Nobody wants to talk down beef price or cause undue concern, but Adam Woods speculates and crunches some numbers on the future of beef price on p34.

As we all know, there is no guaranteed margin, especially for smaller beef finishing operators.

Factories simply don’t issue contracts to smaller finishers.

Many beef feedlot finishers are on contract though and many of these are paying relatively big money around the rings for forward store cattle in the knowledge that they will have a guaranteed margin at the end of the finishing period.

His core message is be careful and have your own sums done and have the most up-to-date information. There is no doubt more farmers are deciding to purchase calves right now rather than store cattle to try and reduce the investment risk.