Coming into a new year is always filled with optimism for a better year for many reasons. When it comes to Ag commodities, it would be hard to think of prices getting any higher.

ThUnited Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a report suggesting that meat consumption is expected to increase 73 percent by 2050, just 38 years away. I guess we better get busy building our cow herds; if those numbers are right, we’ve.

It looks like we may have popped the holiday beef bubble this last week. Cattle markets were roaring hot two weeks ago when fed cattle traded as high as $128 live and $208 dressed. Now, the buying interest is about $3-5 lower for last week. Cattle feeders certainly had to do well on those transactions.

There are lots of options in today’s meat-consuming world and Whole Foods has worked hard to provide unique meat products for their customers. The store is very proud of their products, but not everyone can afford to shop there. They have just over 300 stores nationwide and have obviously done their demographic homework.

The cattle industry has been wasting a lot of time, cash and political resources on several industry issues that are just unnecessary. I would hate to think just how many resources have been spent by the various Ag associations battling over the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers.

The beef cutout has been awful strong for quite some time and these markets just seem to get a little higher all the time. Who would have ever thought that the cattle industry would be selling fed steers and heifers for $125 and having a hard time making it work?.

GIPSA will still have to craft rules regarding the definitions of unfair practices, undue preference and unlawful discrimination to satisfy the farm bill language. This will come at a later date. If that portion of the farm bill language isn’t satisfied, US- DA could be open to lawsuits from activist groups.

This Choice/Select spread has been an interesting market segment to watch the past few weeks. For quite some time, the value difference between Choice and Select cattle wasn’t much of an issue, it seemed like $2-5was the norm, with an occasional spike over $10.

EPA was contemplating doubling the standards for dust and particulate matter in ambient air under the Clean Air Act. If they pushed forward with their new standards for dust levels, it would have been problematic for nearly everyone connected to agriculture and anyone who kicked up some dust driving down a dirt road.

Along with the great sales, it finally rained through much of the state, with many areas receiving several inches of much needed moisture. The country started to show some signs of life and was starting to get a hint of green just over the few days I was there.