Prolonged drought in the Southern Plains of Texas and Oklahoma and in California is driving the cattle and meatpacking industries north and into the Midwest according to a report by industry website Meatingplace.com. Nebraska has surpassed Texas as the state with the most cattle on feed as the geography of the industry shifts toward the Northern Plains, Kansas, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. The report also states that after the U.S. cattle herd has been in decline for years, the country currently has 10% more slaughter capacity than is currently needed. Despite the decline in numbers, industry watchers are optimistic that the U.S. cattle herd can be rebuilt as recent data indicates that heifer numbers are increasing meaning that they are being held back to produce more calves instead of being sold. Although meatpacking plants have closed across Wisconsin, California and multiple closures have occurred in Texas, none of the 90 plants in Nebraska have closed.
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