USDA released its monthly Cattle on Feed (COF) report this afternoon, which was bullish as expected. The total inventory in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or larger was 11.1 million head, the 32nd consecutive month of year-over-year increases and the largest total for 1 August since the series began in 1996. However, the rate of growth slowed dramatically. The 1 August inventory on feed was only slightly higher than August 2018.
The table above shows a big jump in July marketings, partly due to an extra day in that month versus a year ago. Nonetheless, average daily marketings totaled 86,857 head based on 23 slaughter days (excluding Saturdays) against 85,000 head in July 2018. The pace of July marketing picked up to 18 percent of...
What You Need to Know Today: Crude oil prices extended their rally today, supported by several developments, including escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure and growing concerns about supply disruptions. The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to remove 50 perc...
Key Takeaways: The agricultural trade surplus has become a sizable deficit: the balance swung from a $40.1 billion surplus in 2011 to a $40.7 billion deficit in 2025. Imports kept growing while exports lost momentum: between 2020 and 2025, agricultural imports increased 45 percent, compa...
USDA released its October Cattle on Feed report Friday, showing 11.4 million cattle in feedlots with capacity for 1,000 head or more, slightly below last year. September placements were the lowest for the month since records began in 1996, marking the third consecutive month of placements sett...
Regional News Dry weather across the UK and Europe is becoming increasingly concerning for the 2027 crops as planting intentions are lowered amid dry soil conditions. Delayed sowing or establishment under adverse conditions could leave crops more vulnerable to frost/freeze events and dise...
