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Cow-calf producer on markets and cyberattack concerns

A South Dakota cow-calf producer says the cyberattack on JBS shows the vulnerability in the industry. Trent Kubik also grows corn, soybeans and hay in south central South Dakota.

“Obviously, the beef cyberattack affected is the most but we’re seeing a little too much of this. And, honestly, Tuesday our cell phones went down and it just reminded you kind of how fragile the things we rely on in a day to day basis can be hurt in one instant.”

He tells Brownfield it just adds to the frustration and helplessness producers feel from the current state of the market.

“We’ve got 15-to-16-hundred pound steers sitting in a feedlot. Nobody wants to see, A, a steer get that big and, B, feed it expensive corn because they need it to go to a packer.”

Kubik says they’re focused on building up their forage which was hurt more by the mid-winter freeze than the current dryness although that and forecasts for a hot summer are ALSO big concerns for their row crops. Kubik farms in Lyman County and Tripp County, which is the largest cattle producing county in the state of South Dakota.