Latest News From Greg Henderson

The FBI arrested Cliven Bundy late Wednesday at the Portland International Airport, Portland, Ore. 

Feedyard closeouts declined an average of $20 per head, leaving losses at $265 per head last week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Feedyard closeouts saw a $100 per head improvement last week, bringing losses under the $300 per head mark for the first time in months.

Cattle feeders found a modest improvement of $40 on closeouts last week, but the bottom-line was still $345 in the red. 

Beef packers saw their margins jump more than $86 per head higher last week, leaving average profits at $199, according to calculations by Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore. 

After slicing more than 50% off the monstrous losses found a month ago, cattle feeders saw their margins slip $43 per further into the red last week with $2 per cwt. lower bids. 

Cattle feeding margins improved by 50% over the past two weeks, and by 38% during the past week. 

Expansion kicks into gear, but solid ranch profits remain

A $6-plus per cwt. gain in cash cattle prices produced a 20% improvement in feeding margins.

The crisis continues for America’s cattle feeders.

Another miserable week left many in the cattle feeding business on the brink of financial ruin. 

Uncharted territory. That’s where America’s cattle feeding industry finds itself as fed cattle lose $611 per head. 

You might get fewer dollars for your calves next year, but 2016 will still offer good profits for most ranchers.

Calculated breakeven prices for cattle shipped from feedyards last week were $170.12, according to Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

The adjectives have all been used to describe the despair that is cattle feeding. Last week was simply worse than the week before, which was a train wreck. 

After months of extreme losses, feedyard managers entered November with ideas the worst was behind them. 

In the span of 14 months, America’s cattle producers saw two of the most extreme market moves in history.

Last week erased the modest gains cattle feeders saw the past few weeks and tacked on more heavy losses. 

Another small rally in cash fed cattle markets provided another modest improvement in feeder margins, but closeouts remain $24.66 per cwt. short of break even. 

Last week’s $2.50 rally in the cash market was another step in the right direction, but closeouts remain $26.46 per cwt. short of break even.

More cattle at heavier weights pulls market lower   

Last week’s $8.50 rally in the cash market was sorely needed, but closeouts remain $29.65 per cwt. short of break even.

It’s been a rough fall for cattle feeders, but cowboys found some signs last week that suggest the worst may be behind them.

Cattle feeders hope the cash market found its bottom last week. 

With cash fed cattle prices tumbling $6 per cwt. last week an increase in cattle feeding losses was certain. 

Expansion of the U.S. cattle herd will test consumer demand

Unfortunately, yes. 

Cattle feeding margins took another hit last week as softer prices added another $35 to closeout losses. 

Already facing steep losses, cattle feeders saw their margins decline further in a dismal pre-Labor Day market. 

Cattle feeding losses nearly doubled last week as cash fed cattle prices declined another $2 per cwt. 

Cash cattle prices took a drubbing this week with fed cattle prices $4 to $5 lower at $144 to $145 per cwt. Dressed sales were reported $4 to $6 lower at $228 per cwt.

USDA’s mid-year cattle count provides evidence ranchers are building herds at a rapid pace.

The Beef Industry Long Range Plan includes strategies for a stronger industry.

Beef packers saw their margins jump $51 per head higher last week, ending with profits more than $83. 

Cattle feeding losses jumped back into triple digits last week on softer fed cattle prices

A $4 per cwt. rally in cash fed cattle prices reduced losses for fed cattle to less than $50 per head last week.

Beef packer margins jumped into the black last week while cattle feeders saw their margins improve $88 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Cattle feeding margins took another tumble last week as cash fed cattle prices declined $2.40 per cwt.

Cattle feeders and beef packers are hoping the price lows are in for the summer as both operated at a loss last week.

Cattle feeding margins took two steps back last week as cash cattle prices hover around what producers hope are the summer lows.

A much needed price rally helped cattle feeders erase a lot of red ink last week

Beef packer profit margins continued to grow last week as the beef cutout jumped nearly $5 per cwt. and cash fed cattle prices declined another $2 per cwt.

It was good to be a beef packer last week.

It was a devastating week for cattle feeders. Margins dropped with a thud – another $107 per head – with total average losses now at $270 per animal.

McCurry Angus Ranch, a family-owned operation located in the Sandhills area of Reno and Harvey counties in Kansas, was named the 2015 Beef Improvement Federation Seedstock Producer of the Year.

Woodbury Farms, Quenemo, Kan., was named 2015 Commercial Producer of the Year by the Beef Improvement Federation today at the organization’s annual convention in Biloxi, Miss.

Cattle feeding margins dropped another $45 per head last week, totaling average losses of $163 for every animal that walked on the truck. That’s the result of a $4.37 per cwt. decline in the 5-area direct cash price which registered $154.93 per cwt., well below the average breakeven price of $167.53.

A $6 per head decline in cattle feeding margins is tolerable, unless you were already losing $112.

The official start of the summer grilling season launched with a thud. Beef demand remains good, but the expected bump from Memorial Day weekend was doused by heavy rains and beef’s high retail price in comparison to pork and poultry.

Last week saw dramatic improvement in cattle feeding margins, yet triple-digit losses remain.