Latest News From Markets

R-CALF USA has filed a class action lawsuit against America's four largest packing companies claiming their actions since 2015 have depressed prices paid to ranchers.

Cash fed cattle prices finally turned higher in the south, following in the steps of the north to add $2 per cwt to the cash market.

The steer by-product price is currently trading just over $9 per hundredweight which is one of the lowest values dating back to 2009.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average this past week, with 4,800 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $97.36, down $2.81 per head from last week.

The 2017 Census of Agriculture was released April 11. While the lag between collecting and reporting the information seems like a long time, the breadth and depth of information is substantial.

Cattle on Feed estimates for April 1, 2019, were 2% higher than the same month a year ago.

Cattle on Feed estimates for April 1, 2019, were 2% higher than the same month a year ago.

Cattle markets finding strong fundamental reasons to remain positive despite the threat of disruption from trade negotiations.

Cattle feeding margins improved $16 per head last week as cash prices inched higher less than $1 per cwt.

Cattle feeding margins improved $16 per head last week as cash prices inched higher less than $1 per cwt.

Texas packers have enjoyed a most-recent March quality surge with both Choice and Prime grade ticking noticeably higher when the 1st quarter came to a close. 

Last week's fed cattle market saw a wide variation in prices between the south and the north, with some feeders willing to sacrifice one set of cattle in order to get another set in.

Sometimes, the slightest of differences between groups of feeder cattle can significantly affect their value when sold as fats. Understanding these subtle nuances can help you more effectively market your future calf crops.

Sometimes, the slightest of differences between groups of feeder cattle can significantly affect their value when sold as fats. Understanding these subtle nuances can help you more effectively market your future calf crops.

Cattle markets sometimes take on the persona of an untrained dog whose attention goes something like: Bird! Squirrel! Rabbit! Biscuit!

Weather continues to have an influence on the cattle market as adverse weather like the most recent “bomb cyclone” to hit the Midwest slow the rate that fed cattle are finished.

Clear Lab uses a robotic platform to improve food safety and its method shortens testing turnaround times by up to five days.

Weather continues to have an influence on the cattle market as adverse weather like the most recent “bomb cyclone” to hit the Midwest slow the rate that fed cattle are finished.

U.S. feedlots with more than 500 cattle on feed increased in numbers 12% during the five year period between 2012 and 2017, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

Burger King is starting a pilot project in 59 restaurants to start selling a plant-based Whopper and if successful the Impossible Whopper could be found in more than 7,000 locations nationwide.

Burger King is starting a pilot project in 59 restaurants to start selling a plant-based Whopper and if successful the Impossible Whopper could be found in more than 7,000 locations nationwide.

From one bottom to the next, the last 7 U.S. cattle inventory cycles have averaged 11.9 years (from 10 to 15 years).

Aaron Ogren, 30, of Exeter, Nebraska, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty after more than 200 cattle died on a feedlot.

A recall has been announced by JBS and USDA after more than 43,000 lb. of ground beef was found to be possibly contaminated by extraneous materials, specifically, pieces of hard plastic.

Aaron Ogren, 30, of Exeter, Nebraska, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty after more than 200 cattle died on a feedlot.

The USDA Prospective Plantings and the Quarterly Grain Stocks reports were released at the end of March and showed an increase in expected corn acres above 2018 levels.

Central Valley Meat Holding Company will acquire Harris Ranch Beef Holding Company to comprise the country’s 7th largest beef packer and processing company in the U.S. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Central Valley Meat Holding Company will acquire Harris Ranch Beef Holding Company to comprise the country’s 7th largest beef packer and processing company in the U.S. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Adverse weather has likely slowed cattle finishing somewhat but the slaughter totals across classes mostly reflect underlying herd dynamics.

Cattle feeding margins declined by $80 per head last week as cash prices slumped $1 to $2 per cwt.

Cash cattle trade was like a roller coaster ride with disappointing downs, and faith restoring gains for the north.

Commercial beef production in January totaled 2.3 billion pounds which was an increase in production of 295 million pounds compared to January 2018.

Rabo AgriFinance says the live cattle and feeder cattle markets are out of balance right now; a sign that lower feeder cattle prices could be on the horizon.

The downward movement in the market feels like it should be short lived, but is dependent on how willing producers are to fight for a price.

R-CALF USA has asked the Justice Department to block the proposed merger of Iowa Premium and National Beef.

The waves or price fluctuations of the nearby futures contract should not incite panic among producers or industry participants.

A softer cash fed cattle market leaves cattlemen wondering if the spring highs are in for 2019.

A softer cash fed cattle market leaves cattlemen wondering if the spring highs are in for 2019.

A traceability program is being started by Tyson Foods, Inc. that will use DNA to trace beef pack to the individual animal while proving its genetics.

A traceability program is being started by Tyson Foods, Inc. that will use DNA to trace beef pack to the individual animal while proving its genetics.

The south Texas beef packer formerly known as Kane Beef has reopened under the name of STX Beef.

While Dale Durcholz does think there’s potential for a grain production number shift, he says the winter farmers and feed yards have faced is more likely to be the cause of a grain stocks shift lower.

The south Texas beef packer formerly known as Kane Beef has reopened under the name of STX Beef.

The March Cattle on Feed report brings the feedlot data up to date and back on schedule following the federal government shutdown. 

Many of the corporate yards in the south are loaded with market-ready cattle, which may reduce packer aggressiveness.

USDA's March 1 cattle on feed report estimated 1% more cattle in feedlots than the same period last year.

Early estimates put cattle losses due to Nebraska’s flood at $500 million dollars, according to the Nebraska Farm Bureau, and the impact to ranchers and feedlots will be felt for weeks.

The returning to normal of U.S. federal government reports and data sources are revealing the impact of the cold and wet winter on the fed cattle production.

The beef cattle trade has been highlighting this winter’s weather market for several weeks now, but the impact from last week’s bomb cyclone the cattle feeding belt has escalated problems for cattle performance.

The beef cattle trade has been highlighting this winter’s weather market for several weeks now, but the impact from last week’s bomb cyclone the cattle feeding belt has escalated problems for cattle performance.