Crawford Livestock Market Tops 4,000 Head as Nebraska Drought Forces Cattle Liquidation
Updated
Updated · Rural Radio Network · Jun 1
Crawford Livestock Market Tops 4,000 Head as Nebraska Drought Forces Cattle Liquidation
1 articles · Updated · Rural Radio Network · Jun 1
More than 4,000 head are already booked for Crawford Livestock Market’s Friday feeder sale, up from 1,800 on the comparable sale a year ago, as drought pushes western Nebraska ranchers to sell.
Dry conditions and liquidation pressure have swelled offerings across all classes of cattle, prompting the market to shift to weekly Friday sales and briefly stop accepting additional pairs and some pregnancy checks.
Strong cattle prices are still supporting sellers, but co-owner Alicia Robertson said the surge in supply could saturate demand, with cattle already moving to buyers in states including Minnesota, Kentucky and New Mexico.
Labor shortages are compounding the strain as wildfire season hits western Nebraska, with some crew members pulled into firefighting and the market citing limited "manpower or vet power."
Robertson said herd rebuilding should come eventually, but high land values, development pressure and prolonged dispersals could leave fewer small-town sale barns and more industry consolidation.
With a flood of cattle hitting the market, why are consumers still paying record-high prices for beef?
As drought shrinks U.S. herds, will reopening the Mexico border save beef prices or crush American ranchers?
Is the American family ranch being pushed to extinction by the combined forces of climate and corporate power?