As retail food prices rise, consumers are constantly reshaping their definitions of value and devising new retail strategies to conform. That is putting pressure on retail grocers and their wholesalers to meet consumer needs and desires at a profit.  The landscape of what consumers want is continually shifting.   DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS   … Read More

Based on the USDA’s mid-year Cattle (Inventory) report, a further tightening in the supply of calves available for feedlot placement in late 2025 and early 2026 can be expected, the USDA said Monday in its monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook.   CATTLE HERD CHANGES POSSIBLE   The report also suggested steady but gradual changes … Read More

In the week ended Tuesday, large commodity index funds, called managed money, again trimmed their collective net long live cattle futures position while cattle owners trimmed their total net short position. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission revealed the information in its weekly Commitments of Traders report.   FUNDS CUT NET LONG LIVE CATTLE POSITION   … Read More

US farm finances and credit conditions continued to weaken in the second quarter of 2025. According to the Federal Reserve’s 10th District Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions, the region’s farm income and loan repayment rates declined at a pace similar to recent quarters, a Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank release said. Deterioration in agricultural credit … Read More

Tuesday, Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Jeff Schmid spoke at the Southern Economic Development Council’s annual conference in Oklahoma City.  In his remarks, he provided an outlook for the US economy and monetary policy. A summary of his remarks IS provided here.   SCHMID OPTIMISTIC   Overall, he was optimistic when it came to … Read More

The USDA’s latest forecast for 2025 red meat and poultry production was reduced from last month, in the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Tuesday.   BEEF PRODUCTION SEEN DOWN   The beef production forecast for this year was lowered 262 million pounds, or 1.00%, to 25.926 billion pounds from 26.188 billion last … Read More

Kansas feedlot closeouts in June were up from May but less than June 2024 and less than the 2019-2023 average, according to data collected by the Kansas State University Extension service and compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver. The K-State Extension service collects feedlot performance data from select feedlots around the state … Read More