Congestive heart failure in finishing beef calves is increasing, said Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle nutrition specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner.   BRISKET DISEASE   The condition used to be known as ‘brisket disease’ and was only described in cattle populations at elevations higher than 5,000 to 7,000 feet, Beck … Read More

Total red meat supplies in freezers on Aug. 31 were up about 1% from the previous month but down about 15% from last year, according to the USDA’s monthly Cold Storage report Monday. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up about 3% from the previous month but down about 18% from last year, the … Read More

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

Colorado State University Agricultural Economist Stephan Koontz asked in a Livestock Marketing Information Center letter called In The Cattle Markets “what portends for the rest of September and October?” Labor Day is behind us, and the fall run of calves is in front, Koontz said.  Historically, October is a tough month for fed cattle markets … Read More

Second-quarter farm debt continued to increase alongside faster growth in farm production loans, said Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Economists Francisco Scott and Ty Kreitman, in a Bank release. Similar to recent quarters, outstanding agricultural loan balances at commercial banks increased by about 5%, Scott and Kreitman said.  Non-real estate loans increased at the fastest … Read More

As steaks, roasts and other meats become more expensive, ground beef seems to be carrying the day, said Elliott Dennis, Extension livestock economist at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in a letter from the Livestock Marketing Information Center called In The Cattle Markets. Lots of simple and easy-to-cook recipes while families attempt to stay within … Read More

Kansas fed steer closeouts in July declined in a counter-seasonal move but remained near the 2017-2021 average, according to data collected by the Kansas State University Extension Service and compiled and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver. Fed heifer closeouts shot higher to mark the largest marketing month this year, although they, … Read More