Blockchain technology, an open-source system of conducting business, has been touted as the hero of those seeking greater business flexibility and communication, but its complexity and need for a great many participants makes its adoption by the livestock industry seem far off. With an estimated 40% of US food wasted each year, it’s clear that … Read More

Large commodity investment funds, collectively called managed money, raised their net long position in live cattle futures during the week ended Tuesday as cattle owners extended their net short position. The data was released by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday in its weekly Commitments of Traders report. The report said managed money’s new net … Read More

USDA data compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center shows that expected per capita US beef consumption this year will total 57.0 pounds, up from 56.9 last year but below the projected 2019 total of 57.3 pounds. In making its assessments, the LMIC used steer price data from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and … Read More

Cow/calf producers were advised last week to look more closely at the futures market as a place to hedge calves profitably and not be frustrated by the market’s gyrations. If a cattle producer used feeder cattle futures exclusively as his or her only cattle price information that producer likely would be extremely confused, said Andrew … Read More

Cattle feeding margins rose $16.54 a head last week to $38.14 from $21.60 the previous week, a gain of 76.6%, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker, published by AgWeb. Last week’s margins for unhedged feeders was up even from those of a month earlier when it was $35.80 a head, the profit tracker said.  … Read More

Should the beef cow herd stabilize near current levels, as it appears now, the cattle slaughter mix could return to long-term averages next year, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University extension livestock marketing specialist. Writing for Extension agents, Peel said 2018 cattle slaughter was projected at 33.15 million head, with steer slaughter at 51.3% of … Read More

Lower stocks of pork in cold storage as of Oct. 31 overran increases in frozen beef inventories to take total red meat supplies lower, said the monthly Cold Storage report from the USDA’S National Agricultural Statistics Service Friday. At the same time, total pounds of poultry in cold storage were up from a year ago.  … Read More