USDA released monthly trade data today, including live animal trade in North America. Feeder calves from Mexico through May, at 372,342 head are down 31 percent; feeder calves from Canada at 119,071 head are up more than 200 percent.
Feed shortages, drought, and rail problems transporting feed have impacted the Canadian shipments to the U.S. For Mexican feeders, the five-year 2016-2020 average has been about 548,538 head for the January through May period; last year imports were down slightly from that average, but this year have dropped more than 40 percent. There are likely a few things going on affecting imports of Mexican feeder calves. Typically, more than a third of those cattle imported are 400 pounds or less and go t...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...