| >> A La Nina climate system is now active, said the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. But the system is expected to be a short one, with a 59% chance of La Nina persisting through April. The Climate Prediction Center gives a 60% chance for La Nina to transition back into an ENSO-Neutral climate by May. While climate systems don't dictate how the weather will behave at any given time, a La Nina pattern during the spring typically brings colder and wetter conditions to the Plains and warmer and drier conditions to the south, meaning U.S. farmers in the Corn Belt may see ample moisture for their crops this spring. >>>>> November exports of U.S. red meat posted year-over-year gains across all categories, according to data released by USDA and compiled by The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports totaled 272,141 metric tons (mt) in November, up 5% from a year ago, while export value increased 6% to just under $783 million. These results included an especially strong month for pork muscle cut exports, which increased 6% to 221,652 mt. Muscle cut export value was the third highest on record at $671.4 million. Export value per head slaughtered was $72.20 in November, up 9% from a year ago and the highest since April. Through the first 11 months of 2024, pork exports were also up 5% year-over-year in volume (2.76 million mt) and 6% in value ($7.85 billion). When December results are available, exports will exceed 3 million mt for the first time, topping the previous high (2.98 million mt) reached in 2020. Export value will exceed $8.5 billion, easily surpassing the 2023 record of $8.16 billion. Pork exports to Central America and Colombia already set annual records and exports are on a record pace to Mexico and the Caribbean. Export value will also be the highest on record for Oceania. November beef exports increased 10% year-over-year to 109,288 mt, while value climbed 11% to $872.7 million. Export value per head of fed slaughter equated to $428.70 in November, up 13% from a year ago and the highest since June. November beef exports also increased substantially year-over-year to the Caribbean, ASEAN and Central America. For January through November, beef exports increased 5% in value ($9.56 billion) from the same period in 2023, despite a 1% decline in volume (1.18 million mt). > The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) condemned the Biden Administration’s irresponsible use of the Antiquities Act to create the Chuckwalla and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments. “There are 13 days left in the Biden Administration and once again, the Antiquities Act is being recklessly applied to nearly 1 million acres to create tremendous uncertainty for rural communities that rely on responsible resource management. President Biden’s unilateral action to create new monuments this late in his term shows that these monuments are politically motivated and devoid of resource planning for the future,” said NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover. “The record is clear: monument designations at the eleventh hour jeopardize rangeland health, threaten local economic stability, and unnecessarily make these areas political pawns during a transition period. NCBA and PLC strongly oppose this declaration and will work with the Trump administration to limit abuse and bring common sense back to this process.” |
