The USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Thursday forecast lower 2018 total red meat and poultry production from last month. Total 2018 red meat and poultry production was estimated at 102.607 billion pounds, down 477 million, or 0.47%, from 103.084 billion in the September report. Next year’s total red meat and poultry production … Read More

US beef exports set new records in August with export value topping $750 million for the first time, according to the US Meat Export Federation, which compiled data released by the USDA. August pork exports were fairly steady with last year’s volume, but retaliatory duties in key markets continued to pressure pork export value, the … Read More

Heavier feeder steer prices are following last year’s trend very closely and could peak seasonally any time within the next few weeks. USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service data compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center shows prices for 700- to 800-pound Southern Plains medium and large No. 1 feeder steers to be moving upward from this year’s … Read More

Female cattle slaughter continues at a pace above last year and the 2012-2016 average, and it has many analysts thinking US cattle herd growth has just about reached its zenith. Few analysts think the US cow herd will be much larger than this year’s, but there are some minor variations. With the total herd up … Read More

Large commodity investment firms, called managed money, continued to extend their collective net long live cattle futures position, while hedgers lengthened their net short position in the week ended Tuesday. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday, said managed money’s Tuesday live cattle net long position came to 81,094 … Read More

The end-of-year holidays are approaching, and wholesale beef ribeye prices are showing it.  The annual fall push to higher prices has begun. USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service weekly average price quotes for boneless light wholesale beef ribeye prices actually made a seasonal bottom the third week of July at $666.87 per cwt.  However, it was difficult to … Read More

Agricultural trade outcomes of the future will be affected by changes in production that result from climate change, government intervention and competitive conditions in international markets, said World Trade Organization economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Agricultural Symposium. Eddy Bekkers, WTO research economist, and Lee Ann Jackson, WTO agriculture and commodities division … Read More