Wholesale beef prices have moved higher so far this year, reflecting strong beef demand and typical seasonal patterns, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Livestock Marketing Specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner. Choice boxed beef prices averaged $386.41 per cwt the first week of March, up 9.1% from the beginning of the year, and … Read More

Total red meat supplies in freezers on Feb. 28 were down about 2% from the previous month and down about 5% from last year, according to the USDA’s monthly Cold Storage report Tuesday. The report also said total frozen poultry supplies were up about 4% from the previous month but down about 5% from a … Read More

While US livestock producers have benefited from stronger market conditions, crop producers continue to face tighter margins. Results from the February Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer survey of about 400 farmers provide insight into how these differences are influencing producer sentiment, growth expectations and transition plans by farm type, according to Purdue University.   … Read More

For the third straight week, large commodity index funds, called managed money, trimmed their collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended Tuesday as cash cattle traders edged their total net short position downward. The information is contained within Friday’s weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.   … Read More

Ongoing weather conditions and longer-term structural adjustments in agriculture suggest that beef cow herd rebuilding will continue to be a slow process, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner.   BEEF COW HERD AT CYCLICAL LOW?   The Jan. 1 beef cow inventory was 27.607 million … Read More

Fall 2025 was a reminder of how sensitive the cattle market is to news and surprises. A look at the November 2025 Feeder Cattle futures contract and weekly cash prices in Arkansas highlight just how quickly prices can move, said James Mitchell, Extension economist, at the University of Arkansas, in a Livestock Marketing Information Center … Read More

Amid the cacophony of tariffs, no tariffs, less tariffs, the continuing drought, the fighting in Iran, rising inflation, employment concerns and whatever else there is, one thing remains in the cattle and beef markets – lean beef prices continue to climb. USDA-reported wholesale prices for 90% lean beef and 50% lean beef (both of which … Read More