US economic activity increased slightly from late May through early July, according to the Federal Reserve Bank’s Beige Book, which was released Wednesday. Five districts reported slight or modest economic gains, five had flat activity, and the remaining two districts reported modest declines in activity, the Beige Book said.  This represented again over the previous … Read More

The summer doldrums between the Independence Day and Labor Day holidays usually means slack consumer beef demand, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a newsletter called Cow-Calf Corner. Indeed, the choice boxed beef cutout dropped from the end of June to a current weekly average of $386.75 per cwt, down … Read More

Large commodity index funds, better known as managed money, made a small increase in its collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended last Tuesday, July 8, according to the weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. At the same time, cattle owners, known as commercial traders, … Read More

The USDA’s estimate of total US red meat and poultry production for 2025 was forecast lower than last month Friday, with lower beef and turkey production forecasts more than offsetting higher pork and broiler production estimates.   BEEF PRODUCTION ESTIMATE LOWERED   The 2025 beef production estimate was lowered to 26.188 million pounds from 26.358 … Read More

CNBC reported Thursday that US President Donald Trump had imposed a 50% tariff rate on Brazil’s exports to the US on Aug. 1, as retaliation for what he called “unfair trade practices.” The tariff increase sparked concerns in international markets of the shift in trade balances that likely will ensue.  The US could import less … Read More

The Mexican border is closed again this morning as Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality reported a new case of New World Screwworm farther north than it was before. News reports say the case is only about 370 miles south of the US/Mexico border and about 160 miles north of the current … Read More

At this point in the year and the phased schedule of crossing reopenings, US imports of Mexican cattle may not catch up with normal. The USDA said the first border points open to livestock imports are the ones farthest away from southern Mexico and, therefore, the least likely to bring in the unwanted New World … Read More