The Russians were at it again over the weekend, although not necessarily the Russian government. The world’s largest meat processing company JBS SA got hit with ransomware, affecting meat processing at many of its US and Australian plants.  But experts and non-experts are saying the incident exposed vulnerabilities in computerized operations of many industries, and … Read More

The US economy expanded at a moderate pace from early April to late May, a somewhat faster rate than the prior reporting period, according to the Federal Reserve Bank’s Beige Book Wednesday. Several districts cited the positive effects on the economy of increased vaccination rates and relaxed social distancing measures, the bank said.  However, they … Read More

This week’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Progress report likely was seen as bearish, since crop conditions are good, and progress was ahead of last year and the five-year average. The report showed that 95% of the nation’s corn crop had been planted as of Sunday, compared with last year’s 92% and the 2016-2020 average … Read More

Major trading groups kept a near-steady hand on their live cattle futures positions during the week ended Tuesday, May 25, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday.   FUNDS’ POSITION NEAR STEADY   Large commodity investment funds, known as managed money, had a cumulative net long live cattle position … Read More

The feedlot situation is improving but it will take longer to process current feedlot supplies, and challenges at the packing level will slow the process for at least several more weeks, said Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Specialist Derrell Peel, in a letter to Extension agents called Cow/Calf Corner.   PACKER CAPACITY THE BOTTLENECK   … Read More

The difference between reported wholesale choice and select beef prices, called the choice/select spread, is widening and is even approaching last year’s COVID-related high, according to data from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center. Strong demand for beef, especially choice product, along with controlled output from the beef … Read More

Canada’s cattle on feed situation began a seasonal decline in April that generally continues through August, according to data from CanFax that was processed and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center. CanFax, a private market advisory group, surveys feedlots in Alberta and Saskatchewan to obtain the data.  Most of the information is shared only … Read More