Growth in farm real estate values slowed in the first quarter of the year alongside slightly tighter credit conditions and steady interest rates, said Francisco Scott and Ty Kreitman, economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, in a release. However, farm household spending remained robust, they said. The statements were the result of … Read More

As the summer grilling season gets underway following the Memorial Day holiday, beef and cattle traders expect the annual peak in the weekly USDA beef cutout value to come soon. It’s already historically late.   HISTORICAL MOVES   Data shows the weekly choice beef cutout price usually drops about 10% from its annual high in … Read More

April US pork exports reached the highest volume and value since May 2021, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. April also was a robust month for US beef exports, which were the largest in 10 months and valued at just under $900 million, the USMEF said in … Read More

Large commodity index funds, better known as managed money, decreased their collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended Tuesday as hedgers trimmed their total net short position.     The data came from Friday’s weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.   MANAGED MONEY CUTS LONG POSITION   … Read More

The latest USDA Cattle on Feed report pegged May 1 feedlot inventories at 11.554 million head, down 0.9% from a year earlier, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University agricultural economist, in a letter called In The Cattle Markets. That was the first year-over-year-decrease in feedlot inventories in eight months. Peel said.  Feedlots typically see a … Read More

US farmers’ outlook improved in May as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose to 108, marking a nine-point increase from April, said Purdue Agricultural Economist James Mintert, in a release. This month’s Ag Economy Barometer survey was conducted from May 13-17. Both of the barometer’s subindices saw increases, with the Index of … Read More

US inflation has been higher than the Federal Reserve’s 2% target for more than three years, increasing the risk that longer-term inflation expectations could take over, according to an economic bulletin from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. But the situation could change, sending a message that longer-term inflation will remain somewhere north of … Read More