WASDE Estimates US Meat Production Higher

The USDA World Outlook Board’s latest estimate for 2017 meat production was increased from February as higher forecast beef production estimates more than offset lower forecasts for pork and turkey production.  The broiler production estimate was unchanged from February. The new figures came in the WOB’s latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Thursday. … Read More

Plains Fires Char Kansas Counties

They’ve stopped measuring the amount acres of grassland burned by wind-thrashed fires in four states.  Now, they’re talking hundreds of square miles. Thousands of cattle and calves have been killed, many of which had to be put out of their misery by their owners, and at least six people have died in Oklahoma, Kansas and … Read More

Japanese Beef Production Down; Pork Output Up

Japanese beef production continued to decline last year, while pork production rebounded, said The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in its semi-annual Livestock and Products report from Japan. US chilled beef exports grew 50% during the year, driving the US share of total beef imports to a 13-year high, the report said.  US beef exports to … Read More

US Meat Consumption Expected To Rise

Total red meat and poultry consumption in the US is expected to rise again this year and next with the largest gains coming in beef and chicken, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service data. The Livestock Marketing Information Center compiled the statistics, which show that total per-capita red meat and poultry consumption this year … Read More

Funds Reverse, Go Long Cattle

Managed money, or large commodity investment funds, reversed a two-week slide in their net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday, taking their new long position to 93,616 contracts. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday announced the new managed money position Friday in its weekly Commitments of Traders report.  Managed money’s new … Read More

Dry Areas Cause Concern

Dry weather over large parts of the US are beginning to worry grain traders and end users of corn and soybeans.  Most notable for cattle producers is the effect a dry growing season could have on feed prices. The USDA’s World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report currently projects US corn production at 15.148 billion … Read More

Low Pork Belly Stocks Spark Sharp Price Boost

Low inventories of pork bellies this year have sparked sharp increases in prices as restaurants around the country pile on the bacon for added flavor. Frozen belly stocks are very seasonal and tend to begin the year rather large then dwindle into the summer months, said the Livestock Marketing Information Center’s Livestock Monitor.  However, this … Read More