California ranchers encouraged by beef demand
US - Continued strong demand for beef encourages California cattle ranchers as they look forward to the new year.Improving weather following a rough spring helped ranchers reach a better bottom line than they had expected. “The weather this spring, with it being so wet right in the middle of calving – we are in the extreme northeastern corner of the state – was a real challenge,” says Dan Byrne, a Tule Lake rancher.
The strong domestic demand meant cattle prices remained favorable for ranchers, and Asian markets began to re-open to American beef. Producers say increasing prices for corn and continued high fuel prices could offset some of the gains they've seen.
Source: Central Valley Business Times