(NAFB) – Cattle producers are caught in a balancing act with the packers, as each side works on leveraging supply and demand, according to Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Woodall says it boils down to cattle markets.

Woodall says the age-old question of how to get more of that dollar in the producers’ pockets is top of mind.

The NCBA CEO says they are closely watching the numbers, keeping in mind what cattle producers have said about triggering price transparency thresholds that can swing market leverage to one side or the other.

Part of the problem lies with reduced packer capacity following the 2013-14 drought that reduced cow herds. Even though the supply is back up, closed packing plants have not returned and that is why the packers have leverage.