Month: January 2016

Governor Sam Brownback, as well as community, state and federal officials, joined Cargill's beef business leaders as they celebrated the opening of a nearly $50 million distribution center at Cargill's Dodge City beef processing facility earlier today. Around them, more than 9,000 feet of conveyor belts weave throughout the building, connecting to a row of towering shelves that stretch the entire height of the building. The shelving holds approximately 133,000, 60-pound, boxes of beef—the equivalent of 17,000 head of cattle. Crane-like devices can be seen in the background, moving boxes in and out of the shelves. Each day, the system stores an average of 40,000 boxes, while simultaneously shipping another 40,000 to Cargill's customers worldwide. …

A predicted upswing in supply of beef, poultry and pork this year means tougher competition among meat producers, leading to lower prices for consumers, analysts say. …

Last week, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that effective January 12, 2016, the agency withdrew two voluntary marketing claim standards – the Grass (Forage) Fed Marketing Claim Standard and the Naturally Raised Marketing Claim Standard. The Naturally Raised Marketing Claim Standard has never been used by anyone.  What does the announcement really mean to grass-fed beef producers and consumers?  The honest answer is nothing. …