The House Agriculture Committee heard from the major livestock associations on the direction they think the next US Farm Bill should take.  They heard opinions on the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, a Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine bank, Country of Origin Labeling and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza vaccine use. Present at the hearings … Read More

The increased role of trade in the last decade for beef, pork and poultry highlights its importance to all meat markets, said Oklahoma State University Extension Economist Derrell Peel, in a release. While each industry concentrates on its production, it is apparent that all meat sectors increasingly are affected by trade.  Changes, or disruptions in … Read More

Live cattle futures Tuesday closed higher, with the nearby Apr delivery month challenging the contract high of $120.32 per cwt set on Jan. 19 with a peak of $120.07. However, it was the Jun contract that saw the most strength, rising $1.25 per cwt on the day to end at $111.05 and setting its fourth … Read More

Retail prices for beef, pork and chicken were up in February, but remain below 2014 and 2015 peaks, said the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the USDA’s Economic Research Service, and chicken gained on its pricing advantage. Average prices for all fresh beef at retail in February averaged $5.51 a pound; all fresh pork prices … Read More

Managed money, or large investment funds, raised their net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday, while commercial traders boosted their net short position. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday announced in its weekly Commitments of Traders report that managed money’s new net long live cattle position was 94,694 contracts, up 2,711, … Read More

Wholesale beef prices are in the midst of a sharp rise in value as demand kicks up for the spring grilling season. The turn higher for the benchmark choice 600- to 900-pound carcass values came right on schedule in mid-February but may be nearing a seasonal peak. The weekly price listed for that week shows … Read More

Red meat and poultry disappearance this year was expected to increase 2.6 pounds per capita from last year, according to the latest USDA projection. The USDA’s Economic Research Service made the forecast in its monthly Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook report Wednesday.  “Disappearance” was clarified to mean the quantity of red meat and poultry used … Read More