Weekly protein digest: Union issues strike notice at one of America’s largest beef plants

14 March 2026

17 minute read

By: Jim Wyckoff

South America

North America

Cattle futures see more technical selling as charts deteriorating

April live cattle on Wednesday fell $2.225 to $230.15. March feeder cattle lost $4.625 to $348.725 and closed at a 2.5-month low close. The cattle futures saw technical selling pressure. Some renewed risk aversion in the general marketplace was evident Wednesday, which also kept the cattle market bulls on the sidelines. Lower cash cattle trading prices this week and worries about a potential strike at a JBS beef plant in Greeley, Co.  are also bearish for futures. USDA at midday Wednesday reported very light cash cattle trading at $235.00. The agency Monday reported last week’s average cash cattle trade at $239.94.

USDA prepares to push back Biden-era poultry rule

The Trump administration is expected to soon delay a Biden-era poultry grower rule that was set to take effect July 1, signaling another pause for regulations aimed at tightening oversight of broiler payment systems and capital upgrade demands on growers

USDA is expected to announce a delay to the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule, which was finalized in January and scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026. The rule was designed to curb certain payment practices in broiler grower “tournament” systems, require poultry companies to maintain policies for fair grower comparisons, and force added disclosures when companies ask growers to make capital improvements. USDA has not yet publicly indicated how long the delay would last. The final rule said it was intended to protect fair trade, financial integrity, and competitive poultry markets by addressing deception and unfairness in grower payments, tournament operations, and capital investment requirements.

USDA moves whole milk school rule to OMB

Interim final rule would quickly align child nutrition regulations with the new law restoring broader fluid milk options in schools 

USDA has sent the Office of Management and Budget an interim final rule to implement the new law allowing whole milk in school nutrition programs. The rule, titled Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs, reflects changes approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump. Because USDA is using an interim final rule, the measure can take effect soon after publication without first going through the normal proposed-rule process, allowing the department to more quickly bring federal regulations in line with the new statute.

USDA semiannual report on Brazil poultry industry

Brazil is the third-largest chicken meat producer and the largest chicken meat exporter in the world. Post forecasts chicken meat production will increase in 2026 due to consistent external demand, a lower currency valuation, sluggish socio-economic performance, lower production costs, and increased domestic consumption. Brazil is currently free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in commercial plants. Post estimates domestic consumption to increase in 2026. Chicken meat exports are forecast to increase in 2026, as Brazil opens new markets and consolidates and diversifies exports to existing markets. Negotiating regionalization clauses to its current health certificates with the objective of protecting exports remains a priority for Brazil.

USDA semiannual report on Argentina beef industry

Argentine beef exports in 2026 are projected at 800,000 tons carcass weight equivalent (cwe), slightly below Post’s earlier estimate of 830,000 tons cwe. Lower expected slaughter volumes will likely reduce beef supply, despite a significant increase in average slaughter weights. Inexpensive corn prices and very high cattle prices are encouraging producers to feed more corn, for a longer period, to as many cattle as possible. In 2026, Argentina is expected to benefit from three key export developments: China’s recently announced beef import quotas, the United States’ expanded low-duty tariff rate quota for Argentine beef, and the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement.

Potential strike at JBS Greeley, Colorado plant

Union gives notice for walkout as contract dispute escalates with major US beef processor

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 says workers at the JBS beef plant in Greeley, Colo., could strike as early as March 16 after the union issued a seven-day notice ending a temporary contract extension.

Union leaders argue the company’s proposal — including less than 2% average annual wage increases — fails to keep up with Colorado inflation and shifts rising healthcare costs onto workers. UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova said the offer effectively amounts to “poverty-level wages.”

JBS counters that its proposal is consistent with the national contract negotiated with UFCW International in 2025, which covers roughly 26,000 workers at 14 US plants and includes higher wages, pensions and long-term financial stability. The company also claims Local 7 has refused to allow employees to vote on the offer.

About 3,800 workers are employed at the Greeley facility, one of the largest beef plants in the United States. JBS said it plans to shift some production to other plants with excess capacity if a strike occurs, while allowing any Greeley employees who choose not to strike to continue working.

The strike authorization vote in February passed overwhelmingly, setting up what could become a significant labor disruption in the US beef processing sector.

USDA, Army Corps move forward on Texas sterile fly facility to combat New World Screwworm

New production site in Texas will expand US capacity to eradicate livestock pest and reduce reliance on foreign facilities

USDA and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced a construction contract with Mortenson Construction to build a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas — a key step in the Trump administration’s strategy to combat the New World Screwworm (NWS).

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the project is part of a broader five-point strategy to strengthen defenses against the invasive livestock pest currently threatening parts of Mexico. The facility will expand domestic response capacity and reduce US reliance on foreign production of sterile flies used to control the pest.

The Army Corps of Engineers will oversee the project’s design, engineering, and construction. Officials say the partnership leverages the Corps’ large-scale infrastructure expertise to ensure the facility is built quickly and securely.

The plant will use the Sterile Insect Technique, a long-standing pest-control method in which male screwworm flies are sterilized using irradiation and released into affected areas. Because female screwworm flies mate only once, mating with sterile males results in eggs that do not hatch, gradually collapsing the pest population.

Currently, USDA produces about 100 million sterile flies per week at a facility in Panama operated through the COPEG program and disperses them across affected areas of Mexico. USDA has also invested $21 million to help Mexico renovate a fruit fly facility in Metapa that is expected to begin producing sterile screwworm flies by summer 2026.

The new Texas facility will be the first sterile screwworm fly production site located in the United States. Groundbreaking is expected later this spring. Once operational in November 2027, the facility is expected to initially produce 100 million sterile flies per week, with long-term expansion capacity targeting 300 million flies weekly.

The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue of warm-blooded animals, posing serious threats to livestock, wildlife, and public health. The United States eradicated the pest domestically in 1966, but continued monitoring and sterile fly releases remain critical to prevent re-establishment.

US beef rapidly recaptures market share in Colombia

Exports rebound strongly after 2024 restrictions are lifted

US beef exports to Colombia surged in 2025 as the industry regained market access following the removal of temporary restrictions tied to avian influenza concerns in US dairy herds.

According to the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), exports climbed 23% in volume to 4,232 metric tons and 77% in value to $40.8 million compared with 2024. Colombian authorities had imposed restrictions that year after avian influenza was detected in some US dairy herds, but those limits were lifted in the fall of 2024.

USMEF says the recovery was driven in part by promotional efforts supported by USDA and the Beef Checkoff Program. Homero Recio, USMEF’s Latin America representative, credited the organization’s Meat Merchandiser Program, which deploys experts to work with retailers and foodservice buyers to promote the quality and attributes of US beef.

According to USMEF, the program helped regain customers who had shifted to Canadian suppliers during the restriction period and also identified new buyers across Colombia as US product returned to the market.

The US/Colombia Free Trade Agreement, in place since 2012, also helped ensure that full market access for US beef was quickly restored once the restrictions were lifted, allowing exporters to rapidly rebuild market share, USMEF said.

Washington Post commentary: Breaking up meatpackers would raise beef prices, not lower them

Washington Post editorial argues that proposed legislation targeting large meatpacking firms would increase costs by fragmenting an already complex and low-margin industry 

In a March 6 commentary, the Washington Post Editorial Board argues that proposals from Chuck Schumer and other Senate Democrats to break up large meatpacking companies would likely push beef prices even higher rather than bring relief to consumers. The editorial contends that the policy misdiagnoses the cause of high meat prices and risks undermining the efficiency of a tightly integrated industry.

Proposal targets large integrated processors. The Democratic proposal would force major meat companies to specialize in a single protein — preventing firms that process chicken, beef, and pork from operating across multiple segments. That rule would effectively require companies such as Tyson Foods and Cargill to sell or spin off parts of their operations.

The bill would also give the Federal Trade Commission expanded authority to require foreign-owned meat companies to divest US assets. Supporters argue that industry consolidation — where four firms process roughly 80% of US beef — contributes to high consumer prices.

Editorial argues consolidation is not the main price driver. The editorial board counters that consolidation alone does not explain higher beef prices and notes that large processors often deliver lower prices than smaller competitors because of scale efficiencies.

The industry also operates on thin margins. According to the commentary, Tyson Foods posted a net profit margin of just 0.9% last fiscal year, while Cargill’s margin was estimated at slightly above 2% in 2023. Breaking these companies into smaller entities could increase production costs and ultimately raise retail prices.

Supply constraints — not structure — driving prices. Instead, the editorial points to supply fundamentals as the primary reason beef prices have risen. The US cattle herd is currently at its lowest level in roughly 75 years, while consumer demand for beef remains strong. With fewer animals available for slaughter, prices for products such as ground beef rose about 17% last year. Expanding supply — including through greater imports — would be a more effective way to reduce costs, the editorial argues, though rancher opposition makes that politically difficult.

Subsidies for small processors questioned. The proposed legislation also includes subsidies, loan guarantees, and financial assistance intended to help smaller companies acquire and operate meatpacking plants after a breakup of larger firms. Industry groups warn that such an approach would undermine efficiency. Julie Anna Potts, CEO of the North American Meat Institute, compared the idea to forcing an automaker like Ford Motor Company to produce only one type of vehicle while selling off the rest of its business.

According to the editorial, meatpacking facilities are expensive, capital-intensive, and dependent on scale to operate efficiently and safely — making forced fragmentation likely to increase costs throughout the supply chain.

Political debate intensifying. The debate reflects broader political pressure over food affordability. Rising grocery prices have become a major economic issue, particularly as policymakers from both parties search for ways to address consumer costs. But the editorial concludes that targeting industry structure may be misguided. Without addressing the fundamental issue of limited cattle supply, the policy could leave consumers paying even more for beef rather than less.

United Nations Food Price Index (FPI) increased for the first time in 5 months in February

The FPI rose to 125.3 as gains in wheat, vegetable oils and meat prices outweighed declines in dairy and sugar. The index — which tracks a basket of globally traded food commodities — rose 0.9% from January but remained about 1% below its level a year earlier.

Wheat prices moved higher during February amid cold weather in Europe and the US, along with logistical challenges affecting exports from Russia and the Black Sea region.

Vegetable oil prices climbed 3.3% for the month and reached their highest level since June 2022. Palm oil prices strengthened due to increased global import demand and reduced output in Southeast Asia, while global soy oil prices rose on expectations of supportive biofuel policy measures in the United States.

The meat price index increased 0.8% in February, driven largely by firmer beef and sheep meat prices.

By contrast, dairy prices declined, with the index falling 1.2%, while sugar prices dropped 4.1% from January and are now down 27.3% from a year ago amid expectations of ample global supplies.

Despite the monthly increase, the overall food price index remains nearly 22% below the peak recorded in March 2022.

Organic food sales continue to outpace broader grocery market

Certified organic products reach $76.6 billion in 2025 as consumer demand for health-focused foods drives growth

Sales of certified organic products in the US continued their steady rise in 2025, reaching $76.6 billion, a 6.8% increase from the previous year, according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

OTA Co-CEO Tom Chapman said organic products have now outpaced the growth of the broader food market for three consecutive years, reflecting continued consumer demand for foods perceived as healthier and more environmentally sustainable. “For the third year in a row, organic has grown faster than the total market, which indicates shoppers are prioritizing their health and the planet, and are willing to pay a premium for it,” Chapman said.

Food category leads growth. Organic food sales totaled $70.1 billion in 2025, up 6.9% from 2024, compared with 2.3% growth for the overall food market. Organic products now account for 6.1% of total US food sales.

Fresh produce remained the largest organic category and the primary entry point for consumers, continuing to drive much of the sector’s expansion.

Grocery market context. The growth comes within a massive US grocery market:

• Total US grocery sales: about $920.3 billion in 2025
• Average household grocery spending: roughly $170 per week
• Online grocery sales: $327.7 billion

Looking ahead, the Food Marketing Institute projects that total US grocery spending will surpass $1 trillion by 2028, suggesting further room for organic products to expand their share of the market.

USDA report on European Union (EU) chicken meat production

European Union chicken meat production in calendar year (CY) 2026 is forecast to grow by 1.3 percent after a three percent growth in CY 2025. Significantly fewer Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in major EU producing countries, lower competition from Ukrainian chicken exports to the EU, and the strong dynamism of the domestic demand help support the growth in production. Chicken meat production also benefited from lower energy and feed prices in 2025 supporting producers’ income, particularly in Poland and Spain, the two largest EU chicken meat producers. 

This trend is expected to continue in 2026, further expanding production in those countries. In several countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, environmental constraints such as the reduction on nitrogen emissions will constrain production expansion in CY 2026. French chicken meat production increased again in CY 2025, fueled by strong internal consumer demand, and the growth is expected to continue in CY 2026. In the wake of the HPAI outbreaks, EU Member States are continuing to reinforce surveillance and biosecurity measures on poultry farms and in some cases even instituting temporary bans on free-range farms. (For more information on diseases, see Policy section.) 

Consumption: EU domestic consumption of chicken meat is expected to increase by 1.4 percent in CY 2026 as both retail sales and consumption in the HRI sector will continue to increase. Over the longer term, chicken meat consumption is expected to continue growing as consumer preferences continue to favor chicken over other animal protein sources. Chicken meat is generally more affordable than other meats. European consumers also generally consider chicken meat to be healthier, more versatile, and easier to prepare. 

Trade Imports: EU chicken meat imports are expected to increase by one percent in CY 2026, after a 5.4 percent increase in CY 2025, driven by the strong demand within the European HRI sector, which accounts for the largest share of imported chicken. Imports from the United Kingdom (now the largest chicken meat supplier to the EU) declined by eight percent in CY 2025 due to the strict sanitary controls imposed by the EU, remaining well below their pre-Brexit levels. No rebound in UK shipments is expected for CY 2026. At 136,000 MT, EU imports of Ukrainian chicken meat remained flat CY 2025 as a direct consequence of the EU decision to implement reinforced safeguard measures to protect EU farmers. At the same time, the Ukrainian government set up export licenses, thus limiting Ukrainian chicken meat exports to the EU. 

Weekly USDA dairy report

CME GROUP CASH MARKETS (3/6) BUTTER: Grade AA closed at $2.0100. The weekly average for Grade AA is $2.0625 (+0.2305). CHEESE: Barrels closed at $1.5700 and 40# blocks at $1.6175. The weekly average for barrels is $1.5620 (+0.0300) and blocks $1.5770 (+0.0310). NONFAT DRY MILK: Grade A closed at $1.6800. The weekly average for Grade A is $1.6640 (-0.0135). DRY WHEY: Extra grade dry whey closed at $0.6400. The weekly average for dry whey is $0.6320 (-0.0080). 

BUTTER HIGHLIGHTS: Domestic butter demand is mixed throughout the country. Some buyers continue to purchase despite the week 10 price increases, while other buyers are pulling back. Stakeholders note demand from international customers remains strong. Cream volumes are more than sufficient in most parts of the country. Cream demand from butter manufacturers varies from moderate to stronger. Spot load availability is anticipated to tighten with some Class II and III dairy commodity manufacturers seasonally increasing production. Most butter producers are running churns heavily seven days a week. Bulk butter overages range from 3 cents below to 12 cents above market across all regions. 

CHEESE HIGHLIGHTS: East region cheese production is steady, with no need to increase output as contract volumes remain somewhat weak, and spot milk availability for Class III use is scarce. Retail demand is steady, while bulk cheese demand is lighter. Some sellers are directing product to export channels to ease storage pressure. Cheese production is strong as plants run full schedules. Demand for curds and barrels is firm, retail demand is slightly higher, and food service demand is steady. Spot cheese loads are available to meet current needs. Inventories appear manageable as production keeps pace with demand. Cheese production is active, with many plants running heavy schedules. Spot cheese availability is mixed; a few manufacturers report tight inventories through Q2, while others have product available. Domestic demand is strengthening and traders are more actively buying. Some sellers are prioritizing export sales, which is tightening domestic availability. International demand ranges from stable to stronger. 

FLUID MILK HIGHLIGHTS: Milk production is generally stronger nationwide. Year over year milk volumes continue to grow, with recently published data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) showing January 2026 production up 3.4 percent from January 2025. Milk fat remains seasonally strong. Bottling demand is steady nationwide, but some regions are anticipating a drop in demand as educational institutions begin spring break. Class II demand is gaining momentum as the spring holidays approach. Ice Cream production is seasonally on the rise, and contacts report an increase in spot purchases of cream. Class III demand is steady. Cheesemakers are primarily using contracted volumes of milk, but some are taking spot loads. Class III milk spot price range is $1-under to $2-over this week. Class IV demand is strong. Demands for butter and milk powders are heavier than usual for this time of year, and contacts mention churns are operating at or near capacity to build inventories. Condensed skim availability is mixed this week. Some facilities did not sell condensed skim this week, as nonfat dry milk production is taking priority, while unscheduled downtime in some facilities sent more milk to condensing facilities. Cream multiples for all Classes range:1.10– 1.34 in the East; 1.10– 1.32 in the Midwest; 0.85 – 1.29 in the West. 

DRY PRODUCTS HIGHLIGHTS: Nonfat dry milk prices moved higher across all regions as tight inventories and limited spot availability supported the largest increases at both ends of the mostly range for low/medium heat in the Central and East. Dry buttermilk prices also strengthened, led by notable gains at the low end across all regions. Dry whey markets were mixed: the Central region’s price range held steady while the mostly range eased, the West recorded declines throughout its entire price series, and the Northeast was unchanged. The price series for lactose softened at the low end while holding firm at the high end, with values still well above year ago levels. Whey protein concentrate 34% weakened at both ends of the price range, though the mostly range was steady amid extremely tight supplies and strong demand. Dry whole milk rose at both ends of its price range, supported by firmness in the butter and nonfat dry milk markets, while acid and rennet casein prices were unchanged. 

ORGANIC DAIRY MARKET NEWS: The Pennsylvania Monthly Organic Dairy Report covering December 2025 showed the weighted average price for fluid milk and weighted average protein increased from the prior month, while the total volume of milk produced, average daily production per cow, and weighted average butterfat decreased. The Vermont Monthly Organic Dairy Report covering December 2025 showed the weighted average price for fluid milk, total volume of milk produced, and daily production per cow increased from the prior month, while the weighted average butterfat and weighted average protein decreased. Federal Milk Market Order 1 reported organic whole milk and organic reduced fat milk utilization was up in January 2026 from the previous year.