Two years of drought have depleted US hay stocks severely, presenting challenges for cattle producers, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University agricultural economist, in a letter to Extension agents called Cow-Calf Corner. The Dec. 1 hay stocks report from the USDA showed total stocks of 71.9 million short tons, 16.4% below the previous 10-year average … Read More

The Federal Reserve released its latest Beige Book Wednesday, saying overall US economic activity was relatively unchanged since the previous report. The Beige Book is a monthly synopsis of the US’s economic activity as summarized from reports from the Federal Reserve Bank directors.   OVERAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY   Five districts reported slight or modest increases … Read More

The semi-annual Cattle (inventory) report is set for release on Jan. 31, and many in the cattle and beef industries expect to see numbers reflecting a large herd-reduction effort last year. The reductions were the result of a combination of strong lean beef demand, higher cull cow prices and forage issues stemming from the drought, … Read More

1-17-22 – Large commodity index funds, called managed money, took on a collectively longer net long live cattle futures position in the week ended last Tuesday, Jan. 10.  During the same week, cattle owners, or commercial traders, took on a larger net short position. The data came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments … Read More

The USDA, in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Thursday lowered its red meat and poultry production estimate for 2022 from last month as higher fourth-quarter broiler and turkey production was more than offset by lower beef and pork production. Changes reflect November production data and preliminary estimates of slaughter numbers and … Read More

Average cattle finishing losses in 2022 were estimated to be about $70 per head, and current breakeven and fed cattle price projections suggest the cattle finishing sector will experience net losses in the first half of 2023, wrote Purdue University Agricultural Economist Michael Langemeier, in a report called Farmdoc Daily.   FEEDING COST OF GAIN … Read More

Aggressive selection of production traits in cows can yield noticeable environmental, herd quality and health returns over time. Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University State Extension beef nutrition specialist, wrote in a letter to Extension Agents called Cow-Calf Corner recent research showed cows that are better able to maintain body condition and produce more milk energy … Read More