Overall, the 2025 beef production forecast is raised fractionally from last month’s projection by 15 million pounds to 26.7 billion pounds. Compared to last month’s forecast, fewer steers and heifers are expected to be processed this year, but that decline is more than offset by an adjusted outlook for cow and bull slaughter and for heavier carcass weights in each quarter.

The April World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed this month’s 2024-25 U.S. corn outlook is for greater exports, reduced feed and residual use, and smaller ending stocks. Feed and residual use is cut 25 million bushels to 5.8 billion based on disappearance during the December-February quarter as indicated in the March 31 Grain Stocks report.

Total beef production outlook for 2025 is projected up 120 million pounds from last month’s forecast to 26.685 billion pounds. This is the result of heavier expected carcass weights in each quarter more than offsetting lower-than-expected overall cattle slaughter since last month.

The March World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed this month’s 2024-25 U.S. corn outlook is unchanged relative to last month. The season-average corn price received by producers is unchanged at $4.35 per bushel.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Cattle report on Jan. 31. The total of all cattle and calves on Jan. 1, 2025, was estimated at 86.662 million head, about 0.5 million fewer than the previous year.

The February World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed this month’s 2024-25 U.S. corn supply and use outlook is unchanged from last month. The projected season-average farm price is raised 10 cents to $4.35 per bushel.

Although the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) commercial slaughter estimates for the month of December 2024 have not yet published, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has published actual slaughter under federal inspection through the end of the year.