MEDINA, N.D. — Cattle futures prices fell in the second half of October, after news that the U.S. may increase beef imports from Argentina. Meanwhile, prices for wholesale, such as ground beef, were slightly higher, while the prices for boxed beef were unchanged. The falling futures had many cattle producers — who still see strong consumer demand for beef alongside tight supplies of cattle in the country — questioning the fairness of the marketplace.

"It makes you question things a little bit — why the cattle producer is the one left holding the bag at the end of the day?" said August Heupel, vice president of the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota — or IBAND, on Oct. 28. "Because ... fundamentally, nothing has changed from two weeks ago."

Heupel farms and ranches north of

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