USDA released its monthly Cattle on Feed (COF) report today, which contained some interesting data.USDA released its monthly Cattle on Feed (COF) report today. The total number of cattle on feed as of 1 September was 10.5 million or 104 percent of last year. This surpassed the industry’s average pre-report estimate (see Ag Perspectives, 21 September), although it matched the highest end of the range.Placements in August totaled 1.93 million head or 103 percent above a year ago, exceeding the average pre-report estimate of 96.8 percent. Meanwhile, marketings were 1.98 million head or 106 percent, matching that average pre-report estimate.On the one hand, the rationale for lighter placements is credible as those from March through June saw do...
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...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.