A year ago, times were at their toughest for Utah's cattle industry. A stagnant economy and rising business costs hurt many ranchers financially.
This year, times are still tough economically, but things are looking up. The beef industry is one of the few agricultural industries that is in the black, and sales to overseas markets continue to improve. "Industry prices are probably a little better this year than last year," said Brent Tanner, executive vice president of the Utah Cattlemen's Association. "While our beef producers aren't getting rich right now, they are in a better marketplace than they were last year."
Tanner credits change to a variety of factors. As the U.S. economy improves, more people are buying better cuts of beef. While before they might have settled for hamburger, people are now buying more roasts and steaks. Around the world, countries have lifted their trade embargoes, put in place because of health concerns, against U.S. beef. As the value of the dollar changes, the U.S. can trade more competitively with other countries. At the same time, some countries see the value of their own currency rise and they can afford more American goods. Ogden Standard-Examiner
