New-crop corn futures have steadily increased over the past two months. Thus, there is not any relief in sight for higher feed costs. With higher interest rates, the cost of storage becomes a larger concern. 

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service recently released the latest Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade report. The report provides estimates for production, consumption and trade for beef, pork and chicken for major countries. The article focuses on the Mexican beef and cattle industry.

On Oct. 4, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) called on the EPA to pause their Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rulemaking after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Sackett v. EPA, a case that will determine the EPA’s authority to regulate bodies of water under the Clean Water Act.

Both feedlot inventories and cattle slaughter have remained stubbornly high this year due to drought-forced movement of cattle out of the country. Feedlot production, cattle slaughter and beef production are all expected to decrease sharply in 2023.

The year kicked off with a cattle inventory estimated to be down 2%, thanks to a 2021 calf crop down 2.3% from the previous year, due largely to the pressures brought on by drought and high input costs for feed, fuel, fertilizer and labor. This Market Intel provides farmers and ranchers with a snapshot of what is happening to the U.S. cattle herd as we head toward the finish line of 2022.

The debate on cattle market transparency continues to take the spotlight on Capitol Hill, with legislation including the 2022 Cattle Price Transparency Act and the 2022 Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act taking center stage. 

Climate change is a hot topic around the globe and an area of focus during this year’s Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Drought and pasture conditions have improved from the previous month, but the situation is still very poor compared to last year and previous years. 

Month after month this year, feedlots have maintained large numbers of cattle on feed relative to history as more calves are being pushed into feedlots at a quicker-than-normal pace due to the drought impact on forage availability.