Farmers became much more pessimistic about current financial conditions on their farms and in the US agricultural economy in late summer, according to the September Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The barometer is based on a mid-month survey of 400 agricultural producers across the US.  This month’s survey was conducted from September 9-13, 2019. … Read More

Seven weeks after the Aug. 8 fire at Tyson’s Finney County, Kan., beef plant, the ripple effects are clearer and fading as expected, an Oklahoma State University agricultural economist said in a letter to Extension agents. The fire caused huge market disruptions, but it is clear that no significant back-up of finished cattle occurred, despite … Read More

The USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report Friday was called bearish to futures prices Monday after its release. Market watchers were thought to be looking at a Sep. 1 inventory that grew less than 3% from the same time last year, but it was more than 3% and at the high end of expectations, trade … Read More

Cow and heifer slaughter rates this year have been up, possibly giving even stronger support to the idea that the cattle cycle has peaked and is on the way down, a market analyst said. Data and anecdotal evidence show that cattle producers have been struggling, so a downturn in the number of cattle in the … Read More

This summer, market advisor Nevil Speer wrote a series of articles for Beef magazine about the futures market, explaining various aspects of futures hedging and trading. This is the last in the series, and Beef has graciously allowed its republication here, edited for style and length.   HEDGING LEVEL   During the past several weeks, … Read More

US feedlot inventories likely are not at a peak just yet, said Oklahoma State University Agricultural Economist Derrell Peel in a letter to Extension agents called Cow/Calf Corner. There have been some market disruptions that likely delayed, and will delay, calves and yearlings from being placed, Peel said.   TOTAL ON-FEED NUMBERS DIP   The … Read More

Monday’s monthly USDA Cold Storage report could be seen as supportive for beef and fed cattle markets as frozen beef supplies as of Aug. 31 were down from last year, a market analyst said. However, pork inventories rose from the 2018 report, which, given the international trade issues currently facing the industry, could be seen … Read More