August 23, 2004

Beef Production Falls 20% In US Nebraska
 

US Nebraska's beef production declined more than 20 percent in July as compared to the same period a year earlier. The decline echoed tight cattle supplies across the country.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nebraska's beef cattle during July was 581,700 head, compared to 727,700 head in July 2003. Nationwide, beef production was at 2.1 billion pounds, 14 percent below the previous year. Beef cattle in the country for the month totaled 2.79 million head, a decrease of 15 percent from July 2003.

Beef cow and calf inventories have been on the decline for eight years, said Dillon Feuz, a beef marketing specialist for the University of Nebraska Extension Service in Scottsbluff.

One factor compounding the low supply is recent price hikes in beef, Feuz said.