China is making reforms to its corn production and demand programs that could squeeze the availability of corn in just a few years, said the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service in a “Gain Report” near the end of September. “Over the summer, there have been several announcements that could impact the grain sector, particularly for corn,” … Read More

Assuming more fall rainfall comes to the Southern Plains, wheat pasture again will be a key source of protein and some energy for many area cow herds, said Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, in the university’s Cow/Calf Corner.  But the management needs will go up. If that rainfall occurs, wheat grazing usually will … Read More

The weekly average difference between wholesale prices for choice and select beef is widening and has a habit of widening even more until mid-December. That difference, called the choice/select spread, had a 2011-2015 average weekly bottom date in the first week of August at $4.93 per cwt.  Last year, the bottom came later, in the … Read More

Wheat pasture has developed relatively slowly in Oklahoma this fall, despite the early potential that seemed to exist after the cool, wet August, said Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel, in the “Cow/Calf Corner” Extension newsletter. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that 16% of Oklahoma wheat was planted by the last … Read More

Large commodity investment funds, called managed money, boosted their net long live cattle futures position in the week ended Tuesday for the third straight week.  At the same time, commercial traders advanced their net short position for the second week. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission said in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday that … Read More

Rising US hog inventories could put pressure on all red meat and poultry prices as the markets seek a place for the extra production. In the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Thursday, it was reported that the US inventory of all categories of hogs, pigs, pig crop or … Read More

Southern Plains feeder steer prices were moving higher last week, countering last year’s downward trend and exaggerating the 2011-2015 average, despite higher numbers that are ready to come in to the feed yards. The average weekly price for 700- to 800-pound medium and large No. 1 feeder steers in the third week of September was … Read More