This week’s National Weather Service Drought Monitor showed almost all of the contiguous 48 states experiencing some form of abnormally dry conditions. The exception was the Corn and Soybean belt and most of North Dakota.  There also was a patch of central Texas that was rated as normal soil moisture.  Coastal California also looked mostly … Read More

Despite continued weakness in the crop sector, farm financial conditions have tightened only gradually, and stress remains limited, said a Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank report, authored by Economist Ty Kreitman. Loan delinquency rates remained low, average farmland values have been stable, and leverage in the sector remained modest, Kreitman’s report said.  Direct government payments … Read More

Total 2027 US red meat and poultry production was forecast to be more than 2026 production levels as higher expected pork and poultry production more than offset lower beef production forecasts. The total red meat and poultry production forecast for 2026 was increased from last month’s forecast as higher expected pork, broiler and turkey production … Read More

Given the relationship between the size of the US cattle herd and the per-cow returns to cow/calf producers, it’s almost a wonder producers will want to expand their herds again.  But one data set doesn’t tell the whole story. Anecdotal evidence suggests cow/calf producers want to expand their herds after drought and unprofitable conditions in … Read More

Large commodity index firms, called managed money, extended their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday as cash cattle traders deepened their total net short position, according to the weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.   FUNDS TAKE LONGER CATTLE POSITION   Tuesday, managed money … Read More

March exports of US pork were among the largest on record, concluding a very strong first quarter, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. While March beef exports were below last year – largely because of the ongoing lockout by China – the value of beef variety … Read More

Farmer sentiment dropped in April as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index declined from 127 in March to 121, said Michael Langemeier and Joana Colussi, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture economists, in a university release. The April barometer survey was conducted among 400 farmers across the nation from April 13–17, 2026.   FUTURE … Read More