Economic activity was little changed overall in April and early May, said the Federal Reserve Bank’s Beige Book Wednesday. Four Districts reported small increases in activity, six had no change, and two saw slight to moderate declines, the report said.  Expectations for future growth deteriorated a little, though contacts still largely expected a further expansion … Read More

Increasingly tight cattle supplies suggest margins at all levels above the cow-calf sector will be squeezed in coming months, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Livestock Marketing Specialist, in a letter to Extension agents called Cow-Calf Corner.   CATTLE INDUSTRY STRUCTURE   The cattle and beef industry consists of primary production at the cow/calf level … Read More

– For the second straight week, managed money, increased their cumulative net long live cattle futures position, but hedgers trimmed their total net short position. The data came from Friday’s weekly Commitments of Traders report by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which shows a snapshot of the positions of various types of traders as of … Read More

As a whole, US ranges and pastures are in better shape than they were last year but last week still fell short of the forage-producing capabilities of the previous five years, according to the USDA’s weekly crop condition report. What’s more, the weekly Drought Monitor from the National Weather Service Thursday revealed that western Kansas … Read More

Total red meat supplies in US freezers on April 30 were up slightly from the previous month but down about 5% from last year, said the USDA’s monthly Cold Storage report Wednesday. Total frozen poultry supplies on April 30, were up about 1% from the previous month and up 9% from a year ago, the … Read More

Not only is beef delicious and nutritious, but the beef industry continues to implement numerous proven sustainability practices throughout the “pasture-to-plate” process that contribute to the way beef is raised responsibly today, according to a release from the Beef Checkoff. To the beef community, sustainability comprises much more than environmental considerations, the release said.  Today, … Read More

Agricultural credit conditions in the Tenth District remained strong, and farm real estate values continued to increase, but growth has softened, said a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, in a release. The Tenth District covers Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Wyoming; 43 counties in western Missouri, and 14 counties in northern … Read More