National hay (alfalfa and other) prices have been on a downward trend since the start of the 2023/2024 crop year (May to April) and now are the lowest in four years, said the Livestock Marketing Information Center in its newsletter to Extension staff called Livestock Monitor. Over that period, the USDA’s reported national alfalfa hay … Read More

USDA-reported weekly Southern Plains auction prices for 85% to 90% lean slaughter cows remain higher than last year or the 2018-2022 average. A market analyst said that, given the gap, it was likely that weekly prices would finish 2024 higher than either of the two comparison values.   PRICES HOLDING HIGHER   Weekly Southern Plains … Read More

After 13 weeks of increases, large commodity index funds, known as managed money, reduced their collective net long position in live cattle futures as hedgers cut their total net short position after four straight weeks of increases. The data came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report, which was delayed by … Read More

Fed cattle prices are ending 2024 at near-record highs, sealing a three-year rally, according to USDA data. Just a few more fed cattle are expected to trade before the year ends at midnight, and the five-Market average fed price for 50 weeks through mid-December was $186.66 per cwt, up 6% from a year earlier and … Read More

Writing for the Livestock Marketing Information Center’s In The Cattle Markets, Glynn Tonsor, Extension agricultural economist at Kansas State University, said he expected the January Cattle (Inventory) report to show additional liquidation has occurred leading to a smaller calf crop in 2025. “It seems most likely that the summer of 2026 is the soonest substantial … Read More

Strong feeder cattle prices in November encouraged more producer selling, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner. Oklahoma’s combined feeder auction prices spiked to record levels the week after Thanksgiving, especially for the lightweight calves and stockers, Peel said.  The price for 500-pound, Med/Large, No. 1 … Read More

The USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report Friday showed the US inventory of all hogs and pigs on Dec. 1 to be up from a year ago but slightly lower than the previous report as of Sep. 1. The breeding inventory also was mixed with the number up slightly from last year but down a … Read More