ABSTRACT
Livestock producers both in the US and worldwide have an important stake in the operation of the world grain economy. The continued availability of relatively low-cost grain in the world economy would tend to foster further livestock development in grain-deficit countries and provide competitive advantages in all countries for livestock and livestock production practices more dependent on intensive grain feeding. Winrock International is initiating a study of both the potential for and implications of additional crop production in the US Some implications for US livestock producers include increased grain-feeding costs eventually rising above the general inflation rate and the loss of some pasture and rangeland area converted to cropland. A reduction in grain feeding of cattle in the US would mean increased competition for use of existing pasture and range lands. Projected world food-system trends suggest increasing prices for all livestock products due to rapidly rising consumption in most countries and upward pressure on grain prices.
