Corn and soybean exports built over the last few weeks as lower prices spurred demand, and current estimates place both crops on track to meet or come near USDA projections for this marketing year, said Todd Hubbs, agricultural economist at the University of Illinois. Hubbs noted his opinion in the Illinois Extension Service’s “Farmdocdaily,” adding … Read More

Prime beef may be losing its luster with buyers while branded and choice product are holding their own or even gaining. USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service data compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center show that prime beef’s portion of the comprehensive beef cutout has declined in relation to branded and choice product.  The relationship of branded … Read More

Large commodity investment funds, called managed money, extended their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday to its highest level in more than three months. According to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday, managed money’s net long cattle position as of Tuesday was 33,177 contracts, … Read More

CME Group live cattle futures settled higher Thursday as technical short covering overran the bearish effects of a USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report that increased 2018 estimated red meat and poultry production from a month ago. The 2018 beef production forecast was raised to 27.150 billion pounds from 27.125 billion on higher … Read More

CME Group live cattle futures settled higher Thursday as technical short covering overran the bearish effects of a USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report that increased 2018 estimated red meat and poultry production from a month ago. The 2018 beef production forecast was raised to 27.150 billion pounds from 27.125 billion on higher … Read More

Given the larger size of the US cattle herd this year, the strength of feeder cattle prices is somewhat of a surprise to many, but Agricultural Economist Stephen Koontz said it’s all because of abundant feedstuffs. Koontz, from Colorado State University, wrote in this week’s “In the Cattle Markets” for the Livestock Marketing Information Center, … Read More

As cow/calf producers and feedlots look to put up and purchase hay for the winter, they should pay attention to how it is baled and stored to maximize the nutrient value when fed. It pays, then, to look at the various storage methods and how they can affect the as-fed quality of the forage.  Much … Read More