The increase in cow slaughter this year has contributed to the increase in non-choice beef production, widening the choice/select production gap and affecting prices, said Brenda Boetel, agricultural economist at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, in a letter to Extension agents called In The Cattle Markets, published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver. … Read More

The USDA forecast for 2022 red meat and poultry production in the October World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report Wednesday was raised from last month, as higher beef, pork and broiler forecasts were offset partly by lower turkey production. For 2023, the red meat and poultry production forecast was raised on higher beef and … Read More

August Kansas feedlot closeouts, or sales to beef packers, were nearly the same as August 2021 and the previous five-year average, according to a survey of key feedlots by the Kansas State University Extension service. The K-State Extension service surveys representative feedlots around the state, collecting closeout data from each one.  The information then is … Read More

August beef exports were slightly more than last August’s large volume and again topped $1 billion in value, reaching this milestone in seven out of eight months this year, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation.  August exports of US pork topped year-ago totals for the first time … Read More

Managed money, a proxy for large commodity investment firms, slashed their collective net long live cattle position in the week ended Tuesday as hedgers cut their total net short position. The data came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday.   MANAGED MONEY SELLS CATTLE   Managed money Tuesday had … Read More

It’s surprising with inflation so strong, but consumer demand for choice beef does not seem to be waning. Weekly choice boxed beef prices reported by the USDA are off a little, but the difference in the wholesale prices of choice and select beef remain firm and strong.  This indicates wholesale prices for choice and select … Read More

Current price difference between steer and heifer calves could work to slow the placement of heifers into feedlots, said Elliott Dennis, Extension livestock economist at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in a letter to Extension agents called In The Cattle Markets, published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center. For now, there are hints the breeding … Read More