Latest News From Markets

Valley Oaks Steak Company, Lone Jack, MO, announced Monday it was closing operations immediately after a lengthy battle seeking permission from the state to expand operations.

The fire at Tyson's beef plant was much like throwing a rock into a pond resulting in a big initial splash and ripple effects spreading in all directions.  The initial splash included a dramatic set of market reactions.

Packers were hesitant to offer a bid on cattle early last week, and after a $5 decline, feeders still have many unanswered questions about the impact of harvest capacity.

In a head-scratching week of data, estimated cattle slaughter was 9,000 head higher following the Tyson fire, cattle prices were down 5% or more, and yet wholesale beef prices rose 9%.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says the fire at Tyson's beef facility will affect many individuals and businesses in the beef industry that fuels western Kansas, and offered the state's support.

AgriTalk host Chip Flory and Drovers editor Greg Henderson discuss the impact of the fire at Tyson's facility in Kansas and the impact on cattle markets.

From a CAB production view, the temporary loss of one of our largest product sources is a concern and the marketplace will likely respond to the supply hit with some logical and some added emotional reaction.

Cattle markets continued reeling Tuesday as both CME Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle set contract lows following Monday's locked limit-down performance.

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

Packer participation in the cattle market was an issue even before Friday night's fire at Tyson's Holcomb, Kan., beef packing facility.

The indefinite closure of Tyson's Holcomb, Kan., facility creates the potential the cattle "marketing pace will slow down and carcass weights will increase."

Fed cattle trade was slow to develop in the southern plains with packer bids falling $2 short of steady. Feeder cattle traded at uneven prices across the nation.

For his leadership to the beef industry and dedication to raising quality cattle, Jerry Bohn will receive the 2019 Feeding Quality Forum (FQF) Industry Achievement Award later this month.

Packers enjoyed a comfortable inventory last week, and many have stopped Saturday harvests, which helped push cash cattle prices $1 per cwt. lower.

Feeder steers sold steady to $2 higher, with instances of heavier cattle selling $6 to $7 higher in special sales in the Southern Plains.

A recent paper offers an interesting look at an alternative model for growing cattle health and performance where efficiency was achieved using less.

The fed cattle market is holding strong in late July within a narrow trading range.

Cattle feeders’ perseverance paid dividends as they held out for steady to higher cash trade in all feeding regions.

Providing shade and cool water, and only feeding or working cattle in the cool of the day can prevent solar radiation and the damaging effects from an elevated heat load.

The fluctuation in the cash price in this trade seemed to be mostly dependent on the location of the cattle, with prices ranging from $114-$116, with dressed trade at $182-$185.

Over the next few weeks patience and a calm trigger finger could be profitable to the cattle feeder as the supply of market-ready cattle declines.

Total federally-inspected beef production was 12.1 billion pounds in the first 24 weeks of 2019, up just 0.7 percent from the same period last year.  That is an average production of 502.4 million pounds per week.

Brazilian reporters claim JBS SA has been buying cattle from ranches grazing cattle on deforested land in the Amazon, a practice forbidden by the Brazilian government.

Cattle feeders were hopeful that last week was the bottom of the decline in cash cattle prices, but a negative corn report helped prices even lower.

Cattle markets remain under pressure, though good demand was evident on heavier feeder cattle in the northern Plains.

Average cattle feeding losses totaled $106 per head for the week ending June 21.

The share of Prime carcasses has more than doubled in the past 5 years, spelling greater availability and consequential wider usage among end users.

Packers were able to keep the market suppressed as the trade began last week at $2 back of the previous week.

Tyson Foods’ executives told investors its beef margins are benefitting from a structural shift higher due to both domestic and global demand growth and a favorable supply of cattle.

Cattle feeders continue to search for a bottom to the fed cattle market, but the seem to have little leverage to stop to slide.

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

Fed cattle trades were few and far between last week, with most bids lower and packers seemingly uninterested.

After more than 200 cattle died on a feedlot in Nebraska, the cattle feeder who was responsible for the animals' care has pleaded not guilty to 40 charges he faces in the alleged livestock neglect case.

Cattle and beef markets have decreased from April highs with uncertainty in a variety of factors weighing on markets the past month. 

After more than 200 cattle died on a feedlot in Nebraska, the cattle feeder who was responsible for the animals' care has pleaded not guilty to 40 charges he faces in the alleged livestock neglect case.

Nolan Ryan Beef is the first adopter of the new Temple Grandin Responsible Cattle Care Program, a certification program developed under the guidance of animal care expert Temple Grandin.

A recent study shows that using sires that are superior for Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG) and marbling did not compromise other important traits.

National Beef, the fourth largest beef packer in the U.S., has announced that the company's purchase of Iowa Premium has been finalized.

Brisket prices are heating up just like summer temperatures. 

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

The past several weeks of trading in the fed cattle markets have shown that basis is becoming more important to many than the actual cash price.

The story in the finished cattle market continues to be the strong basis where live cash prices are trading $5 to $6 higher than June live cattle futures.

Expected to offer evidence of wrongdoings unveiled by Batistas.

Given the significant decrease in plantings and the percentage of corn that has been planted late, corn price may continue to increase.

For producers who can market feedstuffs through livestock (particularly cattle), it may be premature to completely abandon corn simply due to calendar dates, explained Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension.

Muddy feedlot conditions common in 2019 lead to poor animal performance, some health issues, and increased odors as temperatures warm.

The strong futures market during March and April ramped up calf prices and now the owners of those cattle have been watching potential profitability dissipate into mounting losses.

A memorandum of understanding signed to ‘deepen discussions’ about combining businesses would bring scale and savings in global meat business.

U.S. cattle slaughter for the first quarter of 2019 was slightly above a year ago (up 0.7%, while tonnage produced was 0.8% below 2018’s.

Beef in cold storage fell another 21 million pounds in April from the previous month’s figure of 451 million.