In addition to November’s US feedlot placements being expected to be larger than a year ago, Canada’s November placements were up from 2016, pointing to larger North American meat supplies in 2017. The larger US placements were expected to show up in Friday’s US Cattle on Feed report as active slaughter and strong beef demand … Read More

The USDA’s Economic Research Service Monday said all except lamb and eggs would be affected by larger year-over-year supplies and lower prices during the first half of next year.   CATTLE   Higher second-half 2017 feedlot placements were expected to lead to higher first-half 2018 fed cattle marketings and seasonally higher beef production.  The seasonal … Read More

Managed money, a proxy for large commodity investment funds, further divested itself of long live cattle futures positions in the week ended Tuesday, said the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday. It was the sixth straight week of managed money’s latest effort to pare its net long live cattle … Read More

There seems little doubt that cattle herd expansion continued this year, albeit at a slower pace than 2016, said Oklahoma State University Agricultural Economist Derrell Peel in the “Cow/Calf Corner.” The jump in heifer and beef cow slaughter reflects a return to more typical relative slaughter rates, he said.  He estimated the Jan. 1, 2018, … Read More

Today’s newsletter, a shortened version of a study by Keith Good, social media manager for the farmdoc project at the University of Illinois, provides a brief overview of updated USDA agricultural export data. It also looks at recent news items regarding the NAFTA renegotiation, with particular focus on perspective.   BACKGROUND   The USDA currently … Read More

The USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board Tuesday said it had lowered its 2017 forecast of total US red meat and poultry production from a month earlier on lower beef and pork production forecasts. The WOB made its predictions in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report and went on to say its new … Read More

Hog prices this fall have been stronger than anticipated and should continue into 2018, said Agricultural Economist Chris Hurt of Purdue University in “Farmdocdaily.” In early October, USDA analysts estimated fourth-quarter live prices would average $38 to $40 per cwt.  Now it looks like the actual price will be $46 to $47, Hurt said.   … Read More