This is the time of year when cattle are being moved from small grain pastures.
Missy Bonds, a Saginaw, Texas rancher, says that the pandemic is not slowing things down, but ranchers are still dealing with significantly lower prices than expected last year.
“The price is down. If they did not use, if a person did not use risk protection on their stocker cattle this year, then it is going to be a pretty drastic loss,” Bonds said.
Though these are unprecedented times, experts say that they are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Decent weather...is helping give a little electricity to that lightbulb at the end of the tunnel. I’m bot going to say that the sun is shining on the other end, because we have a whole lot of of track to cover,” Tracy Tomascik with the Texas Farm Bureau said.
Tomascik also pointed out that grocery stores are being proactive and taking steps to make sure customers do not hoard beef products and that there will be some small limitation for availability in the coming weeks. She added that beef demand is as high as it has ever been and believes this is another positive sign.
Missy Bonds shares the optimism.
“It’s a tough time, but we are resilient, we are resilient as an industry and as people,” she said. “We’re still going to be here and we will bounce back.”
Tomascik also pointed out that grocery stores are being proactive and taking steps to make sure customers do not hoard beef products and that there will be some small limitation for availability in the coming weeks. Also, Tomascik adds that beef demand is as high as it has ever been and he believes this is another positive sign.