Latest News From Profit Tracker

Beef packer continued with a stranglehold on cattle markets last week, buying a few cattle to fill their needs at lower money and keeping operating margins historically high.

Beef packers continued to maintain their leverage on cattle markets heading into the holiday-shortened first week of September.

The cash market for fed cattle last week gave some relief to feeders and overall market sentiment in the wake of the prior week’s $5/cwt. decline.

Cattle feeding margins slipped further into the red last week on soft cash prices, while packer margins climbed to extreme heights.

This year's weather extremes will play a role in the success of calf marketing programs.

The Sterling Beef Profit Tracker reports average cattle feeding closeouts were in the black last week, but with little room to spare.

Cattle feeding profit margins retreat further with a weaker cash market and limited packer interest.

Last week's $2 per cwt. decline in cash cattle prices left feedyard margins at near breakeven levels.