Latest News From Markets

Total U.S. beef imports were 3.0 billion pounds in 2018, up 0.2 percent year over year and essentially unchanged for the last three years. 

Cattle markets have been keeping pace in early 2019 compared to the same first quarter period in 2017 and 2018.

Profit margins for cattle sold for slaughter last week declined $55 per head, according to the Sterling Profit Tracker.

Cattle markets have been keeping pace in early 2019 compared to the same first quarter period in 2017 and 2018.

The nation’s fourth largest beef packer is growing and consumers are surveyed on the use of vegetarian products bearing meat labeling.

Joan Ruskamp reflects on her year as chairperson of the CBB and the value of the beef checkoff.

The nation’s fourth largest beef packer is growing and consumers are surveyed on the use of vegetarian products bearing meat labeling.

Jessie Ramirez, head of maintenance and equipment operator at Brookover Feed Yard outside Garden City, Kan., has been the model example of what feedlots are looking for from their workforce.

DNA markers can identify animals, even after meat processing and the rapidly-growing Open Prairie brand will use the tracing tech.

The recent USDA release of the December livestock trade data puts a bow on cattle and beef trade for 2018. 

DNA markers can identify animals, even after meat processing and the rapidly-growing Open Prairie brand will use the tracing tech.

The recent USDA release of the December livestock trade data puts a bow on cattle and beef trade for 2018. 

Following the shutdown, fundamental information is slowly returning to normal. The February Cattle on Feed report was released last Friday, with the March report scheduled for its normal date of March 22.

Following the shutdown, fundamental information is slowly returning to normal. The February Cattle on Feed report was released last Friday, with the March report scheduled for its normal date of March 22.

The Humane Society asks attorneys general to investigate allegations the poultry giant misled consumers about how it treats its birds.

The USDA has released new cattle on feed numbers. It is still playing catch up following the partial government shutdown.

The move by National Beef – the fourth largest beef packer in the U.S. – to purchase Iowa Premium adds additional 1,100 head per day of packing capacity to the company.

The USDA has released new cattle on feed numbers. It is still playing catch up following the partial government shutdown.

The move by National Beef – the fourth largest beef packer in the U.S. – to purchase Iowa Premium adds additional 1,100 head per day of packing capacity to the company.

Despite packer inventories, last week's cash cattle trade met most cattle feeders’ expectations.

Beef muscle cuts are not the only thing exported.

Court documents allege a South Dakota man involved in a multi-million dollar foreclosure case, sold the same cattle to as many as four different parties.

This is a summary, a test

Cash fed cattle traded at $128 with no standoff between packers and feedyards for the first time in several weeks.

The USDA Cattle report was released last week and it showed an estimated 0.5 percent growth in all cattle and calves for a total of 94.8 million head in the U.S. on January 1, 2019.

The January 1, 2019 inventory of all cattle and calves in the U.S. grew to 94.76 million, head, up 0.5 percent from one year ago.

Heavy winter precipitation has continued at intervals spanning December through early March while brutally cold temperatures add often devastating effects, and sub-zero readings continued this week in many areas.

A recall of more than 30,000 lb. of ground beef has been implemented after the discovery of plastic and metal in beef from a Washington processing plant.

A recall of more than 30,000 lb. of ground beef has been implemented after the discovery of plastic and metal in beef from a Washington processing plant.

Cattle feeding margins improved modestly on higher cash prices last week. Packer margins declined slightly.

Cash cattle prices traded $2 higher, yet cattle feeders anticipated an even higher market.

Cash fed cattle prices trade $2 per cwt. higher on the week, with the Choice beef cutout gaining nearly $5 per cwt.

The survey of cattle producers indicates all cattle and calves as of January 1 totaled 94.76 million head which is a 0.5 percent increase from one year ago.

Size matters for producers as smaller birds mean bigger profit and fast-food demand for small birds is helping prop up margins.

Cattle feeders remain frustrated as market fundamentals suggest the market is ready to rally, but packers continue to dig in their heels.

Beef producing countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Mexico are gaining greater access into Japan thanks to lowered tariffs, giving those exporters a significant advantage over U.S. beef producers.

Carcass weights are expected to be lighter for cattle hanging on the rail this year because of continued poor weather across many cattle feeding regions in the U.S.

Industry-wide average cattle feeding margins improved last week, while pork producer margins declined.

The latest USDA Cattle on Feed report issued on February 22 was delayed a month because of the federal government shutdown.

USDA continues to catch up on reports stalled by the shutdown and as part of catching up released the January Cattle on Feed report on February 22, and the Cattle Inventory report will be released February 28. 

The meat-processing company that sued ABC News for calling its beef “pink slime” now is producing “100 percent ground beef,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s labeling board.

The meat-processing company that sued ABC News for calling its beef “pink slime” now is producing “100 percent ground beef,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s labeling board.

Last week brought one of the lightest trade volumes the market has seen for an extended time.

The abundant moisture that is keeping producers from marketing cattle is also setting cattle country up for favorable grazing conditions this spring and is also positively influencing summer grazing pastures.

USDA's cattle on feed report released Friday found 11.7 million cattle in feedlots on January 1.

USDA's cattle on feed report released Friday found 11.7 million cattle in feedlots on January 1.

Friday’s report is anticipated not only for the information that enables market analysts to estimate slaughter cattle supplies, but also because the January report was unpublished due to the government shutdown.

The year-on-year carcass quality improvements are well underway again in 2019, at a pace that seems almost unrealistic in light of the hand-over-fist progress achieved in each of the past dozen years.

In the U.S., cattle cycles traditionally happen about every 10 years with cattle being added or removed from the herd during market swings.

Feedyard closeouts saw modest improvement last week, but cattle feeders remain frustrated by their inability to push the cash market higher.