Cash fed cattle prices continue to follow last year’s trend lower, and with more cattle on feed, it’s a good bet the downward trend will continue, an agricultural economist says. Marketings are key.  Marketings through August and September will determine market price dynamics from October into next year, said Colorado State University Agricultural Economist Stephen … Read More

Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay for 2017 was forecast by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service last week at 56.2 million short tons, down 4% from 2016. Based on Aug. 1 conditions, yields were expected to average 3.28 tons an acre, down 0.17 ton from last year.  Harvested area was forecast at … Read More

Large commodity investment funds, called managed money, lowered their collective net long live cattle position for the eighth straight week during the week ended Tuesday as commercial traders cut their net short position for as many weeks. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday said managed money’s new net … Read More

The USDA Thursday raised its forecast for total 2017 US meat production from its outlook a month ago as increases in commercial beef and broiler production more than offset expected declines in pork and turkey production. The USDA’s World Outlook Board made the predictions in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, where … Read More

Concerns that beef exports could be harmed if North Korea initiates hostilities aimed at the US pressured US live cattle and feeder cattle futures Wednesday, even though the US exports no beef to the seemingly battle-hungry country. The issue lies with two of the US’ largest beef importing countries, Japan and South Korea.  Japan’s imports … Read More

Just about everything in hog production is turning south seasonally. Feeder pig prices, barrow and gilt prices and pork cutout value all appear to have peaked seasonally and will offer only brief bounces until they begin turning higher again in January, according to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service data compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center. … Read More

As the USDA spread between choice and select wholesale beef prices narrows, it’s natural to assume the spread is unnaturally narrow, but this is not the case.  In fact, it is just now coming back in line with last year and the 2011-2015 average. The Livestock Marketing Information Center has plotted USDA Agricultural Marketing System … Read More