USDA feed-price ratios show that feeding cattle, hogs, broilers and turkeys, along with milk production, became more economical in September when compared with August. However, market egg production became less economical, and other of the feed-price ratios were less economical than a year earlier. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s feed-price ratios show the pounds … Read More

Total hay supplies for the 2017-2018 crop year (May through April) are down almost 2% from last year, given smaller hay production this year, yet national average hay prices were surprisingly weak in August. The Livestock Marketing Information Center’s Livestock Monitor, a newsletter for extension staff, said August grass hay values were down 25% in … Read More

Kansas feedlot managers are holding cattle on feed longer, raising weights, even as the percent grading choice declines seasonally. A spot survey of select feedlots around the state and extrapolated to estimate the goings-on at all of the state’s feedlots shows that cattle sold to packers in September averaged 169 days on feed.  The survey … Read More

Large commodity investment funds, known as managed money, extended their collective net long live cattle futures position to its largest since the week ended June 20, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC data was made public Friday in its weekly Commitments of Traders report, which said managed money’s new net … Read More

Total weekly US red meat production is up this year, and the award for carrying more than its share of the load goes to pork.  Beef also is contributing but to a lesser extent. Last week, total meat production was pegged at 1.044 billion pounds, up 1 million, or 0.10%, from 1.045 billion the previous … Read More

As a British exit from the EU marches onward, it sometimes fades from the general consciousness, but planning on doing business in a post-exit world is something all US industry should be doing. In that vein, Agrimoney prepared a white paper on preparing for business after the Brexit.  The following are some highlights of that … Read More

Dairy cattle slaughter is a vital contributor to US beef supplies, said Jared Geiser, research assistant, and Brenda Boetel, extension agricultural economist at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. The pair made their comments in the “In The Cattle Markets” newsletter for the Livestock Marketing Information Center. With fluctuating beef cow inventories over the past decade, … Read More