Total quarterly red meat and poultry production was up and expected to rise each quarter through 2018. The Livestock Marketing Information Center took quarterly data from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and forecast beef, pork, lamb, chicken and turkey production. The upshot is that US consumers will have plenty of protein in their local … Read More
April Beef Exports Drop; Still Above Average
US beef exports dropped counter-seasonally in April but still remained above last year and the previous five-year average, said the USDA’s Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural Service. Data from the two services showed that total beef, veal and variety meat, exports amounted to 218.353 million pounds in April, down 15.675 million, or 6.69%, from … Read More
April Kansas Feedlot Sales Drop
The number of fed cattle Kansas feedlots sold to packer buyers in April dropped more sharply than normal as managers tried to take advantage of packer demand and get ahead of what seemed to be lower prices to come. The Kansas State University Extension Service surveys representative feed yards around the state about their activities … Read More
India Bans Cattle Slaughter; Beef Exports To Drop8/
In a move that surprised many and perhaps was a nod to Hindu conservatives, the government of India has banned the sale of cattle, including cows and buffaloes, for slaughter. India is a nation primarily made up of Hindus, a religion that venerates cattle and eschews eating meat. News sources say 18 of its 28 … Read More
Cattle Dressed Weights Down
Fed cattle dressed weights are down and appear to be headed lower again after a gain two weeks ago, but weights should be turning higher. The USDA’s estimate of average live slaughter weights last week was 1,312 pounds down seven from 1,319 the previous week and 17 pounds below last year’s 1,329 pounds. Slaughter rates … Read More
First Rating Boosts Corn
This year’s first corn condition rating disappointed futures traders, resulting in a rebound to recover about half of Monday’s losses. The nearby Jul contract settled near the midpoint of the day’s range at $3.72 a bushel, up 5 cents on the day. The move was not particularly remarkable, except that it closed above some major … Read More
Post-Holiday Beef Markets Trend Toward Hamburger
What happens with beef markets now that the Memorial Day holiday has come and gone? Will consumers continue to buy steaks and hamburger, or will they revert to roasts? Consumers now are staring at only two holidays. They won’t look any farther out than the Independence Day holiday on July 4. Between now and then … Read More