Kansas feedlots became less efficient in July as summer heat robbed cattle of their ability to convert feed into beef and bone, according to extrapolated data collected by Kansas State University. Each month, the KSU Extension service collects closeout data from volunteer feedlots in the state and infers a statewide data set from which the … Read More

Grocery store meat prices moved lower in July, generally reflecting larger production this year, said the Livestock Marketing Information Center citing data from the US Department of Labor, Consumer Price Report and USDA data. Fresh beef prices in July were down 6% from a year ago, chicken prices were down 3%, and pork prices were … Read More

Managed money, or large investment funds, trimmed their net long live cattle position for the second straight week during the week ended Tuesday, while producers and other commercial traders extended their net short positions. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday said that for the week ended Tuesday, managed money’s net long live cattle position was … Read More

8-26-16 – This week, hordes of crop analysts, observers and hangers-on have swept through Midwestern corn and soybean fields in their annual attempt to gauge the progress of the crops first-hand.  What they have found is just what the USDA has said was there all along – good crops that are ready to produce bumper … Read More

At first glance, rising slaughter cattle carcass weights are cause for concern among market analysts, but while they shouldn’t be discounted completely, summer gains are predictable and seasonal, said a university Extension economist. Derrell Peel, extension livestock economist at Oklahoma State University said in a market comment that the cattle industry should keep an eye … Read More

Total red meat supplies as of Aug. 1 in US freezers were up 3% from July but were down 2% from last year, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service said in its monthly Cold Storage report Monday. Total pounds of beef in cold storage were up 3% from July and up 2% from last year … Read More

Current feeder cattle prices suggest a strong stocker signal and a potential retained ownership signal for cow/calf producers, at least through the stocker phase, said a prominent university Extension livestock marketing specialist. Derrell Peel of Oklahoma State University penned a market outlook that said retained ownership of calves into the feedlot also may have potential … Read More