The outlook for corn markets is becoming very hard to see.  Economists and market analysts can’t agree because too many things are in flux. Even the local café is closed so it’s not possible to gain insight from even the town know-it-all. All kidding aside, analysts say there are about three major things to watch … Read More

Various news organizations reported that about 23 state cattle organizations sent letters to US Attorney General William Barr Monday requesting a formal investigation seeing evidence of fraudulent business practices within the beef packing industry. The letters come in the midst of packing plant closures linked to rapid transmission of the Covid-19 coronavirus among plant employees … Read More

Large commodity index funds, called managed money, edged back into net long territory during the week ended Tuesday but not by much, according to the weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The new net long position by managed money as of Tuesday amounted to 83,000 contracts, compared with a net … Read More

Although lending activity remained elevated, total first-quarter new farm loan originations declined, according to data collected in early February by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The total volume of non-real estate loans remained above the historical average, but were about 10% lower than a year ago, the bank said. However, growth in operating … Read More

With Covid-19 closing some beef packing plants and others forced to slow chain speeds to accommodate fewer employees on the job, market analysts expect to see fewer feedlot placements and lower feeder cattle prices. Fed cattle are beginning to back up in the feedlots, and the losses taken by unhedged cattle feeders could make cattle … Read More

The Covid-19 appears to be dealing the Oklahoma economy a punch to the gut after it slowed through 2019 and by February this year may not have been growing at all, but there is hope, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Since all the closures started the Saudi-Russia oil … Read More

The next few weeks could bring an unparalleled challenge for livestock producers, processors and consumers, said Oklahoma State University Agricultural Economist Derrell Peel in a letter to Extension agents called Cow/Calf Corner. The Covid-19 virus has packer after packer announcing plant closures, slowdowns or chicken depopulation efforts.  Production of beef, pork and poultry are threatened … Read More