US economic activity expanded at a moderate pace since mid-February, said the Federal Reserve in its monthly Beige Book, a report on economic activity by district. Several Districts reported moderate employment gains despite hiring and retention challenges, the Beige Book said.  Consumer spending accelerated among retail and non-financial service firms, as COVID-19 cases tapered across … Read More

On March 24, the US and Japan reached an agreement to increase the three-trigger safeguard mechanism required for Japan to implement a higher tariff on US beef, said Brenda Boetel, agricultural economist at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, in a letter to Extension agents called In The Cattle Markets. The Livestock Marketing Information Center publication … Read More

Canada’s cattle-on-feed numbers continued to hold at higher levels than last year or the 2016-2020 average, according to CanFax data compiled and released by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver. CanFax, a private market advisory firm, surveys its members in Alberta and Saskatchewan monthly, and the data is compiled by the LMIC.  Only the … Read More

In its latest report called Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade, the USDA said global beef production was projected to expand to record levels in 2022 with increased production in Brazil, China, India, Australia and Mexico offsetting decreased production in the US, Canada, the EU and Argentina. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock … Read More

Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, cut their collective net long live cattle position about 3% during the week ended Tuesday while hedgers trimmed their total net short positions by 0.2%. The data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission came from the weekly Commitments of Traders Report Friday.   FUNDS CUT LIVE CATTLE … Read More

China’s import demand for pork surged in the wake of supply deficits caused by African Swine Fever, said the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service in the latest Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade. As China’s pork production declined by nearly a third in 2020, imports nearly quadrupled, and China accounted for more than 40% of … Read More

A study by Georgetown University and published in Science magazine showing the presence of antibiotics in cattle destined for a “Raised Without Antibiotics” label is raising hackles among some food watchdogs and veterinarians. On one hand, there are calls for a massive beef recall based on the results, but on the other hand, there are … Read More