31 January 2012

2 minute read

North America

After a brief dip in 2009, the number of beef producers who agree that their operation is better off today than it was five years ago has increased significantly (2009, 38 per cent; 2011, 76 per cent).

It is likely that optimism for the future among beef producers is backed by the fact that seventy six percent of beef producers feel that their operation is better off today than it was five years earlier.

Beef producers display optimism through their plans to expand and diversify their operations. In total, half of all beef producers plan to expand or diversify or both (51 per cent). Twenty one percent of beef producers plan to reduce their operation or exit the industry while one quarter (28 per cent) plan no changes.

Advocating careers in agriculture is another way that beef producers show that they are optimistic about the future. Six in ten beef producers (60 per cent) would recommend a career in primary production while three quarters (74 per cent) would recommend a career in an agricultural related field. In the past year alone, three in ten beef producers have recommended a career in agriculture (29 per cent) and four in ten have recommended a career in primary production (39 per cent).

Producers in the beef sector are comfortable sharing their outlook with others. Nine in ten beef producers (91 per cent) have shared their outlook on their operation with others and seven in ten producers (69 per cent) feel comfortable sharing with those outside of agriculture. When producers talk with those outside of agriculture, they tend to discuss the basics of farming, food prices and the challenges and difficulties in the sector.

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