Tomorrow USDA will release the monthly Cattle on Feed report. Analysts’ pre-report estimates peg the total number of cattle on feed as of 1 October at 99 percent of a year ago. The range of estimates was between 98 and 100 percent. The implied inventory of cattle on feed would be 11.6 million head.
Placements in September are forecast at 101 percent of last year. The range of estimates was wide, from 98 percent to 104 percent and showed differing opinions – i.e., both an increase and a decrease over October 2020. If placements are up, that would be the second consecutive month of increased placements year over year, even after the July cattle inventory report (which we covered here) showed the total number of calv...
You cannot escape the vortex of opinions about water scarcity in the Western United States, especially in the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin. Agriculture is the villain in many of these editorials. Agriculture uses too much water, so it should use less, is the refrain. We all wish it was...
Macro: Trade Flows Set the Tone Persian Gulf crude flows appear to be improving, with anecdotal estimates suggesting as much as 7–8 million barrels per day may now be leaving the region — nearly double the mid-July pace. That helps explain why crude has not maintained the full geopo...
Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal traded at a record $5.3 million for a transit slot this week as line-up times extend to 17 days. The difficulties transiting the Canal are supporting the PNW/Gulf spread. Tanker freight markets remain elevated as the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues. I...
