What Does the Increased Grain Prices Mean for Backgrounders?

Jeff Lehmkuhler, PhD, PAS, Associate Extension Professor, University of Kentucky This time of year, we receive several questions regarding supplementing cows and calves. Often, I must ask what feeds are available and prices as this is rarely included in the original request. I see a wide range in feed prices when this information comes back. However, one thing is certain, feed prices are higher in 2021. What impact will this have on the…

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Beef Production Almost Equal to Last Year

David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service After all 2020’s curve balls, here we are with 4 weeks left in the year and total beef production is almost the same amount as last year at this time. Through the week ending December 5th, 25.08 billion pounds of beef have been produced compared to 25.2 billion pounds last year. That difference will likely be made up in the next…

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Ways to capture the marketing value on calves

K-State experts offer advice on how to maximize the return on investment MANHATTAN, Kan. — When putting money in the stock market, there is nothing like the feeling of watching a return on investment grow. The same can be true when cattle producers are financially rewarded at the point of sale for their time and money invested in pre-conditioning calves. But as the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute recently…

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New cutout futures will help pork industry with risk management, K-State’s Tonsor says

CME Group to launch new contracts that will reflect wholesale product price after processing MANHATTAN, Kan. – The CME Group’s plan to launch pork cutout futures and options on Nov. 9 is good news for pork buyers as well as producers, a Kansas State University agricultural economist said. “There indeed is significant interest from U.S. and Canadian hog producers in having additional risk management alternatives available,” said Glynn Tonsor, livestock market specialist with…

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New Report Examines Cattle Market Issues & Solutions

A new report unveiled today by the American Farm Bureau Federation provides an in-depth examination of the causes and price implications resulting from extreme market volatility in the cattle industry. It also sets the stage to explore policy solutions.   The Cattle Market Working Group, comprised of 10 state farm Bureau presidents, spent more than two months investigating factors that led to market disruptions following the Holcomb packing plant fire and the COVID-19…

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Cattle Exports to Mexico Surge

David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Imports of feeder cattle from Mexico usually are reported with interest because ranchers and feeders in the U.S. import more than 1 million head per year, on average. The U.S. also exports cattle to Mexico, but in much smaller numbers. In recent weeks cattle exports have surged to the highest levels in several years. Weekly cattle exports to Mexico are reported…

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Economist reviews shocks to beef industry with implications for cattle, beef prices ahead

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the beef supply chain and consumer beef demand but the industry is working through a backlog of market-ready animals. | Download this photo. K-State’s Tonsor spoke at virtual K-State Risk & Profit Conference MANHATTAN, Kan. – The beef cattle industry has already experienced three big “shocks” this year and the effects are ongoing, but have been blunted to some extent, according to a Kansas State University agricultural economist. The first…

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K-State ag economist charts risk, benefit of hedging sale of live cattle

Hedging can help cattle producers protect against adverse price changes in markets by locking in futures prices. (File photo) K-State ag economist charts risk, benefit of hedging sale of live cattle Ten-year study analyzes outcomes of hedging via futures markets MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University agricultural economist has completed an exhaustive study on hedging cattle prices, which he says could help producers manage their economic risks – perhaps especially so in…

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