Marty Smith, president of NCBA, focused on boxed beef price increases and declines in both cattle futures and cash prices during the coronavirus pandemic and following a fire at the Tyson Foods Inc. beef plant in Holcomb, Kan. Smith said that Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue responded to industry concerns by launching an investigation into the increase in boxed beef prices and the downturn in cattle prices. "Now, six months into that investigation, we are asking for the current market volatility to be analyzed and incorporated into that ongoing investigation in the hope of identifying whether inappropriate influence occurred in the markets, and to provide our industry with recommendations on how we can update cattle markets to ensure they are equipped to function within today's market realities," Smith said. "We ask that USDA work closely with the Department of Justice throughout this process, conclude this investigation quickly, and release the findings to the industry as soon as possible."