In its latest World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund said global economic growth was projected at a minus 4.9% in 2020, 1.9 percentage points below the April 2020 forecast. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a more negative effect on activity in the first half of 2020 than expected, and the recovery was projected to … Read More
Funds Hold Long Cattle Position Nearly Flat
Large commodity investment firms, called managed money in the trade, held their collective net long live cattle futures position nearly flat during the week ended Tuesday as hedgers increased their net short position. The data came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday. Managed money’s new net long live cattle … Read More
US Hog Herd Grows As Breeding Herd Declines
The US inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, was a record 79.634 million head, up 3.909 million, or 5.16%, from 75.725 million a year earlier, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service said Thursday in its Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report. The June 1 number also was up 2.005 million head, or 2.58%, … Read More
April Meat Production Data Shows COVID Drop
It’s no secret that US meat production was down in April as packing plant after packing plant closed because of the COVID-19 virus, but a look at the numbers drives the point home. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service said monthly beef, pork and poultry production plummeted in April, dropping well below last year and … Read More
Measuring Nutrients Key To Good Cow Health
Few would argue that nutrition is key when raising livestock, yet many cow/calf operators fail to address this adequately, leaving their cows and calves with deficiencies, said Dr. John Pollreisz, managing veterinarian for Zoetis. Zoetis’ web site said it is a global animal health company, delivering medicines, vaccines and diagnostic products, along with biodevices, genetic … Read More
Monthly Cold Storage Stocks Decline
As meat production dropped because of shuttered slaughter and processing plants from COVID-19 illnesses, it seems the nation’s cold storage supplies filled much of the gap between meat production and consumption. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Monday released its monthly Cold Storage report, outlining the quantity of various meats stored in commercial freezers around … Read More
Funds Cut Long Cattle Futures Position
Large commodity investment firms, otherwise known as managed money, cut their collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended Tuesday as hedgers cut their net short position. The data came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report on Friday. Managed money’s new net long live cattle position amounted … Read More