The Consumer Sentiment Index at the end of May was reported by the University of Michigan to be 94.7, a substantial jump from April’s 89, but the joy may be short-lived, cutting into choice beef demand in coming months, says a University agricultural economist. Brenda Boetel, Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin-River … Read More

The difference between the USDA’s choice and select cutout values, called the choice/select spread, is widening at a rapid pace, but the reasons for the move are less than clear. A seasonal rise in slaughter rates, along with a seasonal decline in slaughter weights hardly seems sufficient to explain a very unseasonal rate of spread … Read More

Managed money, or large fund investors, liquidated live cattle futures positions for the second straight week during the week ended Tuesday as commercial traders extended their net short positions. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday said funds’ net long live cattle futures position was 28,399 contracts, down 4,861, or 14.6%, … Read More

US May 1 hay stocks, reported by the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service in the May Crop Production report, were the largest since 2005 at 25.14 million short tons, greatly reducing the cattle-industry stress about forage availability.  Year-over-year, May hay stocks were up 2.5%, nationally. That was the second year in a row that stocks returned … Read More

Cash cattle markets could be in store for some short-term price support. It appears Kansas feed yards are getting caught up on their marketings, and by extension it’s reasonable to think other Plains States feedlots are reaching the same level of currentness.  If slaughter-ready supplies are tightening, prices could have a temporary floor built under … Read More

Last week’s feedlot margins were in the black for the second straight week after more than a year of losses, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker, but a trend toward declining fed cattle prices may hinder positive margins in coming months. The weekly profit tracker, published by AgWeb, shows feedlots making $150.70 a head … Read More

The Memorial Day holiday is one of the more important weekends for retail grocery meat counters.  As the unofficial start to summer and the more extended use of back yard grills, meat sales can jump, extending cash flow and profit margins. The success of the grilling holiday and beef demand will be assessed over the … Read More