The Aug. 9 fire that destroyed portions of the Tyson Foods beef plant in Holcomb, Kansas, left a lingering burn in other portions of the feeder and packing segments. 

The 2019 beef production forecast was reduced marginally from the previous month to 27.2 billion pounds as expected fourth-quarter production more than offset a slight increase in expected second-quarter production.

The beef production forecast for 2019 was lowered slightly by 20 million pounds from the previous month’s forecast to 27.3 billion pounds. This adjustment is based on lower expected carcass weights partly offset by a greater anticipated number of cows to be slaughtered this year.

The latest USDA-NASS Cattle on Feed (COF) report pegged April 1 feedlot inventories at 11.96 million head – 102 percent of last year and a record April level for the data series, which started in 1996.