April 1, 2008

NCBA Spring Legislative Conference opens with industry forecast session

(Audio with Mike Miller, chief operating officer of Cattle-Fax)

Cattle producers from across the country are gathering in the nation's capital this week for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Spring Legislative Conference. The primary objective of the conference is for cattlemen to visit their members of Congress on Capitol Hill, as well as many key regulatory agencies. But today they were given an in-depth, state-of-the-beef-industry report and forecast by cattle market experts and consumer market research analysts.  

One of the guest speakers was Cattle-Fax Chief Operating Officer Mike Miller, who says the impact of high operating costs and an uncertain economy are the dominant topics of discussion in the cattle industry today.

Miller added that feedgrain price relief is not anticipated anytime soon, especially given this week's prospective plantings report from USDA that forecasts an 8 percent reduction in corn plantings from the total reached in 2007.

Audio Clip #2:   :37        Out cue: “… through the year.”