We will not be attending any markets this week. We will return to our regular market schedule Tuesday, July 5th. Feel free to place an order for pick-up that week. 

OK, perhaps not pestilence, but at what point do grasshoppers become locust?

 

It seems like I’ve been conveying a lot of negativity in my newsletters about the struggles of being a rancher, but there is just no escaping reality.  Since we are partners in this endeavor, I think that it is important to share with you all the challenges we face.  Sure, a bit of this is me crying in my beer, but I also want to make sure you are prepared for what I see coming our way.

 

Due to extreme drought conditions in much of the US, ranchers have had to liquidate their herds in anticipation of extreme feed prices.  I am mulling this over as well; I still have about 1 week of grass before I have to take action.  In either case, you suffer - whether you lose money at the sale barn or pay extreme prices for hay.  As discussed in a previous newsletter, grain prices have been rising steadily over the past few months.  Currently, grain prices are up 100% since this time last year, and hay prices are rising just as quickly.  The current price is $100 a bale - double what I paid last year. 

With the ongoing war in Europe impacting food, fuel, and fertilizer prices, I do not expect this issue to be resolved anytime soon.  It may take a decade to recover completely.  Ukraine and Russia export approximately one quarter of the world's wheat and one fifth of its maize and barley.  What can you do to offset that?  Reports are that the Ukrainians are suffering 200 fatalities per day with injuries upwards of 500 per day.  Refugees are fleeing to neighboring countries. Who is left to sow the fields?  I anticipate the US will be exporting a significant portion of our harvest to aid Europe, but with the extreme drought, I’m not sure how much we’ll be producing ourselves.  I don’t have to tell you the impact this is having on fuel prices (diesel is up 72% from this time last year). 

Then there is Avian Influenza (yes, this is a real threat).  They have had to kill six million chickens and turkeys so far this year.  At the time of the last outbreak (2015), 50 million chickens were killed to prevent a pandemic. From the conversations we're having at the market, I know many of you are already thinking about this.  We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of you buying bulk (whole and half cows & pigs).  

I think this is a great idea and here is where we can help each other.  As a result of all of the issues mentioned above, I will be reducing my herd.  But instead of selling them at the auction for a loss, I’d like to offer them to you at a discount.  These animals will be approximately 5 years old so they will not be as tender as what you typically get at the market, but the flavor will be tremendous.  I’ve butchered a few older cows in the past and thought the steaks were pretty good.  The ground beef and roasts are excellent.  We will be offering these at a 25% discount.  You can place an order for a whole or half animal from our website.  If you’d like to partake in the above mentioned discount, just note that in the comments section on the order form. 

Obviously bulk isn’t for everyone, but I urge you all to think about the facts outlined above and take action now to prepare for very challenging times ahead of us.   We will continue to do our best in these trying times and look forward to your continued support.