(file photo/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

Cattle markets

Difficult year for cattle industry

Dec 29, 2020 | 11:42 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – The year 2020 has been a challenge for many live stock producers.

The chair of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association reflected calling it a tough year with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arnold Balicki of Shellbrook said temporary closures of major beef packing plants had quite an impact on the cattle industry, causing a backlog of cattle going to market.

“I am concerned with the increase of COVID numbers and if it ever got into the plants again and they have to slow down, it would create a backlog on top of the backlog that is already there,” Balicki said, “It would really play havoc with prices for the cow/calf guy.”

The year started out in their favour but with the COVID-19 pandemic there was a huge backlog in cattle numbers that reflected back on prices.

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“I am optimistic that things will get turned around and we can get back to some sort of normalcy,” Balicki said.

There is also concern about moisture for pastures around the province in the spring with warm weather and not much snowfall over the last few weeks.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser