Packer
Check out the Sterling Marketing Profit Tracker for week of August 1.
Market analysts attribute the strong beef demand to several factors including the consumer craze for protein.
Technology, genetics and market signals must align to drive meaningful improvements in beef production. Meat scientist Dale Woerner says the industry needs to move from simply measuring weight to understanding the true composition and efficiency of cattle.
Increasing carcass size, global methane research and beef on dairy were some of the key topics discussed during the 2025 BIF Symposium.
At a time when beef packing plants are in the red, Cargill stays committed to the beef industry, investing in plant technology and efficiency.
Check out the Sterling Marketing Beef Profit Tracker ending week of May 10.
Fundamental supply and demand have taken control of spot fed cattle values over April Live Cattle futures lows.
Farmshare helps connect producers more directly with end buyers in the market by way of independent processing facilities.
The antitrust class-action lawsuit alleging America’s largest beef packers conspired to fix cattle prices has been dismissed by a federal judge in Minnesota.
Automation in packing plants is most frequently trying to solve challenges related to manual labor, process efficiency, product quality and food safety.
Working off a big trade the previous week and slowed production, packers were reluctant to purchase cattle but the futures market took a dip and buyers stepped in at steady money and gathered inventory.
Eight beef packing projects are in various stages of completion that could add 10% to total industry capacity; is it needed? What potential headwinds might these ventures face?
USDA issued a proposed rulemaking on Monday that would effectively close the “Product of the U.S.A.” loophole that has been in effect since the repeal of COOL in 2015.
A federal ban on price gouging does not address the real causes of inflation, says Meat Institute President and CEO, Julie Anna Potts.
Cattle feeding margins declined last week with a rollback in cash prices. Calf producers remain in the driver’s seat with tight supplies and no expansion in sight. Pork breakevens are the lowest in four years.
Margin pressure continues to challenge beef packers. That’ll inevitably lead to less capacity in due time. And that’ll likely mean some long-run ramifications for the business.
Recession fears brought volatility to all markets early last week and offered packers leverage to reduce their bids.
Beef packers were forced to pay up to acquire inventory last week and the result was a boost to feedyard profits and increasing packer losses. Pork prices and margins saw little change.
Last week saw a continuation of cattle drifting North to their final destination helping tighten the North-South price spread.
While wholesale beef values have declined recently, price movement within boxed beef products reflect the unusual environment in today’s cattle and beef markets.
The summer slump has cut average industry cattle feeding margins by a third yet profits remain historically large. Pork margins also retreat from recent highs.
The CyberStrike debacle that grounded planes and shuttered various operating systems likely contributed to the stumbling futures market that incited early week cattle trades.
With light trade the norm for weeks, packers pushed for inventory, unusual behavior for a packer when the market is working lower.
It’s a good sign for the supply chain as analyst estimates of packer margins suggest profits in the $20 per head range in recent days.
When any government agency starts the rule-making process, particularly when it concerns markets, it is time to pay attention.
Last week’s market reached new all-time highs and asking prices will be higher this week.
The outside trades of $186 in the South and $193 in the North are a telling sign that leverage is there for the cattle feeder. Given the chance to capitalize with multiple bidders the market should respond favorably.
Cash prices leaked $1 lower but Friday evening trades suggest packers still scramble to meet their needs and are willing to add freight to do so.
JBS said on Wednesday that Beijing blocked U.S. beef shipments from the company’s plant in Greeley, Colorado, because traces of the feed additive ractopamine were identified in beef destined for China.
The use of camera grading in America’s beef plants has improved the accuracy, precision and consistency of grading from plant to plant and from lot to lot of cattle, regardless of where they were harvested.