Cold Storage Stocks Are Piling Up

by Lisa M. Keefe, meatingplace.com

JANUARY — Wildlife; Gelbvieh; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Results

FEBRUARY — Beefmasters; Texas Longhorns

MARCH — Limousin; Santa Gertrudis

APRIL — Dairy

MAY — News of the Day

JUNE — Sheepman of the Year

JULY — Directory of Agriculture

AUGUST — The Horse Industry

SEPTEMBER — Charolais; Fairs Across the Southwest

Editorial Calendar

that it had already met the target for land and sea.

The final agreement reached at COP15 nodded to the inclusion of working lands and the importance of protecting ecologically-representative and high-biodiversity habitats, without setting clear guidelines. It “recognized and respected” the rights of Indigenous peoples, who steward 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity on their lands, without establishing their territories as a specific category of conserved area, leaving them vulnerable to human rights violations.

For Fleischman, having a “political slogan” without a clear meaning isn’t necessarily helpful for achieving biodiversity and environmental justice goals. “Advocates say, ‘Look beyond the numeric spatial target at the language which is about finding ways to pursue conservation at a whole landscape level while taking into account social equity issues such as [urban] parks,’” he said. “But if that’s the case, what is the point of saying ‘30 x 30’? ‘Healthy nature everywhere’ might be a better goal.” ▫ up 16 percent from year-ago levels, but the closely watched inventory for pork bellies was up 16 percent from a month ago, 65.6 percent higher than a year ago and 45 percent higher than the five-year average.

OCTOBER — Hereford; New Mexico State Fair Results

NOVEMBER — Cattleman of the Year; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Preview; Angus, Brangus, Red Angus

DECEMBER — Bull Buyers Guide

If you would like to see your breed featured email caren@aaalivestock.com

To Reserve Advertising Space email chris@aaalivestock.com or call Chris at 505.243.9515, ext. 2

Spurred by higher protein prices and penny-pinching on the part of consumers, the volume of beef, pork and poultry in cold storage is up significantly both year-over-year and compared with five-year norms.

For example, the total pounds of beef in freezers were up 4 percent at the end of December 2022 from the previous month, up seven percent from the same time last year, and 8.5 percent higher than the fiveyear average.

Noted the analysts for the Daily Livestock Report , “Expectations for tight supplies/higher prices in 2023 have caused both end users and packers to hold more beef in cold storage than in the past. The additional supply may help limit some of the upside price pressures in the near term, especially if beef production does not decline as quickly and as much as previously expected.”

Frozen pork supplies, meanwhile, were up one percent from November and

Hams bucked the storage trend, coming in at 13 percent lower inventory than a year ago and 25 percent lower than the five-year average.

Total red meat supplies in freezers were up two percent from November, up 11 percent from last year.

Although poultry tends to be less expensive at retail than the red meats, prices in that market have risen sharply, as well, and the “chicken supply remains burdensome,” the DLR said. Totaly supply in cold storage is nearly 1 billion pounds, up 25 percent from year-ago levels. Chicken breasts, in particular, were up 63 percent from a year ago and up 24 percent from the five-year average.

Total frozen poultry supplies in December were up seven percent from the previous month and up 23 percent from a year ago. Total pounds of turkey in freezers, meanwhile, were up 35 percent from last month and up 14 percent from year-ago levels.