With the first half of 2024 in the books, it’s worth evaluating the first six months and what to expect for the remainder of the year, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner.   CATTLE AT RECORD HIGHS   At mid-year, cattle prices were record high, … Read More

The value of US beef exports topped $900 million in May, the highest since June 2023, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the USMEF. Pork exports posted another solid performance in May, but were below last year in volume and value, the USMEF said.   BEEF EXPORT VOLUME DOWN, VALUE UP … Read More

Now that the Independence Day holiday is past, the USDA’s weekly choice boxed beef cutout should be dropping – but it’s not. In fact, it continues to rise, setting a 2024 high in each of the last five weeks.   CUTOUT KEEPS CLIMBING   The USDA’s weekly choice boxed beef cutout value, as compiled and … Read More

Productivity gains helped to offset cuts to farrowings for the US hog industry in the last quarter and could help producers in coming days, Farmdocdaily said in an article last week. The USDA’s June Hogs and Pigs report placed the June 1 inventory of all hogs and pigs at 74.5 million head, up 0.22% from … Read More

Facing tight margins, many producers may be considering marketing alternatives like selling directly to consumers, said Courtney Bir, Oklahoma State University agricultural economist, in an Extension letter called Cow-Calf Corner. When selling directly to consumers, producers are marketing beef, not selling cattle, Bir said.  This adds complexities to the cow/calf or stocker operation.  Plus, the … Read More

Canada, Mexico and the US make up the bulk of the North American cattle industry and consists of 116.1 million head, with the US representing 75.1% (87.16 million head), Mexico with 15.4% (17.8 million head) and Canada with 9.5% (11.1 million head). Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, said in a letter … Read More

Canada’s cattle on feed numbers declined in May to end up on June 1 being below last year at the same time and below the 2018-2022 average and widening the difference between them. Placements of young cattle into feedlots also was down seasonally, continuing at a lower rate than May 2023 and the previous five-year … Read More