Wilton Ranch, I don't think the price advantage that can be derived from using hormones gives a competitive edge against Australian or S American beef - our climate disadvantage overrides that by far.
Reality is as you said though - the day the packers want it they will pay for it. They decide which markets to go after we only sell live cattle and play no part in that decision unless we individually decide to pursue customers seeking out grass-fed, organic or hormone free.
Overseas export markets accessed by being hormone free would only earn us commodity prices in those markets and it doesn't work at current prices.
There is a sizeable and growing market for grass-fed and hormone free in North America which could be pursued by bigger industry players but producer groups would have to get over their "but that's implying our commodity beef has something wrong with it" attitudes.
Reality is as you said though - the day the packers want it they will pay for it. They decide which markets to go after we only sell live cattle and play no part in that decision unless we individually decide to pursue customers seeking out grass-fed, organic or hormone free.
Overseas export markets accessed by being hormone free would only earn us commodity prices in those markets and it doesn't work at current prices.
There is a sizeable and growing market for grass-fed and hormone free in North America which could be pursued by bigger industry players but producer groups would have to get over their "but that's implying our commodity beef has something wrong with it" attitudes.
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