Indicators struggling into spring

Higher average cash cattle prices helped pull feedyard profit margins to modest levels during March, but other indicators keep the industry outlook in a cautionary stage. Rising production costs and a soft retail beef market continue to worry feedyards moving forward, and many believe the market’s spring highs may have been established early. Mild winter weather boosted cattle performance in both backgrounding and feedlot operations. Long-running negative packer margins raise concerns throughout the industry, and consumer fears over “pink slime” may have hurt short-term beef demand. Pork and broiler production remains large, and higher retail beef prices could see consumer resistance, especially if gasoline prices keep climbing. The Sterling Beef Profit Quotient suggests slow economic improvement throughout the spring.

click image to zoom

click image to zoom

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. Drier weather to give big boost to U.S. corn plantings
3. Prices for corn and soybeans, five years from now
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