New Features Added to AgStockTrade.com
By Tracy Thomas, VP, Marketing
Two new features have recently been added to the www.AgStockTrade.com website that will greatly enhance the buying and selling of USPB Class A and Class B units.

One of these features allows for extended bidding. In the past, the highest offer to buy was matched against an eligible sell offer at exactly 5:00 p.m. CST. Matching took place at this time regardless of the level of ongoing and active bidding. With the new extended bidding feature, if one or more bids are entered at any point between 4:58 and 5:00 p.m. CST, a new two minute bidding window will automatically open up. From that point on, in two minute increments, anytime a bid is entered, bidding will be extended by two minutes. When a two minute window elapses, with no additional buy offers, a high bidder is established, and a match will occur.

The second new feature allows those placing buy offers to indicate how high they are willing to bid. The system will automatically increase the bid of a potential buyer anytime someone is bidding against them until their maximum bid is met. This allows the buyer to enter the maximum price they are willing to pay and go about other business versus monitoring the transaction. Bids will increase in one dollar increments. Those placing buy offers will have the chance to indicate their maximum bid on the www.AgStockTrade.com website when placing offers. A maximum bid is known only by the person

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Beef Export Value

Continues to Climb

Although the volume of U.S. beef exports dropped 2 percent during the first two months of 2012, the value of those exports increased by 12 percent. Bottom line, U.S. beef export values are well ahead of last year’s record pace according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). For the month of February, exports of both muscle cuts and variety meats amounted to 12 percent of U.S. fed cattle production, or $208.05 per head of fed slaughter, up 14 percent from last year’s $182.12.

“We have seen an increase in chilled and frozen shipments to Russia, South America and Hong Kong,” Peter Michalski, vice president, International Division of National Beef, explains. “We are also increasing our sales to Japan, along with the seasonal increase of Age and Source verified cattle.”

USMEF reports that exports to Russia were up 58 percent in volume at 9,297 metric tons, and tripled in value to $38.2 million compared to the first two months of 2011. USMEF expects beef exports to Russia to benefit from a higher muscle cut tariff rate quota, which was increased from 41,700 metric tons in 2011 to 60,000 metric tons this year.

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Did You Know..

üAs a reminder, Age and Source Verified (ASV) cattle projections are required from feedyards who want to receive USPB’s ASV premiums. ASV premiums are based on market conditions and will be adjusted accordingly as conditions warrant. Please call our office at 866-877-2525 when you place ASV cattle on feed to ensure that your cattle have a reservation in our program. USPB’s ASV premium reflects the seasonality of supply and demand. Given that, the ASV premium will be $30 per head from April 30 through June 2012 and there will be a $20 per head floor in place for July and August. Currently, ASV reservations for May and June are filled.

üIf you have delivery rights you do not plan on using in delivery year 2012, which ends August 25, and would like USPB to help you get them leased to other producers, please call our office at 866-877-2525. w

USPB Makes Cash Distribution

U.S. Premium Beef, LLC’s Board of Directors authorized a tax distribution for first quarter of tax year 2012, which ended on March 31, 2012. The Class A distribution is $0.32 per Class A unit owned; the Class B distribution is $2.83 per Class B unit owned. This distribution is meant to enable unitholders to pay the tax on their share of U.S. Premium Beef’s taxable income, which will be passed through to unitholders on their tax year 2012 Schedule K-1, which should be distributed in February 2013.w