Feeder cattle sales are beginning to pick up in the Southeast, even if producers would rather hold on to them a little longer. University of Tennessee Agricultural Economist Andrew Griffith said in his weekly comments that low prices in September and October had many producers hanging on to calves a little longer than normal.  However, … Read More

During the week ended Tuesday, commodity investment funds, or managed money, increased its net long live cattle futures position to its highest level since the week ended Aug 23 when it was 40,932 contracts. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report, Friday said managed money’s net long live cattle position as of … Read More

Federally inspected hog slaughter continues to expand past last year’s highs and already has set a new record annual high. The new record was estimated at 2.532 million just two weeks ago.  Preliminary USDA estimated slaughter numbers indicate a smaller number this week, even after falling away last week. The official slaughter peak of two … Read More

The USDA Wednesday confirmed what cattle producers around the country knew all along — October cattle prices were lower relative to September and last year. In its monthly Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook, the USDA’s Economic Research Service said, “Weekly average fed cattle prices declined during the month, averaging about $100 per cwt compared to … Read More

As margins get squeezed, cow/calf producers may have stopped growing their herds.  Some may have begun to shrink them again. It’s too soon for cow/calf producers to begin shrinking their herds, but feeder cattle prices have dropped dramatically from their peaks just a few years ago.  And there are parts of the country where exceptional … Read More

Slaughter steer dressed weights are overdue for a decline. Steer dressed weights continue to climb with no end in sight except last year’s annual high of 930 pounds the second week of October.  The 2010-2014 average tops out at 874.8 pounds the third week of October. So steer dressed weights can be said to be … Read More

September was another solid month for US red meat exports, with beef, pork and lamb totals well above a year ago, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. “Red meat exports continued to build positive momentum in September, and it couldn’t come at a better time,” said Philip … Read More