Sterling Profit Tracker
Packer margins climb into the black, feedyard losses exceed $100
Surging boxed beef prices the past two weeks have helped beef packers pull processing margins into the black for the first time in months. Cattle feeding losses continue to erode as prices falter.
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Beef rally boosts packer margins, but feeding margins decline
A $10 rally in boxed beef prices cut packer losses in half last week, but the rally didn’t spill over to help feedyard margins. Pork producer margins improved on slightly higher prices.
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Beef rallies on stronger demand as “pink slime” controversy fades
Packer margins remain dismal, but low retail inventories heading into peak grilling season fueled an early-week rally in the beef trade. Choice boxed beef sold Wednesday for nearly $7 more than Friday.
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Soft demand keeps feeding, packing margins gloomy
Cattle feeding margins declined nearly $20 per head last week, further adding to losses on every animal marketed. Packer margins showed only slight improvement. Pork producer margins remain positive.
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Feeding, packing margins sink on weak beef demand
Profit margins for feedlots and packers declined last week as beef demand continued to erode with the ongoing LFTB media firestorm. Pork producer and pork packer margins also declined.
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Declining boxed beef prices drive packer margins sharply lower
Both cattle feeding margins and beef packer margins saw significant decline last week as beef cutout values dropped nearly $5 per hundredweight. Pork producer margins improved.
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Feedyard closeouts now written in red, packers in black
Cattle feeding margins slipped into negative territory last week for the first time this year. Margins declined more than $75 per head for the week as cash cattle prices dropped another $5 per hundredweight.
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Feedyard profit margins eroding as demand weakens
Cattle feeding profits declined another $56 per head last week as cash fed cattle prices dropped $2 to $3 per hundredweight.
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Feeding profits, packer margins continue decline
Cattle feeding profits dropped another $30 per head last week as cash fed cattle prices declined $2 per hundredweight.
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Cattle feeding profits, packer margins decline
Cattle feeding profits dropped significantly last week as cash fed cattle prices declined $2 to $3 per hundredweight.
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Cattle feeding profits steady, packer margins improve
Cattle feeding profits held steady at more than $200 per head last week, as cash fed cattle prices were called steady to firm at $119 per hundredweight.
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- Prices for corn and soybeans, five years from now
- Drier weather to give big boost to U.S. corn plantings
- Agriculture is expected to remain strong in the coming decade
- What sick day? Farmers take just three a year
- Senate Agriculture Committee completes Farm Bill markup
