Beef exports in May, while trending below last year’s record levels, have, in many international markets, reached the highest levels so far in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently announced that the USDA is providing 15 awards totaling $115 million in 17 states that will go toward beefing up independent processing capacity across the country.

The USDA released its monthly Cattle on Feed report on June 23, indicating a 3% decrease from year-ago levels. On feedlots with more than 1,000 head of capacity, 11.6 million cattle are on feed for slaughter in the U.S. Feedlot placements for the month of May totaled 1.96 million head, up 5% from 2022, with net placements at 1.88 million head.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council launched a grassroots campaign opposing the new BLM conservation rule, as it has the potential to limit access to grazing on public lands and set the doors open for radical environmentalists, against the ranching community, to advance their agendas.

April’s beef exports were 10% below last year’s levels, while value fell 18%.

With generally improving pastures and lower expected feed costs this year, the demand for feeder calves is well supported.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Todd Wilkinson testified in a hearing titled “A Review of Animal Agriculture Stakeholder Priorities” on May 17. He spoke on the current state of the cattle industry and priorities the NCBA intends to focus on during the 118th Congress.

On May 19, the USDA announced a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) found at a South Carolina slaughterhouse. It was confirmed to be an atypical case, and the USDA assured the animal never entered the slaughter channels or the food supply and was of no risk to human health.

Key highlights from the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) indicate producers are working to meet the demand for quality and efficiency while maintaining the need to keep safety a top priority.