Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Cargill Inc, one of the nation’s largest beef processors, said on Wednesday it plans to close its Milwaukee, Wisconsin, beef-processing plant on Friday, because the size of the U.S. herd has fallen to its smallest in 63 years. The ground beef production side of the plant, which employs about 200 people, will remain […] Read more
Cargill, citing shrinking cattle herd, to shut Wisconsin beef plant
Klassen: Feeder market surges like a rocket — steers hit $330
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were extreme volatile and relatively undefined as the market made fresh historical highs. U.S. weekly beef production continues to come in below expectations and the market appears to be in a “supply shock.” At the same time, market-ready supplies of slaughter cattle are rather tight moving into August causing packers […] Read more
Livestock: Healthy pastures drop U.S. June cattle placements by 6 pct
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The number of cattle placed in U.S. feedlots in June fell 6 per cent from a year ago as plentiful grazing land allowed animals to be fattened outside of feedyards longer, a government report showed on Friday. Feedyards are drawing from a shallow pool of market-ready animals after years of drought in parts […] Read more
LIVESTOCK: CME hog futures slide on weaker cash, pork prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures on Thursday finished lower, pulled down by softer cash hog and wholesale pork prices, traders said. August finished 1.375 cents per lb lower at 123.200 cents, and October at 107.900, 2.550 cents lower. The average price of market-ready, or cash, hogs Thursday morning in the eastern Midwest, fell […] Read more
U.S. court upholds FDA animal feed policy despite health concern
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — A divided federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy allowing the use of various antibiotics in animal feed, even if such use might endanger the public health. Reversing a lower court ruling, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York said the FDA was empowered […] Read more
Panel’s report likely to tie farm antibiotics to human resistance
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — A White House advisory committee is expected to acknowledge the link between antimicrobial resistance in humans and livestock being fed antibiotics when it issues its report in the next few weeks, according to the transcript of a committee meeting held earlier this month. But how much of the public health problem can be […] Read more
LIVESTOCK: CME hogs drop 3-cent price limit as funds sell off
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago/Reuters — Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures on Wednesday closed down the 3-cents per lb maximum daily price limit in the wake of fund liquidation, traders said. August ended 3.000 cents per lb lower at 124.575 cents, and October at 110.450, 3.000 cents lower. Packers snug on supplies for the week, and grocers reluctant […] Read more
Klassen: Strong domestic demand to curb feeder cattle exports
Reading Time: 2 minutes Fed cattle prices in Alberta reached record highs last week trading the range of $164/cwt to $165/cwt. Feedlot margins surged into positive territory, once again reinforcing the price structure for feeder cattle. It appears the fed cattle market is incorporating a risk premium due to the uncertainty in production. For the week ending July 18, […] Read more
Beef producers: reading this may lower your blood pressure
Reading Time: < 1 minute Penn State University researchers say that contrary to conventional wisdom, a growing body of evidence shows that eating lean beef can reduce risk factors for heart disease. “This research adds to the significant evidence, including work previously done in our lab, that supports lean beef’s role in a heart-healthy diet,” Penny M. Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor […] Read more
Livestock — Strong cash, pork prices lift CME hog futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago|Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures on Monday closed higher, supported by strong prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, hogs and wholesale pork values, traders said. Monday morning’s average hog price in the Iowa/Minnesota market rose $2.58 per hundredweight (cwt) from Friday to $133.77, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. USDA’s data showed the morning’s […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
