Cattlemen fear what a drought could do to the beef industry ins 2012
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension | May 17, 2021
Drought conditions continue to be historically bad for this time of year and recent USDA data confirms that the situation is critical for the beef cattle industry. USDA reports pasture and range conditions from May through October and the initial reports this year show that U.S. pasture conditions are the worst ever for May in data back to 1995 with 44 percent of pastures reported in poor and very poor condition. Among the worst state conditions are Arizona (90 percent poor to very poor), North Dakota (75 percent), Utah (71 percent) and New Mexico (65 percent).
Will hog prices beat cattle prices? feedstuffs.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from feedstuffs.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Apr 27, 2021
The USDA released its April “Cold Storage” report last Friday, revealing that total red meat supplies remain tight at 969.3 million pounds on March 31, 2021, down 6.0% from the prior month and 16.6% lower than a year ago.
Pork in cold storage, at 451.8 million pounds, was down 26.8% from the same period last year and down 26.0% below the five-year average. The Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) said each product category posted year-over year-declines, except for bone-in loins which rose 10.0% to 21.4 million pounds. Bellies showed the sharpest decline, down 54.9% decline from last year to 35.3 million pounds. Total hams in storage were 60.7 million pounds, down 31.3% from last year and 34.2% lower than last month. LMIC said the decline was likely the result of an earlier Easter this year. Spareribs, butts, and picnic were at 101.4, 18.7, and 7.5 million pounds, respectively, down 23.5%, 32.3%, and 30.2%, respectively.
Spring has brought some optimism to cattle markets, with fed cattle and beef cutout markets moving higher.
David Anderson, professor and Extension economist for Texas A&M, wrote in his âIn the Cattle Marketsâ column for the Livestock Marketing Information Center that strong demand has helped markets move higher.
âAfter languishing for weeks at about $114 per cwt. the fed cattle market has sprung to life,â Anderson said. âFed cattle prices hit $123-124 in more Northern regions and closed the week at $121 in the Southern Plains. From 2015-19 the seasonal price increase has been about $6 per cwt, or 4.3%. Prices dipped as low as $109 in late January, making this seasonal run larger than normal, so far.â
Strong demand supporting beef and cattle prices mesabitribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mesabitribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.