Press Releases
USDA Data Reveal: Cattle Sale Revenues Grew 16% in 2021
WASHINGTON, DC - Following two Congressional hearings on the beef and cattle markets largely focused on prices producers receive for their cattle, the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the latest USDA annual report on livestock income clears up misconceptions about the state of cattle markets and shows cash receipts for the sale of cattle and calves increased 16 percent, from $63.1 billion in 2020 to $72.9 billion in 2021.
"As our members said in their testimony, prices are improving for cattle producers due to supply and demand reflecting the cyclical nature of cattle production," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "Due to the shrinking herd and sustained consumer demand, cattle prices are at seven-year-highs without federal intervention in the market."
Meat Institute to House Ag Chair Scott: Packer Margins Since 2015 Due to Increased Herd Size
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today answered questions asked of meat and poultry industry companies by House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott during a hearing on beef and cattle markets:
"The analysis of beef and cattle market margins from 2015 are not in dispute," said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. "Cattle prices hit record highs in 2014 and 2015, when the overall cattle herd was at its smallest since 1952 (for context, that was during the Truman Administration). Those record prices incentivized rapid herd expansion among producers.
North American Meat Institute to Senate Ag: Cattle Prices at Seven Year Highs; Reject Costly Grassley-Fischer Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - With cattle prices at seven-year highs following record beef production in February and March as the packing sector recovers from COVID-related labor shortages and supply chain issues, the North American Meat Institute today urged members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to reject the Grassley-Fischer bill's mandates and federal intrusion in the beef and cattle markets.
"Leading agricultural economists have determined Grassley-Fischer bill's latest draft remains costly to producers, especially producers in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas where the majority of US fed cattle are raised," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "Due to a shrinking herd and sustained consumer demand, cattle prices are at seven-year-highs without federal intervention in the market."
NAMI Calls On Governor Abbott to Cease Unnecessary Truck Inspections at U.S.-Mexico Border
CONTACT: Casey Kammerle, (202) 587 4253
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2022
The Meat Institute today is joining Democrats and Republicans in calling for Texas Governor Greg Abbott to cease the unnecessary truck inspections along the U.S.-Mexico border, which is causing massive supply chain delays and adversely affecting the American people.
Major League Baseball Fans Will Enjoy More Than 19 Million Hot Dogs and Nearly Five Million Sausages at Ballparks in 2022
CONTACT: Casey Kammerle (202) 587-4253
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - Hot dogs and sausages are consistently among the most ordered food items at Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums. And in 2022, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) estimates MLB fans will consume 19.1 million hot dogs and nearly five million sausages at games this season.
North American Meat Institute Recognizes Environmental and Worker Safety Award Winners
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) recognized hundreds of meat and poultry establishments for their positive environmental impact and worker safety achievements at the 2022 Environmental, Labor and Safety Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
"The Meat Institute congratulates these companies and their leadership to ensure the safety and health of workers and our environment," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "Their hard work and innovation will ensure the meat and poultry industry continues to employ the highest standards and latest technology to produce wholesome, safe, nutritious products that exceed customer expectations."
North American Meat Institute: Grassley-Fischer Bill is Still a Government Mandate on Producers
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute today said the latest version of the Grassley-Fischer government mandate bill is now more onerous and more irrelevant as market driven prices for cattle producers have steadily risen to seven-year highs.
"Supply and demand has already driven the cattle markets back into balance without the radical government interference and convoluted mandates called for in the latest draft of the Grassley-Fischer bill," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "Make no mistake, the bill still contains government mandates directing how producers market their cattle.
The new draft mandates a certain amount of cash-market sales between packers and cattle feeders, establishing "government approved pricing mechanisms" by which cattle must be bought and sold.
North American Meat Institute to House Agriculture Committee: Asked and Answered
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 21, 2022
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today issued the following statement regarding House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott's announcement of an upcoming hearing on the beef industry and food prices:
"The Meat Institute and its members have already made themselves available to Chairman Scott and all Members of Congress on several occasions to help improve the understanding of the beef markets," said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. "This hearing will be no different. The questions have been asked and answered."
North American Meat Institute: Congress Blocks Industry Input on Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill creates a Cattle Contract Library pilot program requiring beef packers to report private business information to the government that will then be published, but blocks public comment on the Biden Administration's proposed rules for the program.
"Congress and the Administration say they value transparency in the beef and cattle market yet they bury this rider without debate in a giant spending bill and direct USDA to create the pilot program without any feedback from beef companies or cattle producers," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "There will be no opportunity for companies to provide valuable perspective on what information should be included or how it should be reported."
Analysis Finds Meat Shoppers Seek Cooking Inspiration from Digital Sources
FMI and Meat Institute release 17th annual Power of Meat report on consumer meat shopping and cooking habits
March 8, 2022 - Washington, D.C - The 17th annual Power of Meat report released today reveals nearly all American households (98.5%) purchase meat, a trend supported by an increase in volume sales (up 3.9% for all meat compared to pre-pandemic levels). This increase is due, in part, to several grocery shopper trends resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased home cooking, record-high online shopping, and a shift to digital sources for recipe inspiration.
National Hot Dog and Sausage Council Reveals Most Popular Hot Dog and Sausage Cities in the US
Los Angeles Remains Top Hot Dog City, Buffalo Earns Top Seller per Capita
WASHINGTON, DC - In 2021, Americans spent more than $7.5 Billion on hot dogs and sausages in U.S. Supermarkets. And thankfully, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) just announced the American cities that contributed most to those numbers, referencing Nielsen data for total sales and per capita sales from that year.
Los Angeles isn't just the newest Super Bowl champion, but the city also retained its title as the top dog of total hot dog sales, followed by New York and Dallas. Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston, Atlanta, Washington DC, and Phoenix rounded out the top 10.
Meat Institute, FMI Announce 2022 Leaders of Tomorrow Program Winners
CONTACT: NAMI: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
Proposed Changes to Packers & Stockyards Act Could Harm Industry Sustainability Efforts
WASHINGTON, DC – The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the Biden Administration’s proposed rules for the Packers and Stockyards Act could limit the abilities of the meat and poultry industry to respond to consumer demand regarding sustainability.
“In the case of beef, farmers and ranchers produce cattle using 33percent less land, 12 percent less water, and with a 16 percent smaller carbon footprint in 2007 compared to 1977. That is an astounding sustainability success story,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. “The U.S. meat industry cannot continue to build on this remarkable sustainable productivity growth and meet consumer expectations if the government restricts interactions between packers and producers. Government intervention could jeopardize the gains made to date as well, as the industry’s ability to provide the products customers demand in the future.”
North American Meat Institute Supports Klobuchar-Thune Ocean Shipping Reform Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 3, 2022
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today called for the U.S. Senate to pass a bipartisan bill to address unreasonable ocean carrier practices that are undermining competitiveness of American exporters including the meat and poultry industry. The bill , the Ocean Shipping Reform Act was introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.)
Proposed Changes to Packers & Stockyards Act Could Harm Industry Sustainability Efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 3, 2022
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the Biden Administration's proposed rules for the Packers and Stockyards Act could limit the abilities of the meat and poultry industry to respond to consumer demand regarding sustainability.
North American Meat Institute: New York Times Gets it Wrong
CONTACT: NAMI: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - The following is a statement released by the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute):
The New York Times' The Daily podcast's examination of the beef and cattle markets is simply wrong.
The beef and cattle industry is a complex marvel of American ingenuity with innovations that have allowed the US beef industry to produce more meat with fewer cattle, while improving sustainability, food safety, affordability, worker safety and beef quality.
There are many steps in the beef value chain: cow calf operators, feeders, packers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and food service entities. To suggest only packers have a role in determining prices is misleading.
North American Meat Institute: State Court Halts Enforcement of Prop 12
State of California Must Finalize Rules First
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today praised the ruling issued by the Superior Court for Sacramento County in California to halt enforcement of Proposition 12 (Prop 12 or the law) because the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is more than two years late finalizing complicated and costly regulations.
"Judge Arguelles' decision recognizes the complexity of the pork supply chain and the burdensome and costly provisions of Prop 12," said President and CEO of the Meat Institute, Julie Anna Potts. "To enforce the law without final regulations leaves the industry unsure of how to comply or what significant changes must be made to provide pork to this critical market."
The ruling delays enforcement until 180 days after the final rules go into effect.
New Organization Launches Promoting Women in the Meat and Poultry Industry
WASHINGTON, DC - Meat and poultry industry leaders from all sectors have come together to create the Women's Meat Industry Network (WMIN) to educate, develop, promote, and retain women working in the industry.
"I am very proud to be in the company of a distinguished and talented group of women working in the meat and poultry industry who want to share their knowledge with other women pursuing careers in our fields," said Heidi Buske, Chair of WMIN. "I look forward to WMIN providing a more formal support system that will expand and strengthen the participation of women in our industry."
Recognizing that meat and poultry production and related businesses are typically male-dominated, a group of women in industry and academia agreed to work together to address this disparity and to improve professional development and career opportunities for women.
The Cost of Beef for Consumers Stable Since 1994 Under Current Structure of Fed Cattle Market
Looking for a scapegoat for economy-wide inflation, the Biden administration has alleged that meat and poultry industry concentration is to blame for rising consumer prices. The truth is not so convenient.
Using USDA's meat industry concentration data, the chart below demonstrates that, although the four-firm concentration in fed cattle beef packing has remained relatively constant since 1994, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for beef has been variable over that same period; sometimes above and sometimes below the overall CPI.
Did You Know: Packer share of the Consumer Food Dollar Lower than Producers
The Biden administration and some cattle producers have blamed meat industry concentration for producers getting a smaller share of the consumer dollar for beef than they did decades ago.
On January 3, 2022, a White House Fact Sheet noted:
"Fifty years ago, ranchers got over 60 cents of every dollar a consumer spent on beef, compared to about 39 cents today. Similarly, hog farmers got 40 to 60 cents on each dollar spent 50 years ago, down to about 19 cents today."
