Transcript
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The Ranch it up radio show starts right now. Good day everyone and thanks for riding with us on this all new episode of the Ranch it up radio show. I'm Jeff Tigger Earhart.
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And I'm Rebecca Wanner, AKA Beck.
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A big thank you goes out to our sponsors and partners for today's episode. CK Bar Ranch Jorgensen Land Cattle Livestock Market.com Ranch Channel.com Sire Buyer Wolf cattle Westway Feed Products in this fine radio station.
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First and foremost, thoughts and prayers to so many in Nebraska affected by wildfires. 750,000 plus acres have been burned making this the largest wildfire in Nebraska history. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen issued an emergency proclamation on March 13th in response to the fire deploying the state National Guard to assist local fire crews in an effort to help producer the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund activated the disaster relief account and is accepting monetary donations until further notice. We have the link to the fund in the show notes at ranch it up show.com included in that link will be information to donate hay and supplies and several hotlines that are set up around the state. Now I know for myself I've not dealt with wildfires. I've seen way too many blizzards, one too many floods in my life. Mother Nature can be brutal is all I can say. Teachers Tigger, you've been up and close
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with wildfires when I lived in Oklahoma and what Was that like 10 years ago? Something like that. I think that terrible fire was. I tell you what, it is such a scary situation when you get to that point where you just have to start cutting barbed wire fence and you have to start tearing corrals apart just to get livestock out because that minutes turns into seconds. So I mean we can't say it enough. Thoughts and prayers out to so many people affected in Nebraska. So again we do have the link to the Nebraska cattlemen in the show notes@ranchitupshow.com A number of different hotlines and numbers but there are relief efforts I know that are set up across the state. The Salvation Army, I mean many, many, many communities. So you just have to google and you will find somebody within a stone's throw that is willing to help out. But again, thoughts and prayers to so many people in Nebraska. Okay, news, what else you got for us?
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Thousands of workers for the world's largest meatpacking company began a two week strike Monday in Colorado threatening to make already costly beef even more expensive for U.S. consumers. The first walkout at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse in four decades follows accusations from union officials that the company retaliated against workers and committed other unfair labor practices, they said. The company offered wage increases of less than 2% annually, which is below Colorado's inflation rate. Union officials said 99% of the plant's 3,800 unionized workers voted to strike. More than 2,600 showed up at the picket line by early Monday afternoon, and others were expected to check in over coming days. The union said its workers perform some of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in the country and deserve higher wages and better health care. It said JBS in many cases has charged workers in 1100 dollars or more to offset the company's expenses for personal protective equipment. The strike comes at a 75 year low in US cattle numbers, with a January 1st inventory of 86.2 million animals, down 1% from the prior year. The decline has been driven in partly by drought and low prices offered to ranchers. Meanwhile, beef prices have soared to record levels. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, have also curbed imports. Pressed to act on affordability issues after Republican losses last November, Trump accused foreign owned companies of driving up US Beef prices and asked the Department of Justice to investigate. The price of 100 ground chuck beef more than doubled over the past two decades, from $2.55 to $6.07 per pound, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increase has added to economic anxiety in the U S. The Trump administration has promoted a trade deal with Argentina in efforts to lower prices for food, including be. According to a livestock market advisor for industry consultant Everegg, the Greeley plant has about 6% of the total U.S. beef slaughterhouse capacity. I am sure Kirk will cover a bit more about this later in the program. Beef prices have climbed steadily over the past several years. Ground beef that once felt like a dependable value now commands a noticeably higher price per pound. Steak prices have risen sharply since 2020. Retail averages remain near historic highs. The Wall Street Journal put it plainly, the high prices are the new normal in the US Beef market. Under normal market conditions, sustained price increases soften demand. This hasn't happened with beef. Despite elevated prices, consumer spending on fresh beef continues to grow. Beef remains the largest contributor to fresh meat sales in the United States, and total retail dollar sales are at record levels. The most important story is not the price itself, but the durability of demand. The economic explanation is real, but it doesn't fully capture what's happening in people's kitch. The deeper story is cultural and psychological. Beef holds a distinct place in American food culture with survey data from Beef Research Consumer Insights program showing that 71% of Americans eat beef at least weekly. Burgers, tacos, brisket, meatloaf and steaks for celebrations are woven into routine and tradition. These meals represent familiarity and share experience. When budgets tighten, households often reduce discretionary spending before giving up coffee. Core food rituals Consumers prioritization of protein for strength, satisfaction and overall wellness reinforce that loyalty. Beef benefits from strong perceptions around protein quality and nutrient density. That positioning supports willingness to pay. Consumers are responding to higher prices, but many are adjusting within beef rather than leaving it. Ground beef remains the volume leader at retail and often becomes the practical option to when premium cuts feel out of reach, shoppers shift from rib eyes to ground beef, buy larger packs, watch for promotions and move between branded and private label offerings. Beef staying power is not accidental. It is rooted in culture, nutrition, perception and consumer habits. Those fundamentals remain durable. That's all for the news. Time for a quick break. The Ranch it up radio show will be right back.