A seasonal decline in US weekly beef production begins next week, but the decline is so uneven many may miss it until it drops off for the Memorial Day holiday week.   BEEF PRODUCTION SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS YEARS   A Livestock Marketing Information Center graph of weekly federally inspected beef production data from the USDA’s … Read More

Tighter beef cattle inventories are expected in the Jan. 31 USDA Cattle Inventory report, said Rob Ziegler, Extension specialist, at the University of Wyoming, in a Livestock Marketing Information Center letter called In The Cattle Markets. Total headcount likely will affect total beef production in years ahead, but the amount of beef produced per cow … Read More

Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, had their largest collective net long position in at least three years Tuesday as hedgers also advanced their total net short position. The data came from the weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission with data as of the previous Tuesday.   … Read More

While a ban on cattle from Mexico because of the discovery of New World Screwworm in Mexico’s state of Chiappas is set to be lifted partially next week, a full resumption of trade remains pending.  But the ban created a dent in available US feeder cattle supplies that still has to be worked out. The … Read More

Economic activity increased slightly to moderately across the 12 Federal Reserve districts in late November and December, said the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book Wednesday, which outlines the US economy eight times a year.   CONSUMER SPENDING UP   Consumer spending moved up moderately, with most districts reporting strong holiday sales that exceeded expectations, the Beige … Read More

If the genetics are present to finish steers and heifers to a higher quality grade, it is paying them to produce more cattle that yield choice and prime carcasses, and they are doing so, according to data from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver. Last year, … Read More