The USDA’s July cattle inventory report estimates the total inventory on July 1 at 95.9 million head, that’s down almost 3% from a year ago, and makes this the fifth consecutive year of a decline in cattle numbers. All cows and heifers that have calved totaled 38.8 million head, which is about 2% below last year. The important number for beef producers is that there are almost 3% fewer beef cows, while dairy cows remained unchanged. All of these statistics indicate that the beef cowherd is the smallest on record which will hold down the number of animals on feed and beef production in both this year and 2024, leading to stronger returns for beef producers and, likely higher prices for consumers at the meat counters.
While we’re talking about food prices, last week, the USDA announced that food price inflation for 2023 will be slightly lower at 5.8% compared to the previous projection of 5.9%. The grocery store price inflation was significantly reduced by a whole percentage point to 4.9%, while food price inflation for 2024 is expected to considerably decrease compared to 2023, with an expected rise of 2.4%. Restaurant prices are predicted to increase 7.5% in 2023, and about 7.7%. in 2024.
Last week, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to prohibit China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from purchasing U.S. agricultural land and agricultural businesses. The language was added to a military spending bill that is expected to pass the Senate and then to be reconciled with a House version.
Wolf reintroduction in western Colorado isn’t popular with ranchers, and in June, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced that it will not provide donor wolves to Colorado, in response to a request from Colorado Parks and Wildlife made in May. Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director Jim Fredericks said, after conferring with Idaho Governor Brad Little, that “Idaho’s experience leads us to conclude that negative impacts of wolves sent to Colorado will not stay in Colorado.” Utah was also clear about their concerns about Colorado’s reintroduction plans. Joel Ferry, executive director of Utah Department of Natural Resources said, “the state is opposed to any new wolf introduction while the species remains federally listed,” and he also referred to the livestock depredation compensation plan in place in Colorado and requested that Colorado reimburse Utah livestock producers for any depredation losses. Ferry also requested that Colorado Parks and Wildlife notify the Utah Department of Natural Resources when wolves are within 10 miles of the border. In Wyoming, the legislature made an appropriation to compensate livestock producers who experience depredation losses, expecting increased wolf activity on their southern border.
An article published in the Missouri Independent, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization points out problems associated with three neonicotinoids, applied as seed coatings on about 150 million acres of crops yearly, and widely used as insecticides on farms and in urban landscapes. When plants absorb them they can be found in pollen and nectar, and have been blamed for killing bees or changing their behaviors. In addition to environmental harm, scientists express concerns about neonicotinoids’ effects on human health. A link to this article and additional content can be found at: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/27/epa-says-three-widely-used-pesticides-driving-hundreds-of-endangered-species-toward-extinction/.
Terry Swearingen, a nurse and winner of Goldman Environmental Prize in 1997 said: “We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to.”
