The cattle industry has always had its share of challenges- and over the last couple of years, Structural Change and regulatory overload are right at the top of the list.
Forrest Roberts of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association talks with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about how the drought has and is bringing about structural change to the beef cattle pipeline. The two million head reduction in the US Beef Cow herd has resulted in a much smaller US cattle herd, reducing the need for as many feedlots and packing plants. As a result, the last couple of years has seen the closing of several beef processing plants with the total US beef herd at one of it's lowest levels in decades.
Roberts says that despite the structural changes- NCBA is growing at a double digit pace when it comes to membership.
Roberts also talked with Hays about the regulatory overload and how that has gotten worst in recent years, as the Obama Administration has decided to make an "end run" around Congress in making wholesale changes in areas like environmental rules and in protecting possible endangered species, with Republican leaders in the House not inclined to be helpful to the agenda being set out by Administrators like Gina McCarthy.
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