Kansas feedlots finished 2024 monthly sales to beef packers on a strong note, surpassing 2023’s sales but falling a little short of the 2018-2022 average pace. The data came from data collected by the Kansas State University Extension service from select feedlots across the state and compiled and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center … Read More

The USDA’s latest 2025 beef and pork production forecasts were raised from last month in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Tuesday, while chicken output was expected to be about steady with the January report.   MEXICAN BORDER REOPENS   On Feb. 1, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the … Read More

In case anyone was wondering why the January USDA Cattle on Feed report showed a bias in feedlot placement weights toward heavier calves and feeder cattle, the price difference may have had a lot to do with it. Data from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service compiled and graphed by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in … Read More

Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, divested themselves of some of their historically large collective net long live cattle position in the week ended Tuesday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday. At the same time, the CFTC said cash traders, commonly referred to as commercial … Read More

The strong cattle and beef price trend coming into 2025 is expected to continue as cattle inventories and beef supplies tighten further in the coming months, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension marketing specialist, in a newsletter. However, while cattle and beef markets are very strong internally, external shocks from political uncertainty along with … Read More

Hog prices started 2025 on a strong note compared with the start of 2024, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center. Weekly carcass-base slaughter-ready barrow and gilt prices in Iowa and Minnesota last week averaged $83.31 per cwt, up $2.39, or 11.3%, from $80.92 a week earlier and up $20.68, or 33.0%, from $62.63 a … Read More

US farmers began 2025 with an optimistic outlook, as the January Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose five points from December to a reading of 141, said Purdue agricultural economist Michael Langemeier, in a release of the monthly survey’s results. This month’s survey was conducted between Jan. 13-17.   CURRENT CONDITIONS INDEX UP   … Read More