Cattle imports revised lower—2.1 million head in 2011

Cattle imports through August from Mexico were 29 percent higher, year-over-year. Conversely, imports from Canada were 40 percent below a year earlier. Although cattle imports from Canada are recovering somewhat (the price differential between U.S. and Canadian slaughter cattle jumped well above levels of the previous 3 years in September and into October), Canadian cattle imports are still 20 percent below year-earlier levels through September, according to AMS weekly reports. Although prices for cattle in Mexico remain well below the comparable U.S. prices for feeder cattle (wholesale Mexico City steers vs. imported Las Cruces Mexican cattle), the August downgrading of Chihuahua’s TB status—a major Mexican cattle exporting state— may cause cattle imports from Mexico to drop significantly through the remainder of the year. U.S. cattle imports are forecast to be 2.1 million head in 2011 and 2.025 million head in 2012.

1. Workshop to discuss nutrient application, management, stewardship
2. Help for flood affected farmers
3. Representative Lucas discusses new Farm Bill
4. U.S. May consumer sentiment highest in nearly 6 years
5. Cattle producers turn to MSU for reproduction class
6. NCBA Op-Ed: EPA’s data sharing incident a debacle

1. New school lunch beef recipes win approval from kids, foodservice
2. Prices for corn and soybeans, five years from now
3. Drier weather to give big boost to U.S. corn plantings
4. Agriculture is expected to remain strong in the coming decade
5. What sick day? Farmers take just three a year
6. Senate Agriculture Committee completes Farm Bill markup

1. Insects. They’re what’s for dinner!
2. Tyson selects panel to monitor animal welfare program
3. World food supply depends on character, virtuous leadership
4. Commentary: Slanting the statistics
5. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
6. Cold spring stunts upper Midwest hay crop