Beef and beef variety meat exports continue to climb in value, even though volumes sold to other countries continues to run below a year earlier, according to data released by the USDA’s Foreign Ag Service and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. According to the data, total US beef exports in April totaled 92,263 … Read More

There’s an old saying among seasoned traders to never fade the seasonals, but the cash fed market continues to defy the odds. The ability of the beef market to hold out against the seasonal tides is remarkable given the growing abundance of pork and chicken, and it’s making many traders nervous. The cash fed cattle … Read More

This year’s mild spring temperatures are doing more than allowing farmers to plant their crops earlier, they, along with heavier calf placements into feedlots, are turning up the dial on average daily gain. Data collected by Kansas State University showed that average daily gain for steers in Kansas feedlots rose in April to 3.5 pounds … Read More

As of today, the USDA is confirming four more outbreaks of the H5N2 version of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, bringing the total number of outbreaks to 201, or 44.67 million birds. But despite that and the flock depopulating that must accompany each case, the US poultry industry continues to crank up production, an ominous move … Read More

6-1-15 – Managed money, or large funds, boosted their net long live cattle positions during the week ended Tuesday for the third straight week to their largest net long position since the week ended Dec. 16. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission made the revelation in its latest Commitments of Traders report Friday, saying that managed … Read More

The USDA’s April Prices Received Index for agricultural production is 104% of its 2011 base, up 2.0% from the March index but 9.6% below the April 2014 index.  The Livestock Production Index for April, at 116%, was 0.9% below March, and down 11% from a year earlier. Compared with a year earlier, prices for cattle, … Read More

Right on time seasonally, slaughter steer dressed weights appear to be turning up, and market cues to produce larger cattle can only add to the trend. As fall’s placements of younger calves into feedlots work their way through the system and more yearling placement are slaughtered, the slaughter weights go up.  The low point in … Read More