As is common for the start of each new year, multiple analysts are sharing their views on what will be key factors impacting the meat and livestock markets in 2015. A nice summary of points I have been sharing and fully concur with are those provided on Dec. 31 by the authors of CME's Daily Livestock Report. (PDF, 216KB)

U.S. beef export volumes trended lower in November, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). However, the cumulative 2014 volume totals were still higher year-over-year, with January through November beef exports up 2 percent to 1.1 million metric tons (mt).

The euphoria of high cattle prices in 2014 leads, for some cow-calf producers, to uneasiness and indecision in 2015. The question is how to best take advantage of the current market. The answer to that depends on several factors including: The current status of the operation, i.e., is the operation at full capacity or is there room to grow? The producer’s market expectations for the next several years. For older producers: Is there a time frame for retiring or exiting the business?

Most online readers believe that Republican control of the Senate will have little effect on the beef industry.

BovControl, an app developed by a company based in San Paulo, Brazil, is designed to connect people and cows. The app has been used to connect producers to their stock, but new developments promise to connect food distributors with the cows as well.

Hannah ThompsonCommunications DirectorAnimal Agriculture AlliancePikesville, Maryland

Elanco today announced it has finalized the acquisition of Novartis Animal Health. The acquisition, announced in April, follows Elanco’s purchase of Lohmann Animal Health earlier in 2014.

First it was the increase in cattle prices that started around 2010. Then came the reduction in price for feed and corn midway through 2013. Now as 2015 begins, we are watching another commodity game-changer as the price of fuel continues to spiral downward.

Everyone is familiar with the phrase, “What goes up must come down.” Grain prices seem to be following this old axiom, with substantial questions remaining of “how far down?” For U.S. animal product consumption, the phrase could be reversed: “What goes down must come up.”

Happy New Year! Although there are still several months until that April 15 tax date, now is the time to determine to whom 1099 forms need be issued and get those forms delivered. There are numerous instances in which ranchers need to issue 1099 forms for services provided to the operation.