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Grain and Livestock Futures Mostly Lower for 2023.  So, What’s Ahead in 2024?
Grain and Livestock Futures Mostly Lower for 2023. So, What’s Ahead in 2024?

2023 was a lower year for all the grains as the market went through a commodity reset similar to 2013. What's ahead for 2024?

December WASDE Neutral as USDA Makes Only Slight Adjustments
December WASDE Neutral as USDA Makes Only Slight Adjustments

Generally, the December WASDE sees very few changes as USDA leaves major revisions until the final report in January.  However, USDA did lower ending stocks in corn and wheat, as well as cut Brazil soybean production. 

Hall of Fame Football Coach Credits Indiana Farm Roots
Hall of Fame Football Coach Credits Indiana Farm Roots

Indiana farmer Russ Radtke celebrates his ag roots while building a legacy on the football field as the second-winningest high school football coach in state history.

Ag Teachers: When Someone Believes in You
Ag Teachers: When Someone Believes in You

In a world where more and more young people are glued to electronic devices and missing out on community, FFA offers connection, hands-on learning and adult mentors to invest in their lives. 

Fed Cattle Prices Set Record, Taking Out 2014 Levels and The Tightest Numbers Are Yet to Come
Fed Cattle Prices Set Record, Taking Out 2014 Levels and The Tightest Numbers Are Yet to Come

The cattle market has moved into uncharted territory. It came as a result of one of the worst droughts in history but how long will the bull market last?

State of the Cattle Industry: Supply Shock Results in 61 Year Low in Beef Cow Herd and Record Price Forecast
State of the Cattle Industry: Supply Shock Results in 61 Year Low in Beef Cow Herd and Record Price Forecast

With the massive liquidation of the nation's cattle herd due to the historic drought what is the state of the cattle industry?

Winter Storm and Arctic Blast Hit Wheat and Cattle Country: How Are Markets Responding?
Winter Storm and Arctic Blast Hit Wheat and Cattle Country: How Are Markets Responding?

Winter weather is packing a punch across much of farm country this week.  However, its being somewhat ignored by the trade. 

Cattle & Hogs Mostly Higher on Follow Through Buying, Lower Corn:  Grains Lower on Slow Exports, Sell off in Bean Oil
Cattle & Hogs Mostly Higher on Follow Through Buying, Lower Corn: Grains Lower on Slow Exports, Sell off in Bean Oil

Cattle mostly higher with steady cash, hogs mixed with disappointing exports. Grains start lower with slow exports and sharply lower BO.  Scott Varilek of Kooima Kooima Varilek has analysis. 

DOT Denies Hours of Service Exemption for Livestock:  Puts Burden on Cattle Producers
DOT Denies Hours of Service Exemption for Livestock: Puts Burden on Cattle Producers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has denied an exemption for Hours-of-Service rules for truckers transporting livestock, insects and aquatic animals.

Clinton Griffiths
Farmers Celebrate Harvest Milestones This Thanksgiving

From a first harvest to what will likely be a final 50th season, farmers are celebrating moments of Thanksgiving and marking milestones to last a lifetime.

Cattle Numbers Historically Tight:  When Does the Market Realize It?
Cattle Numbers Historically Tight: When Does the Market Realize It?

Cattle producers liquidated their herds with drought hitting cattle country. They also faced poor pasture and winter wheat conditions. So, what does that mean for the fall cattle run and the market outlook?  

USMEF Celebrates Export Relationship with Japan: Looks Ahead to Next 45 Years of Growth
USMEF Celebrates Export Relationship with Japan: Looks Ahead to Next 45 Years of Growth

"There are 20 or 25 countries that want shelf space in Japan, but what differentiates U.S. meat from meat around the world is that it's safe, reliable and tasty," says Dean Meyer, USMEF chair-elect and Iowa farmer.

Time Running Out for Legislative Fixes to Cattle Market:  Divide Remains on Special Investigator at USDA
Time Running Out for Legislative Fixes to Cattle Market: Divide Remains on Special Investigator at USDA

The House recently passed the Lower Food and Fuels Cost Act which includes a special USDA investigator. However, there’s divide on if this is the right approach to restoring competition in the cattle market.

Senate Panel to Vote on Cattle Market Bills
Senate Panel to Vote on Cattle Market Bills

The Senate Ag Committee is scheduled to vote on the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act this week. 

Cattle Losses Reported Due to Heat Stress
Cattle Losses Reported Due to Heat Stress

With the extreme heat in cattle feeding areas there have been reports of death losses.

Industry Needs Action, Despite ‘No Nothing Burger’ Hearings
Industry Needs Action, Despite ‘No Nothing Burger’ Hearings

Despite a “no nothing burger” Cattle Market Price Discovery and Transparency Act hearing, NCBA’s Don Schiefelbein joins “AgriTalk” to highlight his thoughts on where the industry needs to see action.

FFA Star Farmer Finalist: Success is No Accident
FFA Star Farmer Finalist: Success is No Accident

FFA students searching for success can learn from Oklahoma's Raegan Klaassen and her well-traveled path to the 2021 National Star Farmer stage in Indianapolis.

EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Fauci on COVID Pandemic — "It Will End"
EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Fauci on COVID Pandemic — "It Will End"

Rural communities are likely to see an outbreak of the COVID-19 variant omicron later than big cities but Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci says the pandemic will eventually end.

From the Flames: A Lesson in Thanksgiving from a Man Who Survived a Raging Oklahoma Wildfire
From the Flames: A Lesson in Thanksgiving from a Man Who Survived a Raging Oklahoma Wildfire

When nearly 300,000 Oklahoma acres burned in April of 2018, Terry Burleson found himself caught in the wind-driven flames. His escape is nothing short of a miracle.

Where Do Alternative Proteins Fit in the U.S. Market? 
Where Do Alternative Proteins Fit in the U.S. Market? 

Plant-based dishes are getting a lot of attention on the menu at the United Nations Climate Change Conference UK 2021. But experts say U.S. livestock producers don’t need to be worried.

Vilsack Says 98.9% of Farmers Won’t Be Impacted by Biden’s Tax Plan, Tax Experts and Economists Still Disagree
Vilsack Says 98.9% of Farmers Won’t Be Impacted by Biden’s Tax Plan, Tax Experts and Economists Still Disagree

Possible tax changes on the table in Washington are causing angst in agriculture. Secretary Vilsack says the proposed changes won't impact 98% of family farms, but another analysis contradicts those claims.

Mandatory COOL Discussions Heat Up
Mandatory COOL Discussions Heat Up

"The shirts you and I are wearing today say where they come from, but the beef we put in the center of our plate doesn’t have to bear that label,” Sen. John Thune told Chip Flory on AgriTalk about mandatory COOL.

Secy. Vilsack, ‘I think at the end of the day I should pay tax’
Secy. Vilsack, ‘I think at the end of the day I should pay tax’

Chip Flory is joined by USDA Secretary Vilsack to discuss who is affected by stepped-up basis and why he thinks agricultural America should be in support of it.

High Steaks: Hearings Highlight Need for Congressional Action on Cattle Price Transparency
High Steaks: Hearings Highlight Need for Congressional Action on Cattle Price Transparency

It was a busy week on Capitol Hill for the beef industry. NCBA’s Ethan Lane joined AgriTalk to sum up the events.

Farm Reform Act a “Direct Attack” on Cattle Production NCBA’s Lane Says
Farm Reform Act a “Direct Attack” on Cattle Production NCBA’s Lane Says

Lane joined AgriTalk this week to discuss the bill, which was introduced by Sen. Cory Booker, who is known for being vegan among other things.

Help Cattle Beat the Heat with These Tips
Help Cattle Beat the Heat with These Tips

Kansas State beef veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff explains some of the ways producers can help cattle be less stressed in high heat conditions.

Truck Shortage Continues as Semiconductor Chips Still in Short Supply
Truck Shortage Continues as Semiconductor Chips Still in Short Supply

If you're in the market for a new truck, you may be waiting a while longer. Major auto and truck manufacturers have announced extended shutdowns and it's the chip shortage still to blame.

Average Cost of a 4th of July Cookout is Down Compared to Last Year
Average Cost of a 4th of July Cookout is Down Compared to Last Year

The American Farm Bureau says average cost for 10 people is less than $6 per person.

Group with Ties to Mormon Church Outbids Bill Gates’ Group for Easterday Land
Group with Ties to Mormon Church Outbids Bill Gates’ Group for Easterday Land

An investment company with ties to the Mormon church has the high bid for land that belonged to the now bankrupt Easterday Farms and Easterday Ranches.

Misguided Ruling Could Upend the Lives of Many Hog Farmers, Sorenson Says
Misguided Ruling Could Upend the Lives of Many Hog Farmers, Sorenson Says

A federal district court ruling, if left unchallenged, will result in a 2.5% loss in pork packing plant capacity nationwide and over $80 million in reduced income for small U.S. hog farmers, says economist Dermot Hayes.

Biden Administration: Fully Vaccinated People Don’t Need Masks
Biden Administration: Fully Vaccinated People Don’t Need Masks

The CDC recently announced new protocols for fully vaccinated people. Chip Flory discusses these new measures Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, Senior Advisor to the White House COVID-19 Response Team.

Retail Beef Sales Remain Strong During February
Retail Beef Sales Remain Strong During February

Sales of all food and beverage items during February were 11.8% higher than during February 2020, and the meat department was an above-average performer.

Do Imported Rescue Dogs Pose Threat to Livestock Industry?
Do Imported Rescue Dogs Pose Threat to Livestock Industry?

Each year, several thousand dogs enter the U.S. for resale or adoption. In a recent Hogs on the Hill article, NPPC chief veterinarian Liz Wagstrom wrote that it’s time to sound the alarm on importing rescue dogs.

Senate Extends PPP Loan Deadline; Only 3% of Ag Community Taking Advantage of Program to Date
Senate Extends PPP Loan Deadline; Only 3% of Ag Community Taking Advantage of Program to Date

Farmers and ranchers have more time to sign up for the Paycheck Protection Program. The Senate passed legislation to extend the deadline from March 31 to May 31.

Jennifer Shike
5 Hard Lessons Learned from a Year of Virtual FFA

A virtual FFA community can only fill the gap so far. I am grateful FFA has found solutions during the pandemic, but I believe the things FFA members have missed drive home the reasons why FFA is so important today.

Frozen Citrus in Texas
Texas Freeze Will Cost Ag Producers Millions in Lost Production

The arctic blast will cost Texas ag producers hundreds of millions of dollars. Early estimates show the citrus crop sustained at least $300 million in damage and milk producers have dumped thousands of pounds of milk.

Zach Ducheneaux Speaks at 2021 Top Producer Summit
South Dakota's DX Ranch Focuses on Growth and Community

Located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation, the DX Ranch and its direct-to-consumer beef operation has a simple mission: Provide beef that is local, nutritious, and that improves their communities.

Charges Dropped Against Animal Rights Activist Who Trespassed at Iowa Select Farms
Charges Dropped Against Animal Rights Activist Who Trespassed at Iowa Select Farms

Matt Johnson of the activist group Direct Action Everywhere was charged with trespassing in May.

Broilers
Tyson Foods Agrees To Settle In Poultry Price-Fixing Lawsuit

Tyson Foods Inc. has agreed to settle a portion of a class action lawsuit alleging some of the nation’s major poultry companies conspired to fix broiler prices and rig bids.

Sausage King Jimmy Dean Adds Plant-Based Breakfast Patties

Tyson Foods Inc. is adding breakfast sandwiches with soy-protein patties to its iconic Jimmy Dean sausage line.  

NCBA’s Lane Discusses Relief Payments, Transition In D.C.
NCBA’s Lane Discusses Relief Payments, Transition In D.C.

NCBA vice president of governmental affairs appeared on AgriTalk with Chip Flory to discuss COVID-19 relief packages and working with the new Biden administration.

If realized, 2020 would deliver the highest net farm income the U.S. agriculture sector has seen since 2013.
USDA-ERS Predicts $119.6 Billion Net Farm Income For 2020 – The Highest Since 2013

The report says total crop receipts are expected to increase $6.5 billion from 2019 levels. Total animal product receipts are expected to decrease $9.7 billion.

Biden Says He Will Not Immediately Remove Phase 1 Trade Deal With China
Biden Says He Will Not Immediately Remove Phase 1 Trade Deal With China

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has said that he will not immediately act to remove the Phase 1 trade agreement, which President Donald Trump inked with China, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

The surge of COVID-19 cases across the country is hitting rural hospitals especially hard. Many aren’t equipped to handle critical patients, and with hospitals at capacity, some rural hospitals are unable to send patients to urban hospitals for care.
COVID-19 Crisis: Rural Hospitals Have Nowhere to Send Critical Patients

The surge of COVID-19 cases across the country is hitting rural hospitals especially hard. Many aren’t equipped to handle critical patients. Now some hospitals are unable to send patients to urban hospitals for care.

Profit Tracker: Huge Packer Margins
Profit Tracker: Huge Packer Margins

Cattle feeders saw modest profits for the 10th consecutive week, a headline-worthy observation in normal times. The beef complex is not operating in normal times.

Meat Packers Accelerated Spread of COVID-19, Study Says

New research published by the National Academy of Sciences ties livestock meat packing plants to 6% to 8% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, and 3% to 4% of the deaths through late July.

Cattle weights are declining
Cattle Carcass Weights Moderating

Market analysts see signs that feedyards have significantly reduced the COVID-19-induced backlog of cattle and are regaining currentness, also a key factor in the recent market rally.

More than 200 local meat and poultry processors in Iowa received grants made possible from $4 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding allocated by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds
Over 200 Iowa Small Meat and Poultry Processors Awarded CARES Act Funds

On Nov. 9, more than 200 local meat and poultry processors in Iowa were awarded Meat Processing and Expansion Grants from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Profit Tracker: Profit Margins Erode For Cattle And Hogs
Profit Tracker: Profit Margins Erode For Cattle And Hogs

Cattle and hog finishing margins remain positive for the sixth consecutive week, but cash prices for both declined modesty last week and margins eroded.

NCBA Releases Plan For Voluntary Price Discovery Reform
NCBA Releases Plan For Voluntary Price Discovery Reform

NCBA announces its "75% plan," a regional approach to improve cattle market price discovery without mandating participation by producers or packers.