Talking Strategy

linking together

By OCA’s Executive Director Jerome Rosa

One of the first agriculture stories the press covered in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic showed tanker loads of milk being dumped due to insufficient processing capabilities for the products that are currently in demand. Soon thereafter, the press showed pictures of poultry and hogs being put down because of an inadequate work force to keep the processing lines moving at near capacity. Now the beef industry (according to current reports) has nearly 1 million head of finished cattle which should have already been processed.

The plight of the poultry and pork industry as far as putting animals down is not likely to occur with beef animals because there is still significant value even at a deeply discounted price. So, what happens now? I have received several panic calls from stockers and backgrounders that have cattle ready to be marketed now at prices half of what they were just a couple of months ago. This same situation is occurring to those of you who have retained ownership and your bill is due with the feedlots.

OCA has written many letters and worked regularly with our federal delegation on several stimulus bills that are helpful, but do not resolve the issue with the continued backlog of finished cattle that is building up daily. The PRIME Act (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption) is a bill to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and exempt from inspection the custom slaughter of animals and the preparation of carcasses conducted at a custom slaughter facility. This bill, if it eventually passes (NCBA opposes), would be helpful in getting more locally grown beef directly to our consumers as they would not be required to buy a whole live animal, which is quite a considerable investment even if only purchasing a half or quarter animal in conjunction with friends or family.

Robyn Smith, OCA’s communications director, was being incessantly contacted on OCA’s Facebook Page with inquiries about how consumers could get LINKED TOGETHER with locally grown and processed meat. Robyn created a strategic campaign for social media to connect OCA members who could provide beef directly to

jerome.rosa@orcattle.com

consumers. She put out a notice on social media (79,000 PEOPLE REACHED, 11,000 ENGAGEMENTS AND 1,800 SHARES) asking for names and locations of ranchers willing to sell animals to the public. Within a week, over 30 ranchers in 18 counties responded to the ask. With additional names being added regularly. Now we are hearing reports of several small slaughterhouses running double shifts and on weekends to meet demand and a waiting period out to February for custom slaughter. Hopefully, this economic opportunity will lead to more in-state slaughterhouses opening. The impact of only having four major processing companies (two South American owned) has shown a major weak link in the American beef distribution system.

The PRIME Act is not the answer for all our OCA members, but in looking over statistical data of herd sizes of our members, this type of supplemental program could be the difference between profit and loss or holding onto the ranch to remain viable another year. As always, feel free to call, email or text me anytime, seven days a week with questions or concerns. At OCA we may be small, but we fight very hard for you! •

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