Last week’s rally to new record prices pushed packer and feeder margins in opposite directions. Pork producer margins continue higher with prices now above year ago.
JBS says it seeks opportunities for acquisitions and expansion, but two U.S. senators are calling on the U.S. Treasury Secretary to open an investigation into the Brazilian meatpacker.
Deferred cattle futures prices suggest cash cattle should rally going forward, and many cattle feeders are in a position to dig in and fight for higher prices.
Cash cattle prices were mostly steady on the week while wholesale beef prices made another run higher. Analysts see the overall fundamentals as strong and prices could trend higher.
NCBA announced the winners of its 2021 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards, which annually recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers, and educators.
The outlook for cattle prices and higher returns to cattlemen is looking positive for 2022. Low prices and significant cost inflation significantly impacted cow-calf producer decisions toward herd numbers.
The NCBA Live Cattle Marketing Committee put forth a new resolution and directive. The new resolution pertains to CME Group Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle Futures Contract price limits.
The cattle market is still dealing with a burdensome supply of market-ready fed cattle. The influence of that supply will diminish as three years of herd liquidation will reduce feedyard placements.
Total beef exports for the January – June period in 2021 are up 21.5% over the first six months of 2020. This includes a 46.2% year-over-year increase for the month of June over the low point last year.
Cattle prices pushed higher with trade volumes also increasing. The market has been aided by the decline in committed cattle, helping independent feeders clean up their showlists.
Late week sales in the North topped the market but fed cattle were firm to higher across all regions. Wholesale beef prices surged more than $18 per cwt. higher for the week.
Beginning Monday, USDA’s Market News will issue two new reports based on Mandatory Livestock Reporting data to provide further insight into formula cattle trades and help promote fair and competitive markets.
AMS will publish a National Daily Direct Formula Base Cattle report to provide information on foundational prices used in market formulas, grids, and contracts, and a National Weekly Cattle Net Price Distribution report.
Calls for cattle market reforms could hinder alternative marketing agreements (AMA), a value-based marketing tool that has improved beef quality over a generation.
NCBA names Jennifer Nealson to new position responsible for directing program strategy, development and integration through marketing, research and science disciplines in an effort to increase demand of beef.
Silage harvested in drought years brings nitrate concerns. Good silage can still be produced, however, as long as the crop is harvested correctly, ensiled well and carefully stored.
Cattle feeders in the South saw a glimmer of hope in last week’s cattle trade. Most fed cattle in the South brought $120 and region saw decent movement, but still not totally in the clear of the backlog.
Labor challenges for packers are particularly acute on Mondays, which have the lowest daily average slaughter in 2021. Carcass weights will rise seasonally the rest of the year but will remain lower year over year.
Cattlemen should be suspicious of legislative and regulatory activity that interferes with markets under the guise of improving them, writes John Nalivka. Before long the entire camel is “in the tent.”
USDA’s semi-annual Cattle Inventory report on Friday confirms the U.S. inventories of beef cows, replacement heifers, feeder cattle and calf supplies are declining. The ongoing drought will accelerate the trend.
Over the last decade, the American Hereford Association reports a 150% growth in marbling and an 86% growth in rib eye area. AHA's feedout programs give producers data to make more informed breeding decisions.
The latest cattle on feed report confirms that the feedlot situation continues to improve relative to the slaughter capacity constraints that plagued fed cattle markets in early 2021.
Cash cattle traded steady, with cattle feeders in the South still needing a couple more weeks for good trade volume before they have any shot at being able to push the live market higher.
For cattlemen who've always considered feeding their own cattle but have never taken the risk, the first step in picking a partner can be the hardest. Here's a a 12-point checklist for selecting a feeding partner.
Cattle market analysts point to declining carcass weights and declines in the percentage of Prime and Choice grading carcasses in recent weeks as a clear signal the peak in fed cattle numbers has been established.
Sustainable Beef, LLC, will likely receive $1 million from the North Platte Quality Growth Fund. to be used to help pay for the estimated $10 million cost of architectural, engineering and planning.
Higher feed prices reflect how cattle may be produced. Typically, cattle are grown to heavier weights before they are placed in a feedyard reducing the price slide for feeder cattle as weight increases.
Feedyard show lists are declining but the day that most lists get sold each week is still several weeks away. Packers have begun to take Saturdays off which will not speed the recovery from the backlog.
To hear Sen. Cory Booker tell it, the Farm Systems Reform Act would “create a level playing field for independent family farmers” and “transform the broken system built by multi-national meatpacking companies.”
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker re-introduced his Farm System Reform Act, a bill he says would “transform a broken system.” NCBA calls the proposal "misguided."
Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals.
The Checkoff-funded MBA program was developed in 2009 to bridge the widening chasm between producers and consumers and to help farmers and ranchers share their stories and advocate knowledgeably for the beef industry.
Livestock from the U.S. move through Texas in route to Mexico every day. Animals rejected for export could be moved somewhere in Texas without proper testing and treatment, creating vulnerability for Texas ranchers.
Strong beef demand and year-over-year decreases in beef production in the third and fourth quarters is expected to continue supporting wholesale beef values for the remainder of the year.
Just for fun, let's say the DOJ goes full 1911 and ‘Standard Oils’ the meat industry.
The ‘Big 4’ become the ‘Midsize 22’. Then what? Janet Barnard offers insights.
Veterinarians are cautioning horse owners to be wary of alfalfa hay contaminated with blister beetles this year as consumption of the beetles pose a risk of serious illness or death for horses.
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.
A light volume of cattle traded last week as per usual ahead of a holiday-shortened week. Prices traded steady to slightly lower with packers more willing to accept lower-grading cattle.
Barring some new disruption, feedlot inventories should drop below 2020 (and 2019) levels in the next month or two and remain there going forward. The drought could become a disruption if feedlot placements increase.
Cattle trade was light in all regions this week with prices steady to higher. USDA's cattle on feed report put inventories up slightly with placements down 7% from last year, at the low-end of the pre-report estimates.
Cattlemen’s Heritage Beef Company announced plans Friday to construct a 1,500-head per day beef processing facility in Mills County, Iowa, south of the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. The plant will employ 750 workers.
Senate hearing addressed a range of issues, including the need for robust price discovery and differing industry views on how to achieve it, greater market transparency and oversight, and expanded processing capacity.
Packers were forced to push the market higher in their quest to find higher-grading cattle last week. High=grading cattle are becoming harder to find with each passing week.
Cash fed cattle prices posted new highs for the year this week with expectations for more next week. Wholesale beef trade this week confirmed boxed prices are headed lower after a historic run.
NCBA spearheaded introduction of the larger HAULS Act in both the Senate and House, and worked to get the backend 150 air-mile exemption included in the Surface Transportation Investment Act.
Beef exports represent a wide range of product types and qualities exported to various markets and augment domestic beef demand by providing markets for products less desired in the U.S.