USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report was released today. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more of capacity amounted to 11.6 million head, 99 percent of last year.
The steer and steer calf inventory was down slightly from a year ago at 7.256 million head, and heifers and heifer calves had a 1 percent year-over-year decline to 4.32 million head. Marketings were 1.63 million head, at 93 percent of last year, in line with the pre-report expectations, and the second lowest for March on record since 1996. They were down on fewer placements in previous months and less aggressive demand from packers. As a percentage of total inventory, March marketings at 14.1 percent were below current-year levels, compared...
What You Need to Know Today: The U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes, with the U.S. hitting Iranian bridges, energy sites, and military infrastructure. Iran launched a missile into Kuwait that damaged a desalination plant. Crude oil futures surged on heightened Middle East tensions, providing supp...
Congress returned this week from its Fourth of July recess, with another break scheduled for the month of August, to face a busy agenda before adjourning for the August recess. Congress has several priorities, including the National Defense Authorization Act, a potential third reconciliation pa...
There was a time, not so long ago, when you could easily explain U.S. agricultural policy. It was countercyclical and focused on risk management, especially for traditional row crops. There were a few exceptions, like dairy and sugar, which maintained the remnants of supply control. Participati...
