BEEF
Stocker and feeder cattle saw significant price reductions last week as grain markets continued marching higher in rapid fashion.
White Oak Pastures, a 3,200-acre multigenerational Georgia farm, says it offsets 100% of its grass-fed beef carbon emissions and as much as 85% of the farm’s total carbon emissions.
Livestock producers are still adding up the totals when it comes to losses they suffered in last month’s flooding but one analyst expects the losses won’t likely curb cattle herd expansion.
Knowing when to deworm your cattle can be quite profitable.
Wayne Springer is tired of paying $300 for a bag of traited corn seed. Unafraid to change horses in midstream, the 60-year-old producer is transitioning from a row crop farm to a ranching operation.
USDA released Wednesday the long-awaited report on its investigation into cattle market disruptions following last year’s Tyson Foods packing plant fire and this spring’s impact from the coronavirus pandemic.
“We need more small plants!”—-The tiny violin solo of the beef industry. To start: there are 853ish USDA beef kill plants in the US, the big four run 27 of them.
The anger and frustration of some cattlemen has turned to accusations and proposals for change that will have long-term implications and unintended consequences for the cattle and beef industry.
JBS USA says its Greeley, Colo., beef plant will be closed through Tuesday for “deep cleaning” in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19 among its thousands of employees. Two employee deaths have been reported.
During a Facebook Live address to cattlemen Monday night, R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard outlined four actions his group proposes to “restore balance to our dysfunctional cattle markets.”
Unprecedented volatility in fed cattle markets during March produced a strong increase in negotiated cash sales from feedlots to packers the final two weeks of the month.
Cash prices charged higher in feedyard country this week, leaving CME futures in the dust. Feeder cattle recovered most of the previous week’s losses.
The current cattle market situation creates significant disparities between the current supply and demand situation and expectations for coming supply and demand conditions.
Some American beef packing companies are adding to worker’s hourly pay and sick leave in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Some will earn an additional bonus for working all their shifts through May 3.
The U.S. and global economy is in uncharted waters. There are many unknowns about the timing, severity and aftermath of the disease. For beef, there are longer-term questions about the overall impact on demand.
Agricultural Marketing Service reporters said the market was most active on “lightweight cattle, in light flesh, as numbers of those cattle are not as plentiful as their heavier mates.”
Cash cattle prices traded higher in the north, with dressed sales reported $3 to $5 higher. Feeder cattle markets saw a limited holiday-week test.
Sharply higher carcass weights have boosted beef production, though another round of winter weather hitting parts of cattle feeding country may temper that in the last few weeks of the year.
CattleFax analyst Duane Lenz told the 2019 Angus Convention attendees there could be another year or two of price pressure, but then, he’s optimistic, bullish even, for future beef prices.
Cash fed cattle trade was active on Wednesday, surging $2 to $4 higher the day before Thanksgiving, with demand strong in all major cattle feeding regions.
USDA’s cattle on feed report counted 11.83 million head on feed, which is 101.2% of last year and up 4.8% from October as feedlot inventories increase to a seasonal peak.
Cash cattle traded higher again and all four major packers participated in last week’s trade, including Tyson for the Finney County, Kan., plant.
The 140,000-acre Philmont Scout Ranch has been mortgaged by the Boy Scouts of America as the organization faces a growing wave of new sex-abuse lawsuits.
Packer market participation wasn’t as robust as it had been in earlier weeks, and packers have slowly added to their inventory ahead of the holidays.
In a bizarre twist, Nebraska authorities say human remains found in a recently purchased stock trailer may belong to one of the brothers murdered in Missouri last summer.
Cash fed cattle prices traded higher in all regions for the third consecutive week, marking a 16% gain since the lows were set in September.
Tyson Fresh Meats said early Monday the construction and repairs to its Finney County beef complex are nearing completion.
Preconditioning programs add value to cattle and the value is consistently reflected in premiums for certified preconditioned calves sold under specific programs.
Jeffries Financial Group announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its remaining 31% interest in National Beef to Marfrig Global Foods SA.
The Red Angus Association of America and Santa Gertrudis Breeders International are collaborating to on a new program for commercial cattlemen called American Red.