May has been designated as Beef Month in Iowa, but leading up to Beef Month cattle producers have been through hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns about meat processing plants continue and market prices are beginning to recover from lows in March and April. Yet, Iowa Cattlemen Association Eastern Iowa Membership Coordinator Lane Eads believes there are some positives to pull away and to celebrate for Beef Month. While meat prices have increased at grocery stores and the demand for meat is harder to satisfy, Eads believes good, hearty meat will not run out at stores due to the amount of backlogged cattle on farms. 

He tells KCII News one positive thing Iowans can take away from Beef Month, “We’re utilizing this time right now to just show how hard and how much cattle producers, not only in the state of Iowa but across the United States, care about the commodity that they grow and produce. A number of cattlemen and women across the U.S. put their heart and souls into the cattle that they raise. I think a very indicative part right now is seeing what prices are right now in the countryside and not seeing cattle producers just giving up. They’re very gritty. We have survived a lot and will continue to push forward through this time. I think that’s a great positive that we can take away from May as Beef Month.” Eads encourages Iowans to continue to support their local producers by buying beef at local retail stores and restaurants. He jokingly says individuals should buy the biggest cut of steak once sit-down restaurants are able to open at full capacity.