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Author Archives Steve Dittmer

U.S. President Biden made earlier comments indicating he’d be tough on China, but those actions have yet to materialize.
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

The Chinese situation: Questions but few new answers

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

By
The new administration down here started off with a rush. Incoming President Biden early issued a record number of executive orders (50+), nominated and got confirmed a few top officials and then everything else stalled while Congress wrangled over a $1.9 trillion (yes, that’s a T) supposed COVID-relief bill that mostly wasn’t. Clear messages were […] Read more
President Joe Biden signs the American Rescue Plan in the White House Oval Office, March 11, 2021.
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

Dittmer: New sheriff leans way left

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

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As you’ve heard, there’s a new sheriff in town down here. The political, economic and regulatory direction has been turned 180 degrees overnight. Unfortunately, Canada was one of the very first victims of President Biden’s wrath of the leftists. A sorry occurrence for you and for us. The only people likely to be happy that […] Read more
It’s unlikely that President Joe Biden will push trade as hard as former President Donald Trump.
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

Dittmer: U.S. political outlook for 2021

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

By
Government bureaucrats and politicians tend to interfere with our lives when it is not necessary, harming our livelihoods, and then refuse to get involved when we need them, to defend our rights, uphold the law or make hard decisions. A long held conservative principle is that the government closest to the people governs best, e.g. […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol, VisitTheCapitol.gov)
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

Dittmer: The state of affairs in the United States

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

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Though there may be Supreme Court cases still pending when you read this, it’s looking like Joe Biden will be our next president. The foundation of our constitutional republic is our ability as citizens to direct our government through representatives we elect. With tens of millions of citizens lacking confidence in the outcome of a […] Read more
Dittmer: A framework and the lack of patience
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

Dittmer: A framework and the lack of patience

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

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NCBA’s task force subgroup on cash marketing released a proposal, A Voluntary Framework to Achieve Robust Price Discovery in the Fed Cattle Market, in October. The framework delineates both minor and major triggers, with weeks where either the negotiated trade or the packer participation does not meet their obligated targets designated as minor triggers. Three […] Read more
CattleFax CEO Randy Blach predicts beef production in the U.S. will peak in 2021 and then decline for the next half decade.
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

Dittmer: The short and long of it

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

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Randy Blach, CattleFax CEO, gave the Texas Cattle Feeders Association an update on U.S. market and industry conditions during an unprecedented year in history. The corn supply looks strong this year, with ending stocks up 13.9 per cent. Beef cow numbers were up slightly in 2019 but will end 2020 down by around 375,000 and […] Read more
The uproar over the last set of dietary guidelines pushed Congress to authorize a million-dollar study to examine the guideline development process.
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

Dittmer: Good and bad news about U.S. dietary guidelines

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

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When evaluating the final U.S. Dietary Guidelines Report, it’s kind of a glass half-full, glass half-empty situation. From one viewpoint, this year’s advisory committee evidently didn’t toy with removing red meat completely from the recommended list, as the 2015 committee contemplated. On the other hand, they leaned on blaming meat consumption for several health problems, […] Read more
U.S. Meat Export Federation reported earlier this year that U.S. beef and beef variety meats were down three per cent by volume and five per cent by value.
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

Dittmer: U.S. exports uneven but showing strength

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

By
How is the export situation for U.S. beef into China and Asia? In general, Japan, our number one market and South Korea, our number two, are countries that have been pretty successful at containing the novel coronavirus. Japan has dealt with some flare-ups this summer and South Korea likewise but their numbers are very small […] Read more
The overriding bone of contention at this year’s NCBA mid-year meeting came down to one word — legislation.
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

Dittmer: NCBA hashes out negotiated cash marketing

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

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The last year’s events had converged by this year’s NCBA mid-year meeting, ensuring drama for the Live Cattle Marketing Committee meeting. Folks from across the country and all industry segments were disturbed about market disruptions from the Tyson fire; market disruptions, processing problems and shutdowns due to COVID-19; government market investigations and the reintroduction of […] Read more
A team of economists has been analyzing U.S. Mandatory Price Reporting data, as well as extensively interviewing cattle feeders and packers to find out how the meat packing industry operates.
Comment/Columns, Free Market Reflections

Dittmer: Natural progression, voluntary adjustment and coercion

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

By
There is much discussion down here about the negotiated cash market, alternative marketing arrangements (AMA), the “30/14” idea and proposed federal legislation to force more negotiated cash sales (50/14). With the percentage of cash market sales in the 20 per cent range, cattle feeders who often sell cash and those who use AMAs (like formulas), […] Read more

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