Boxed beef prices increased about 10% over the month of October into early November. This increase was significantly higher than the normal seasonal bump of less than 2% from October to November.

Most cattle producers rent private land to supplement their own pastures, according to Progressive Cattle readers. 

South Dakota senators introduce meat labeling bill

Sens. John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) introduced the U.S. Beef Integrity Act on Oct. 30, a bill that would ensure the “Product of the USA” label only goes to beef and beef products exclusively derived from one or more animals born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S.

The USDA has suspended a proposed timeline phasing in Animal Disease Traceability Act (ADT) eartag requirements by 2023.

President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially finalized the much-anticipated limited U.S.-Japan trade agreement and its digital counterpart in a signing ceremony at the White House in early October.

On Aug. 9, a fire damaged Tyson Foods’ Holcomb, Kansas, beef processing plant, rendering it inoperable through 2019, according to the company. This plant was estimated to have a capacity equivalent to about 5% to 6% of fed cattle slaughtered weekly.

The latest livestock and meat monthly trade data from the Economic Research Service (ERS) was released on Oct. 7 and included the month of August 2019 as the most recent data available.

Most producers ship their calves before October, according to a Progressive Cattle online poll.

After setting new value records in June and July, U.S. beef exports to South Korea slowed 9% from a year ago in August to 22,307 metric tons (MT), while value dropped 11% to $157.4 million.