Cattle Feeding Isn't for Sissies Feedlots are facing a challenging year. Thus far in 2012, cattle supplies are about 2.455 times under feedlot capacity and won't improve significantly in 2013. Compare that to the late 1990s when supply was about 3.25 times capacity. That is going to force some stiff competition for sourcing in the feeding sector. Add to that high grain prices and an unknown outlook for next year, plus uncertainty in the retail and export markets for beef, and the feeding business isn't for sissies in the coming year. Feedlots are going to have to either commit to getting the supply for normal turnover, or basically bail. Rationalization in the sector is a given based on the overcapacity, and it may not be pretty to wat...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Tomorrow is the Juneteenth federal holiday, and the USDA, along with the rest of the federal government and the CME, will be closed, so the monthly Cattle on Feed report was released a day early. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity on 1 June amounted...
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