Cattle Current Daily – June 17 2021
Wes Ishmael | June 17, 2021
Cash fed‑cattle prices ranged from $122 to $124 per cwt, while May slaughter remained slightly below 2019 levels. USDA projected the 2021 average fed steer price at $119 per cwt, up $1 from the previous month.
Higher Corn Prices Mean Higher Cattle Finishing Cost
Burke Teichert | May 11, 2021
Corn futures climbed from $4.68 to $6.56 per bushel between January and May 2021, pushing feed costs sharply higher. The rising feed bill squeezed feedlot margins and prompted discussion about risk‑management tools.
April 1 Cattle on Feed Up 5 %
ShayLe Stewart | April 23, 2021
The USDA reported 11.9 million head of cattle on feed as of April 1 – up 5 % from a year earlier. Placements during March were 28 % higher than in 2020, reflecting the rebound from last year’s disruptions. Analysts said robust beef demand and tighter supplies kept the report neutral to slightly bullish.
Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2021 Introduced
Drovers Staff | March 2, 2021
Senators Deb Fischer and Ron Wyden introduced the Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2021 to restore fairness to cattle markets. The bipartisan bill would require regional cash minimums, public reporting of formula trades and a daily record of delivery numbers.
FarmAfield Labs Listed Among Beef Alliance Startup Challenge Applicants
Beef Alliance | March 1, 2021
A Beef Alliance Startup Challenge applicant list published in March 2021 includes FarmAfield Labs, indicating visibility in early-stage ag-tech competitions during 2021.
Jan. 1 Cattle Inventory Down Slightly
DTN Staff | Jan. 29, 2021
The USDA’s Jan. 1 cattle inventory report showed the U.S. herd slipping to 93.6 million head. Beef cows totaled 31.2 million head, down 1 % from a year earlier, while replacement heifers declined to 5.81 million head. Analysts noted that a smaller cowherd could support stronger returns for producers in 2021.
DOE SBIR Project: Adding Value to Floating Aeration Systems via Solar-Powered Destratification
U.S. Department of Energy (SBIR/STTR) | Jan. 1, 2021
Nebraska’s Department of Economic Development 2021 annual report lists FarmAfield Labs as receiving a $100,000 Phase I SBIR/STTR matching grant in FY 2020–2021.
USDA December 2020 Livestock Outlook: Export Shares and 2021 Beef Production Outlook
USDA Economic Research Service | Dec. 16, 2020
December’s outlook discussed how export shares of meat production varied by sector. Beef’s export share was expected to decline in 2020 due to lower shipments to Mexico but rebound in 2021. Fourth‑quarter 2020 beef production was raised on higher cow slaughter, yet 2021 production was lowered due to fewer fed cattle. Fed‑steer prices were reduced for late 2020 but raised for 2021.
USDA November 2020 Livestock Outlook: Record Second‑Half Beef Production and Revised Trade Forecasts
USDA Economic Research Service | Nov. 17, 2020
The November outlook projected record beef production for the second half of 2020, pushing annual production above 2019. Fed‑steer prices were unchanged, but feeder‑steer prices were lowered because of price weakness and higher feed costs. U.S. beef imports in September surged 26% while exports fell 6%—though fourth‑quarter exports were expected to improve with better demand.
USDA October 2020 Livestock Outlook: Slaughter Gains Lift Beef Production and Imports
USDA Economic Research Service | Oct. 16, 2020
October’s outlook raised second‑half 2020 beef‑production forecasts by 90 million pounds to 27.1 billion pounds due to higher fed‑cattle and cow slaughter. U.S. beef imports in August were 32% higher than a year earlier, prompting increased import forecasts for 2020–2021. Beef exports in August were up 2% from a year earlier, although 2021 export forecasts were trimmed.
USDA September 2020 Livestock Outlook: Improved Slaughter Raises Beef Production Forecast
USDA Economic Research Service | Sept. 17, 2020
The September report observed that slaughter capacity continued to improve as plants adapted to COVID‑19 safety protocols. A quicker slaughter pace increased the 2020 beef‑production forecast. Because more cattle would be slaughtered in 2020, 2021 production was expected to be lower. Fed‑steer prices were steady for 2020 but raised for 2021, and import forecasts were increased to satisfy demand for processing‑grade beef.
USDA August 2020 Livestock Outlook: Strong Slaughter Pace Increases Beef Production Forecast
USDA Economic Research Service | Aug. 18, 2020
August’s report raised second‑half 2020 beef‑production forecasts to 27.0 billion pounds due to a faster‑than‑anticipated slaughter pace. Fed‑steer and feeder‑steer prices were increased on stronger price data. The U.S. cattle inventory remained around 103 million head, June imports rose 15 % from a year earlier, and June exports fell 33 %.
USDA July 2020 Livestock Outlook: Higher Carcass Weights Raise Production Forecast
USDA Economic Research Service | July 16, 2020
The July outlook noted that a faster‑than‑expected recovery in slaughter and heavier carcass weights lifted the annual U.S. beef‑production forecast to 26.9 billion pounds. Even so, fed‑steer prices were lowered because supplies remained plentiful. May imports fell, but import forecasts for mid‑2020 were revised upward on strong demand for lean beef; exports in May were 31 % below the previous year.
DOE Awards Over $12 Million to Small Solar Businesses; FarmAfield Labs Named SBIR/STTR Awardee
U.S. Department of Energy (SETO) | July 14, 2020
On July 14, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office announced $12.3M in SBIR/STTR awards, including FarmAfield Labs of Lincoln, Nebraska.
DOE SBIR/STTR Phase II: Livestock and Solar—Synergistic Opportunities for Rural America
U.S. Department of Energy (SBIR/STTR) | July 1, 2020
DOE SBIR/STTR listings describe FarmAfield Labs’ Phase II work to develop solar PV systems tailored for livestock operations, aiming to reduce electricity costs and improve livestock outcomes.
USDA June 2020 Livestock Outlook: Production Rebounds with Higher Cattle Prices
USDA Economic Research Service | June 17, 2020
By June the USDA reported that beef production was recovering faster than expected as meatpacking plants restored capacity. The second‑quarter production forecast was raised to 26.7 billion pounds, and cattle prices were forecast higher due to stronger packer demand. Import forecasts were revised up to meet demand for lean trimmings, while April beef exports remained down 3.4 % from a year earlier .
USDA May 2020 Livestock Outlook: Meatpacking Disruptions Limit Beef Production
USDA Economic Research Service | May 18, 2020
May’s report explained how COVID‑19 outbreaks among meat‑processing workers dramatically curtailed beef production in April. Slaughter disruptions were expected to restrain supply through the summer, although a rebound was forecast for 2021. Tight domestic supplies and global uncertainty lowered export projections , providing context for investors concerned about supply constraints.
USDA April 2020 Livestock Outlook: COVID‑19 Impacts Lower Beef Production and Prices
USDA Economic Research Service | April 15, 2020
During the height of COVID‑19 disruptions, the April report predicted that beef production would fall sharply for the remainder of 2020 as packing plants slowed or closed. Although first‑quarter slaughter had been brisk, the pandemic was expected to limit slaughter capacity and reduce carcass weights later in the year. The report also highlighted a 21 % jump in U.S. beef imports in February and reduced export expectations due to global uncertainty.
#TechTuesday with FarmAfield - Podcast
Ag News Daily with Delaney Howell and Mike Pearson | March 31, 2020
Mitch Minarick, the CEO of FarmAfield, joins us to discuss the opportunities they offer to connect investors with producers.
USDA March 2020 Livestock Outlook: Higher Beef Production Forecast and Weaker Cattle Prices
USDA Economic Research Service | March 16, 2020
The March outlook raised the U.S. beef‑production forecast because slaughter numbers and carcass weights were increasing. However, cattle‑price forecasts were lowered due to weaker early‑year prices and larger anticipated output. The report also projected higher beef imports and lower exports amid global uncertainty.