Since the Tyson Holbolm Fire of 2019, the spread between the prices received for boxed beef by US packers and those received by live cattle producers have diverged. Market shocks from the global pandemic created more havoc in the markets, and over the intervening months, concern from lawmakers, USDA officials, and cattle producers have grown.
Today, we’re joined by DTN Ag policy editor Chris Clatyon to talk about what might be on the horizon, from extended department of justice investigations to anti-trust policy chances. We’ll dig into political reactions, the role of the major packers in the market, and how exports continue to impact the situation.