Cattle Prices High, Margins Tight — Packers Hit with Class-Action Suit

Line on Agriculture
Cattle prices are strong but rising input costs and inflation are squeezing producer margins, while a federal judge has certified a class-action alleging major packers manipulated markets (2015–2020) by slowing slaughter and coordinating purchases to depress prices.

Prime Beef Production Keeps Climbing

Southeast Regional Ag News
Recent grading data show Prime beef outpacing Select by more than two-to-one.

R-CALF Farm Bill Priorities

Line on Agriculture
R-CALF USA, led by CEO Bill Bullard, is advocating for specific measures in the farm bill currently under Senate review. Key points include the need to revise a cattle procurement tool that allows meat packers to manipulate prices through unpriced formula contracts, which removes cattle from competitive price discovery markets

More Cattle Coming In, Less Cattle Leaving Feedlots

Line on Agriculture
Dry conditions are pushing more cattle into feedlots, which is up 2% versus a year ago.

Analyzing Cattle Depreciation

Line on Agriculture
Buying a high-priced cow means looking at the long term valuation of her life and the depreciation that can occur.

WASDE: Elevated Corn Use Strains Feed Supply as Mexican Border Closure Clouds U.S. Cattle Outlook

Line on Agriculture
The USDA's latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report shows elevated numbers amid uncertainty about future demand. One market analyst notes that the U.S. is currently feeding 525 million more bushels of corn than last year, but this is unsustainable due to the Mexican border shutdown.

Cattle Markets Volatile Reaction

Line on Agriculture
Why the cattle market's overreaction to the POTUS's indicates a broken system, suggesting it is too thin and overly sensitive to rumors and statements.

Part 1: Cattle Group Supports POTUS Cattle Packer Probe

Line on Agriculture
R-CALF USA highlighted a longstanding issue where cattle prices have not reflected beef prices, with cattle prices falling from 2021 while beef prices hit records.

Cattle Market Sensitivity

Line on Agriculture
The Trump administration's comments on lowering consumer beef prices have caused significant volatility in the cattle markets, according to R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

Managing Cattle Market Emotions

Line on Agriculture
The emotional impact of cattle market fluctuations on producers, particularly those who sell annually.

Long Last High Beef Prices Come With A Cost to Producers

Line on Agriculture
When and if the consumer becomes priced out of the beef market, it will take a lot of time and money to bring them back to beef, according to one state beef industry leader.

Cattle Industry Signals

Line on Agriculture
The latest USDA cattle on feed report was below expectations

Feeder Cattle Hard to Find

Line on Agriculture
Risk management is key to when it comes to filling feedlots in the current tight cattle supply situation.

Cattle Pricing Trends

Line on Agriculture
Market Analyst Brian Irey, expects cattle prices to continue to trend higher.

New Leader Has Lofty Goals for Cattle Industry

Line on Agriculture
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association Presdient-Elect, Buck Wehrbein Outlines his personal goals and focuses for the organization.

Photo Courtesy: meatpoultry.com

Fairness in cattle markets

Idaho Ag Today
Part of a recent announcement of USDA efforts to promote fair and competitive markets for ag producers, while lowering prices for consumers.

Cattle Market Volatility Continues

Line on Agriculture
Several factors are leading to continued cattle market issues.

Cattle Market Swings Expected to Continue

Line on Agriculture
Outside money, spring beef demand, and low cattle numbers are influencing cattle markets.

R-CALF USA; Farm Bill Proposals Need More Work

Line on Agriculture
R-Calf USA CEO, Bill Bullard says that more reforms are needed in the farm bill to address cattle market issues.

Replacement Heifer and Cattle on Feed Trends Affecting Markets

Line on Agriculture
Market Analyst, Bryan Irey offers insight into the cattle market trends.