The USDA’s Economic Research Service second-quarter 2020 forecast for beef production was raised Thursday on recent slaughter data. The monthly Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook said third- and fourth-quarter 2020 forecasts were raised on heavier carcass weights and a faster expected pace of slaughter. The increase in slaughter and carcass weights elevated the annual beef … Read More

The US Federal Reserve Bank issued its Beige Book Wednesday, an assessment of economic activity in the country, and said economic activity increased in almost all Federal Reserve districts, but remained well below where it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.   OVERALL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY   Consumer spending picked up as many nonessential businesses were … Read More

Beginning with a single mobile feed grinder in 1963, Suther Feeds Inc., of Frankfort, KS, has grown to a cattle feed and nutrition consulting firm that today has customers in nine states. Jerry Suther, along with partners Tim Suther and Michael Joel, operate the company begun by Jerry and Tim’s father Melvin. Jerry said his … Read More

The latest USDA forecast for 2020 red meat and poultry production was raised 1.539 billion pounds, or 1.47%, to 106.544 billion pounds from 105.005 billion last month. The new forecast came from the USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Friday. For 2021, the red meat and poultry production forecast was raised 600 … Read More

Large commodity investment funds, known as managed money, extended their collective net long live cattle position in the week ended Tuesday to its largest in 4 ½ months, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC said in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday that managed money’s new live cattle position … Read More

July 1 changes in the USDA’s Livestock Risk Protection insurance plan renewed a debate about which is better, with some saying the increased subsidies and payment changes make LRP the better choice and others saying it is only insurance and nothing more. LRP and put options are designed to protect livestock values from downside risk. … Read More

Nebraska’s economy has been shocked in ways bearing little resemblance to anything experienced in modern times, said the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in a release from the Omaha Branch. As COVID-19 began to spread across the globe from January to March, leading to widespread economic shutdowns, business activity collapsed and a massive number … Read More