As we get closer to summertime grilling, the boxed beef market reflects stepped-up retail buying in preparation for greater beef movement. But the boxed beef trade saw a recent uptick brought on by Rocky, the blizzard that swept across much of the nation's cattle country, grinding things to a halt for a few days.

Whether or not the resulting uptick in boxed beef trade continues depends on how aggressively retailers stay in the market. And whether or not retailers remain aggressive buyers will have a lot to do with how well the fed cattle market fares in coming weeks. Ed Czerwien, USDA Market News reporter in Amarillo, TX, looks at historical boxed beef trade and compares it with the current market.