Parson Shares Concern About Box Beef Price Surge, Packer Concentration

Choice boxed beef cutout values have yet to post a decline this month, with USDA indicating higher values again yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

At 341 dollars, 63 cents, it’s the second time this year that the value exceeded 340 dollars per hundredweight, rankling cattle producers who are still getting less than 130 at the sale barn. Governor Mike Parson, himself a cattle producer from Polk County, says he shares their concerns.

Parson says efforts to increase local processing help to encourage competition.

Governor Parson delivered his remarks after yesterday (Thursday) morning’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair.