current situation; they anticipate the impact of future “disruptors” and are proactive. Strict adherence to what has been successful in the past may mean “failure” in the future.

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) led a letter with the support of 37 affiliate state cattle organizations, urging the leadership of the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees to address critical areas of concern in the cattle and beef industry.

In a webinar hosted by the University of Nevada – Reno on May 5, Don Close, senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank and Ty Lawrence, professor of animal science at West Texas A&M University, discussed the present pandemic and what they predict is coming down the pipeline for the beef industry. 

More tremors are hitting the beef industry as a key packing facility in Colorado will be closing for almost two weeks to address rising COVID-19 health risks to plant employees.

The U.S. meat industry faces unprecedented threats as COVID-19 sweeps through labor forces at meat processing facilities nationwide.

Tyson Foods announced on March 31 that it will pay out approximately $60 million in bonuses to front-line workers and truckers as “a ‘thank you’ for feeding the nation during [the] COVID-19 pandemic.”

In a 13-minute video to members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) on Monday, CEO Colin Woodall outlined the steps the association has taken in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak and its aftershocks in beef production.

Producers face challenges in recruiting and retaining stockpeople. There are two job openings for each applicant, and much of the agricultural workforce is composed of immigrants. Immigration reform is making it difficult to generate a sustainable agricultural workforce, even as the U.S. demand for foreign labor has increased fivefold in the past 13 years.