Beef Farmer Ben Smith on Speculating in U.S. Cattle Futures after the Recent Price Crash

U.S. cattle futures crashed in mid-March yet ground beef in U.S. grocery stores has tripled in price since mid-March. What is happening? And are there any speculative investment possibilities amidst this crisis? Beef Farmer Ben Smith answers these questions and provides expert commentary on the cattle supply chain disruption that is occurring in the U.S.A.  Prior to starting his cattle farming business in 2014, Ben worked for almost a decade in a meat packing plant in Detroit, Michigan.  Ben’s 100-acre farm is located just outside of Lansing, Michigan:  https://www.thesmithfamilyfarm.net/

0:15 Introduction

1:37 Ben’s experience working in the cattle industry

4:14 Simplistic overview of the U.S. cattle supply chain

5:47 Processors greatly influence the beef price

6:19 Ground beef has tripled in price since cattle futures crashed?!

8:12 Meat processors not really price gouging

9:32 Meat processors future capacity now diminished moving forward?

11:21 What are signs to watch for re: return to normalcy in beef market?

12:59 Investment possibilities as a result of this crisis?

16:31 Wise to speculate in cattle futures now?

19:01 Practical advice: Make yourself antifragile