Latest News From Greg Henderson

Montana Man Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Develop Giant Hybrid Sheep for Captive Hunting
Montana Man Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Develop Giant Hybrid Sheep for Captive Hunting

In a near decade-long effort to create giant sheep hybrids in the U.S. with the goal of selling the trophy species to captive hunting ranches, the defendant violated federal wildlife trafficking regulations.

Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Improve; Beef Packer Losses Remain Triple Digits
Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Improve; Beef Packer Losses Remain Triple Digits

Cattle feeding margins improved as prices advanced. Beef packer margins improved but losses remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producer margins gain on higher prices.

Ranchers Face Prison Time, Millions in Fines for Tampering with Rain Gauges
Ranchers Face Prison Time, Millions in Fines for Tampering with Rain Gauges

Two southeast Colorado ranchers agreed to pay more than $6.5 million in fines and will serve time in prison for tampering with NOAA rain gauges in a scheme to collect federal crop insurance.

Markets: Cash Cattle Marching Higher
Markets: Cash Cattle Marching Higher

Negotiated cattle prices moved higher again as supplies continue tightening. Packers are caught in significant margin squeeze with marketing leverage continuing to favor cattle feeders.

Exports: Pork Off to Rapid Start; Beef Trends Mixed
Exports: Pork Off to Rapid Start; Beef Trends Mixed

Pork exports begin the year on a torrid pace while beef export values jump 9%. Lamb exports put up highest value in more than four years.

Profit Tracker: Cattle Margins Near Breakeven, Packer Margins Remain Triple Digits
Profit Tracker: Cattle Margins Near Breakeven, Packer Margins Remain Triple Digits

Cattle feeding margins inched lower last week with rising costs. Packer margins improved but remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producers turn a profit for the first time in 14 months.

Trade Groups Criticize USDA’s Final P&SA Rule
Trade Groups Criticize USDA’s Final P&SA Rule

Meat and poultry industry trade groups were quick to criticize USDA's announcement of changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act claiming the changes add unnecessary regulations and costs.

Wildfire Battles Continue Over Weekend for Texas, Oklahoma
Wildfire Battles Continue Over Weekend for Texas, Oklahoma

After burning for more than six days, the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma was only 15% contained Sunday morning. Drifting sand now poses a threat to rural roads.

Markets: Cattle, Wholesale Beef, Futures All Higher
Markets: Cattle, Wholesale Beef, Futures All Higher

All classes of cattle and futures prices moved higher for the week ending March 1. April live cattle closed at the highest level since early November.

Wildfire Burns 71,000 Acres in Central Nebraska
Wildfire Burns 71,000 Acres in Central Nebraska

Nebraska officials say a mower ignited a wildfire that burned roughly 110 square miles of central Nebraska grasslands.

Smokehouse Creek Fire is Officially the Largest in Texas History
Smokehouse Creek Fire is Officially the Largest in Texas History

While the Smokehouse Creek Fire rapidly became the state's largest in history, four other wildfires are burning in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle area. (Additional images contained in story.)

Wildfires Raging in Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle Region Threaten Residents and Livestock
Wildfires Raging in Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle Region Threaten Residents and Livestock

Devastating wildfires are burning in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle region and the Smokehouse Creek Fire has already become the second largest in Texas history, consuming at least three-quarters of a million acres.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins In Black, Packer Margins Remain Red
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins In Black, Packer Margins Remain Red

Cattle feeding margins improved significantly the past month, crossing into positive territory last week. Beef packers continue to struggle with tight supplies. Pork producers reach breakeven.

Markets: Cattle Rally Again, COF Placements Surprise
Markets: Cattle Rally Again, COF Placements Surprise

Cash cattle posted solid gains this week as futures prices closed the week with four-month highs. Friday’s Cattle on Feed report met expectations with the exception of placements, which were higher than anticipated.

Greg Henderson
Kicking the EID Can Down the Road

America's cattlemen continue to resist any traceability policy that is not strictly voluntary. But how long will stakeholders up the chain continue to give beef a pass?

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Improve, Packer Margins Near Triple Digits
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Improve, Packer Margins Near Triple Digits

Cattle feeding margins have improved significantly the past month, yet losses remain the norm. Beef packers continue to struggle with tight supplies and range-bound wholesale beef prices. Pork inches toward breakeven.

Markets: Winter Rally Sputters, Cash Cattle Lower
Markets: Winter Rally Sputters, Cash Cattle Lower

Cash cattle traded lower in all regions for the first time in more than a month, but futures prices rose Friday to the highest levels in nearly four months.

Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Erode as Feeders Tread Water
Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Erode as Feeders Tread Water

Improving prices for live cattle helped boost cattle feeding margins to near breakeven, but higher bids pushed beef packer margins deeper into the red. Pork producers also found improved margins but remain in the red.

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Markets: Fed Cattle Rally as Cowboys Hold ‘Em

Fed cattle broke through $180 barrier this week, establishing the highest prices since the week ending November 3 and cattle feeders continue to gaining leverage.

Profit Tracker: Packers Join Feeders in the Red
Profit Tracker: Packers Join Feeders in the Red

Improving prices for live cattle helped boost cattle feeding margins but the higher bids and lower wholesale beef prices turned packer margins negative. Pork producers also found improved margins but remain in the red.

Markets: Cash Prices Bounce Higher as Bulls Return to Futures
Markets: Cash Prices Bounce Higher as Bulls Return to Futures

Bullish traders showed their hand at the CME pushing April LC to a three-month high and helping spur a solid rally in cash cattle markets. Inventory report confirms tight supplies will remain for the near future.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Improve, Packers in Black
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Improve, Packers in Black

Improving prices for live cattle and wholesale beef lifted margins for both feeders and packers. Pork producers also found improved margins but remain in the red.

Markets: January Thaw Delivers Price Rally
Markets: January Thaw Delivers Price Rally

The January thaw across most of the cattle feeding regions helped spur the year's first weekly gains for market-ready cattle. The rally was noticed by traders in Chicago as futures markets posted 10-week highs.

Jury Awards Tennessee Rancher $485,000 for Livestock Seized Without Warrant
Jury Awards Tennessee Rancher $485,000 for Livestock Seized Without Warrant

A federal jury awarded a Tennessee couple nearly half a million dollars in damages after their cow herd was seized without a warrant and sold at auction by a local sheriff's office.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Erode, Packers See Improvement
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Erode, Packers See Improvement

Weather continues disrupting shipping and harvest operations for livestock producers across the Corn Belt and Central Plains as both cattle and hog feeding losses continue to mount.

Markets: Cash Cattle Standoff, COF Report Neutral
Markets: Cash Cattle Standoff, COF Report Neutral

A mid-January deep-freeze failed to deliver any bounce to cattle markets as packers appear flush with formula and contracted inventories. Friday's Cattle on Feed report fell within expectations.

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USDA Launches Remote Beef Grading Pilot Project

Technology and robust data management will allow more cattlemen and smaller processors access to USDA graders to remotely assign official quality grades for beef carcasses, providing an opportunity to increase value.

Profit Tracker: Margins Improve as Weather Tanks
Profit Tracker: Margins Improve as Weather Tanks

Winter weather dominated livestock markets the second full week of the year with slowing harvest and transportation. Cattle and hog prices were steady and margins improved modestly, yet losses remain significant.

Markets: Cattle Steady to Softer in Weather Trade
Markets: Cattle Steady to Softer in Weather Trade

Brutal winter weather disrupted cattle markets and significantly curtailed cattle harvest in western Kansas. Cash cattle trades were steady to lower while wholesale beef prices posted a significant rally.

Profit Tracker: Packers, Feeders Drowning in Red Ink
Profit Tracker: Packers, Feeders Drowning in Red Ink

The first week of the New Year provided little cheer for either cattle feeders or beef packers as both saw increasing per head losses. Ditto for pork producers.

Judge Orders Wind Turbines Removed From Osage Nation
Judge Orders Wind Turbines Removed From Osage Nation

Removal of the 84 turbines erected beginning 10 years ago without a mining permit from the Osage Nation ends a long legal battle and will cost the developers $300 million.

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Markets: Cattle Higher for Third Consecutive Week

Cash fed cattle prices traded at higher prices the first week of the New Year despite a significant decline for wholesale beef prices.

Texas Rancher’s Property Rights Case to be Heard by U.S. Supreme Court
Texas Rancher’s Property Rights Case to be Heard by U.S. Supreme Court

After Texas renovated a highway, Richie DeVillier’s ranch experienced catastrophic flooding that destroyed his crops and killed his cattle. A seven-year legal battle ensued, which now heads to the Supreme Court.

Arizona Rancher Rejects Plea Deal in Death of Migrant
Arizona Rancher Rejects Plea Deal in Death of Migrant

A trial date has been set for Arizona rancher George Kelly who is charged with murder following the shooting death of a Mexican migrant in January of last year.

Markets: Cash Cattle Finish 2023 Moving Higher
Markets: Cash Cattle Finish 2023 Moving Higher

Feedyards saw higher cash cattle bids for the second consecutive week as the market closed the year on an upswing. Futures prices finished the week lower.

Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Steady in Red
Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Steady in Red

Santa failed to deliver any margin improvements for cattle and hog producers while beef and pork packers operated in the black.

Greg Henderson
Gov. Polis Releases Wolves in Covert Ceremony

The gray wolves relocated from Oregon to Colorado have a lengthy rap sheet. Maybe the secret reintroduction ceremony included a secret clemency grant from the Governor.

Industry Mourns Passing of Jarold Callahan
Industry Mourns Passing of Jarold Callahan

Express Ranches, Yukon, Okla., issued a Christmas Eve announcement on the sudden passing of its president and industry influencer Jarold Callahan.

Cash Cattle Higher for First Time Since Halloween; COF up 2%
Cash Cattle Higher for First Time Since Halloween; COF up 2%

Cattle traded in moderate volumes at higher prices, posting the first weekly gains in more than six weeks. USDA's Cattle on Feed total was 2% higher.

Five Gray Wolves Released in Colorado
Five Gray Wolves Released in Colorado

The first wolves were released in a voter-approved reintroduction project that sharpened the ideological divide between Colorado’s rural and urban residents.

Brazil Supreme Court Suspends $2 billion JBS Fine
Brazil Supreme Court Suspends $2 billion JBS Fine

JBS parent company J&F Investments has paid about 28% of the fine levied against the giant meatpacker in 2017 over a political bribery scandal.

Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Worst Since Summer 2020
Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Worst Since Summer 2020

The Grinch is writing closeouts ahead of the holidays as cattle and hog profit margins tumble to their lowest point since the summer of 2020, just months into the COVID pandemic.

Markets: Cash Lower for 6th Week, Futures Higher
Markets: Cash Lower for 6th Week, Futures Higher

Futures markets posted solid gains for the week, but cattle feeders continued to lose marketing leverage as cash prices declined a sixth consecutive week.

Profit Tracker: Cattle Losses Reach Triple Digits
Profit Tracker: Cattle Losses Reach Triple Digits

Cattle feeding margins fell deeper into the red while packer losses doubled from the prior week. Pork producer margins have now printed red every week for the past year.

Markets: Cash Cattle Prices Continue Retreat
Markets: Cash Cattle Prices Continue Retreat

Cash cattle and wholesale beef prices continued their fourth quarter retreat and record heavy carcass weights suggest cattle feeders have lost marketing leverage.

Iowa Cattleman Faces 30 Years for Fraud, Theft
Iowa Cattleman Faces 30 Years for Fraud, Theft

Northeast Iowa rancher operating as an unlicensed dealer pleaded guilty to livestock theft, wire fraud and one count of making a false bankruptcy statement.

Profit Tracker: Red Ink Flows
Profit Tracker: Red Ink Flows

Cattle feeders and beef packers both printed closeouts with red ink last week, slight advantage packers. Pork producers also operated underwater but pork packers saw improving margins.

Activist Sentenced to Jail for Conspiracy and Trespassing
Activist Sentenced to Jail for Conspiracy and Trespassing

A California jury deliberated for six days before returning guilty verdicts of conspiracy and trespassing for DxE co-founder Wayne Hsiung. The jury deadlocked on a second conspiracy charge.

Markets: Cattle Lower as Fundamentals Weaken
Markets: Cattle Lower as Fundamentals Weaken

Market-ready cattle prices have rolled back $10 per cwt. since the end of October and average carcass weights have increased to all-time highs, a sign feedlots are not as current as previously expected.

Profit Tracker: Feeding, Packing Margins Remain Red
Profit Tracker: Feeding, Packing Margins Remain Red

Cattle feeding margins fell deeper into the red last week while packer margins improved modestly. Pork producer margins erode further underwater.