Sale barns talk checkoff referendum

https://www.tsln.com/news/salebarns-talk-checkoff-referendum/

• The South Dakota Livestock Auction Markets Assoc. is hoping to facilitate a vote on the national beef checkoff.
• According to Bryan Hanson of Ft. Pierre Livestock, SDLAMA’s president, the organization recently approved policy that seeks an “up or down vote” on the national $1 beef checkoff.
• SDLAMA’s board of directors voted unanimously to work towards gathering enough petition signatures to allow producers the opportunity to vote for the checkoff.
• Chelsea Good, the Livestock Marketing Association vice president of government and industry affairs, said that the issue will be discussed at the next LMA government and industry affairs committee virtual meeting. If the committee feels the concept has merit, they will recommend that the LMA board take it up and decide whether a membership vote is necessary.
• According to Bryan Hanson, about 73,900 signatures will be needed, 10% of cattle producers, according to the USDA. However, he feels that more signatures are needed in case some are considered unacceptable.
• In 2000, the LMA helped gather signatures for a beef checkoff referendum. 107,833 signatures were required at that time and 127,926 signatures were submitted. However, an accounting firm estimated that only 83,464 were valid.

The meat industry is trying to get back to normal. But workers are still getting sick—and shortages may get worse;

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/25/meat-industry-is-trying-get-back-normal-workers-are-still-getting-sick-shortages-may-get-worse/

• Tyson Foods has transformed its facilities across America in hopes of warding off Covid-19 amongst its employees. Despite their efforts, in less than a month, confirmed coronavirus cases have jumped from 1,600 cases to 7,000, according to a Washington Post analysis of news reports and public records.
• With this surge in cases, many workers are scared to go to work. Workers may have concerns with working conditions, however they are scared to come forward fearing retaliation that may cost them their job.
• In the past month, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases tied to three of the country’s biggest meat processors—Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, and JBS—has gone from 3,000 to more than 11,000, according to the Post analysis.
• CoBank reported in May that meat supplies in grocery stores could shrink as much as 35% due to processing plant issues.

Boxed beef prices

www.nationalbeefwire.com

• Choice boxed beef: $385.49 (-$11.35)
• Select boxed beef: $360.02(-$14.16)