US beef exports are becoming increasingly important as the herd and beef production grows, and while projections show cross-border shipments keeping pace, the market is vulnerable. Annual beef export volume, at 2.540 billion pounds, accounted for 9.8% of total production for the five-year period from 2010-2014, according to data from the USDA’s Economic Research Service … Read More

A rapid drop in cow/calf returns in 2016 and 2017 is cause for producers to think about or even ratchet back their beef cow expansion plans, says the Livestock Marketing Information Center’s Livestock Monitor. LMIC’s estimated return peaked in 2014, surging to $530.22 per cow. In 2015, the return was $303.08 a cow.  This was … Read More

Forecast beef, pork and poultry production totals for 2016 are down from last month, while 2017 projections are above 2016 and continue the year-over-year trend. The USDA’s World Agriculture Outlook Board made the predictions Tuesday in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. Red meat and poultry exports were expected to increase in … Read More

US cow/calf producers are likely to continue expanding their herds, even though returns are beginning to decline because grass availability and condition continue to improve. US pastures and ranges are in better condition this year than they were last year and are in far better condition than the 2010-2014 average, according to the USDA’s weekly … Read More

Managed money, a term for large investment funds, reduced its net long live cattle position during the week ended Tuesday for the second straight week as commercial traders increased their net short position slightly. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday reported that for its latest reporting week ended Tuesday, that managed money cut its net … Read More

Jun live cattle futures Thursday shot higher, extending gains from Wednesday’s sharp rally as technical buying points were triggered, but fundamental support is thin, and the rally may not last. Such technical rallies have a way of running out of gas quickly, and the fundamentals that started this week’s rally may be thwarted by hedge … Read More

Contrary to average trends, choice wholesale beef prices are not likely to move slowly and unevenly higher for the rest of the year.  There is too much production coming and too much competition from other meats for that to happen. Some market analysts have said beef prices were near an annual low, and if beef … Read More