Cow/calf producers wanting to market calves at weaning should look to move them earlier rather than later, said a prominent agricultural economist. Andrew Griffith, from the University of Tennessee, wrote in his weekly market commentary that calf prices this fall were expected to decline.  Prices could drop into the mid-$120s for 550-pound steers in Tennessee. … Read More

It looks like it will be October before steer hide and offal values cross above last year’s declining rate after narrowly avoiding such a cross three weeks ago. Total average prices for steer hide and offal on a live animal basis continue to follow the trend of the 2010-2014 weekly average but at a much … Read More

News of last week’s reopening of Saudi Arabia as a market for US beef reminds producers of the importance of exports to the industry, especially now when the herd and beef production is growing. Annual meat supply is a function of beginning stocks (cold storage), domestic production, imports and exports, said Nevil Speer, vice president … Read More

Managed money, or large commodity investment funds, increased their net long live cattle futures holdings for the fifth straight week during the week ended Tuesday, while commercial traders boosted their net short positions for the third straight week. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday showed managed money had a new … Read More

If Kansas feedlots are any indication, US feeders continue to chip away at their front-loaded supplies. The average number of head Kansas feedlots marketed, or sold to packers for slaughter, in June exceeded last June by 1,740 head, or 45.4%, in going to 5,569 from 3,829. Kansas feed yards have been working on trimming their … Read More

For perhaps the first time in many years, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and R-CALF USA and the US Cattlemen’s Association agree that the USDA’s action to allow Brazilian beef imports is a risky move. The USDA announced Monday they had relaxed a ban on imports of Brazilian beef, a move that could pressure US … Read More

If livestock and poultry producers thought the blending of ethanol into fuel would stop at 10% of gasoline consumed, leaving them with the rest of the corn market, they were mistaken. The current Environmental Protection Agency mandate for ethanol production pierces that “blend wall,” the point at which further concentrations begin to harm many engines … Read More