In Wednesday’s newsletter, a Federal Reserve Bank article about the health of farmland in the Federal Reserve’s 10th district, economists mentioned the specter of rising interest rates coming against farmland values. Today, Federal Reserve Bank Economist for the Kansas City Bank Ty Kreitman, expanded on that subject, saying high interest rates could challenge total farm … Read More

Agricultural real estate values in the Federal Reserve’s 10th district remained resilient through the end of 2023.  However, capital spending slowed alongside higher rates and lower farm income. The 10th Federal Reserve district encompasses Wyoming, Colorado, northern New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and western Missouri. A report by Federal Reserve Economists Cortney Cowley, Jannety Mosley … Read More

Led by a record-shattering performance in Mexico and broad-based growth in other markets, US pork exports set a value record in 2023, according to year-end data released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. While 2023 beef exports were less than the record totals posted in 2022, December exports were the … Read More

Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, took on a larger collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended Tuesday while hedgers advanced their total net short position. The information came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday.   MANAGED MONEY BUYS CATTLE   As of … Read More

The USDA adjusted its red meat and poultry supply and use estimates for 2023 to reflect December production, ending stocks and trade data. All production and per-capita consumption estimates were adjusted downward slightly. The new figures were released in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Thursday.   BEEF PRODUCTION SEEN LOWER   … Read More

Weather and pastures permitting, cow/calf producers this year are expected to begin the slow process of reversing course and rebuilding the US cattle herd. Market analysts agree the changeover will be slow as producers weigh the prospect of higher returns down the road for income from immediate sales of heifers. Feedlots also will have a … Read More

It looks like things will have to change before there can be significant numbers of live cattle deliveries this month. A look at basis calculations from the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver shows that the basis, the result of cash markets minus the futures delivery month price, is too narrow to make delivering on … Read More