BEEF
August WASDE feeds the bears on crop markets, could it also feed the bulls (and steers) this fall?
South Dakota feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more animals reported 220,000 cattle on feed on Aug. 1, up 5 percent from last year.
The CME Group announced more changes that include discounting live cattle futures at a delivery location and revising quality grade specifications.
Until the market gains some consistency with what is happening in the country then the futures market is about as risky as playing croquet in the alligator pit.
While marketings were largely in line with the pre-report estimates, June placements were the big surprise, only up 3 percent compared to last year.
USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was pegged at 10.4 million head on July 1, 1% above last year’s total.
Cattle feeders are walking a tight rope as fed cattle prices continue to decline.
Missing from the slate of late July USDA cattle reports was the July Cattle report which would have provided an indication of continued herd rebuilding, heifer retention and the size of the 2016 calf crop.
A 1,200 mile drive by an agriculture economist reveals crop and pasture conditions are doing well.
Mid-summer shipments of cattle off grass pastures to feedlots is in full-swing.
Several marketing options for cow-calf producers to consider.
The six key sections to include in your business plan.
Dry lot feeding of summer calving cows may be a cost competitive production system when grass prices are high, distillers grains prices are comparatively low, and corn stalks are readily available for grazing.
Now is the time to start thinking about marketing opportunities for calves this fall.
Summer brings bullish and bearish news in cattle markets.
Most areas of Oklahoma experience 70 or more days each year with temperatures that exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, providing ample reason for cattle producers to guard against heat stress in their herds.
Cattle producers capture value from pasture to plate.
The longer cattle continue to trade sideways the more explosive price movement could be.
Recent beef and cattle trade data shows a mixed bag of global market impacts, with total U.S. beef exports decreasing 5.3 percent in April compared to last year.
USDA released their June Cattle on Feed report this afternoon. It said there were 2.2% more cattle on feed than on June 1, 2015.
Where do we go from here? After a rough ride so far this year, one can only imagine what lies ahead for feeder cattle prices the rest of 2016.
Staying ahead of the curve is a fundamental element to the survival of most businesses.
Retail meat prices signal beef prices are down, but that’s due to a sharp drop in ground beef. Retail steak prices are up from year-ago, while pork chop and boneless, skinless chicken breast prices are lower.
More than half a century after its discovery, bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) still wages war on cattle health and producers’ livelihoods.
Cattle on feed continues to increase, while drought conditions go away in the Northern and Southern Plains.
For years, the accepted target weight for yearling replacement beef heifers at breeding was 65% of their mature weight. Recently that target has been questioned.
Taking high-risk cattle to low-risk can be done, and it can be profitable when the calves are priced right.