Oklahoma employment has grown much more slowly than in the rest of the nation since 2013, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said in a report. The lag largely has been driven by difficulties in the oil and gas sector, but technological changes in other sectors also took a toll on jobs, such as … Read More

US red meat exports in July were strong, despite various trade issues, with pork shipments record large, said the US Meat Export Federation after compiling data from the USDA. July pork exports surged to 233,242 tonnes, up 56,829, or 32.2%, from 176,413 last year and topping the previous record from April 2018, the USMEF said. … Read More

USDA analysts have sliced another $4.5 billion from their previous forecast of 2019 US agricultural exports from their previous forecast in May. Illinois Farm Policy News reported that Gary Crawford explained in a segment for USDA Radio on Aug. 29 that in May, USDA analysts were forecasting the 2019 fiscal year’s US ag exports to … Read More

Data on the condition of cattle markets after the Aug. 9 fire at Tyson’s Holcomb, KS, beef plant are becoming available slowly, providing more clarity to the situation and correcting some misconceptions, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University agricultural economist in a letter to Extension Agents called Cow/Calf Corner. Cattle and beef markets continue to … Read More

After rising sharply for two straight months, the Ag Economy Barometer weakened significantly in August falling back to a reading of 124, down 29 points from a month earlier and slightly below the June reading of 126. The monthly Ag Barometer is a joint venture of Purdue University and the CME Group and is the … Read More

Pork prices in China are rising fast, and a Rabobank report published by Pig Progress said it is likely that higher prices will dominate4 headlines for some time.  It may even take as long as five years for China’s pig production to get back on track.   MASSIVE HERD REDUCTIONS   The bank said the … Read More

Prospects for fall and winter grazing look good for wheat producers, said Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel in a letter to Extension agents. Much of Oklahoma has received variable amounts of rain the past two weeks, Peel said.  It appears available moisture and favorable soil temperatures will support plans for early … Read More