It’s starting to appear that some ranches are thinking about expanding their herds. If individual production sales are any indication of herd expansion, then it’s starting to happen. Our team of field men have been busy attending the sales and most of the road talk isn’t about what someone’s bulls averaged or the

Fed cattle markets have .been trading for over $1 for 13 weeks. Cash fed cattle traded between $117-119 live and $190 in northern Plains dressed trade last week. It’s hard to imagine this market trading much higher, but all the signals point to a higher market this fall. Trading cattle at this level looks

The ethanol business has been a burr under the saddle of livestock producers ever since the government made the decision to pursue biofuels. The corn markets have been good for the farming business, but not livestock feeding. It’s an interesting relationship since many folks raise both. The current spending

Fed cattle markets remain extremely good. I’ve lost track of how many weeks fed cattle have traded for over $100. The market has been so good that it has a lot of folks perplexed. The cash market traded at $109-$110 two weeks ago and was expected to trade a couple dollars higher last

Looking ahead, we have August feeder cattle futures showing us $133.45 last Thursday, a new contract high. Fall cattle prices are as strong as ever and it forces me to ask the question: How many ranchers will sell in the fall on the cash market? I still contend that there are more reasons for the market to go down

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and the Federation of State Beef Councils held their annual meetings in Denver, CO, in early February. There was a good crowd despite sub-zero temperatures. For the most part, everyone was in good spirits due to the current cattle markets, but caution was the word

The 70th Annual Red Bluff Bull Sale was an amazing event this year and reflected the pace of cattle markets. This sale made history, setting a record for all-breed range bull sales in the West. Demand for bulls was extremely good; buyers jumped right in to get the bulls they needed. This was a truly remarkable event and, by far,

Cattle markets are as good as they have ever been and optimism is high. Futures markets are wild and have taken prices to almost unbelievable levels. August fed cattle are trading at $113 and feeder cattle at $128. Cattle feeders are apparently getting concerned about future supplies of feeder cattle and seem to think

It appears that Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Federation of State Beef Councils (Federation) have made peace over the recent round of financial discrepancies between the organizations and their contractors.

Its becoming very apparent that the livestock business is going to have to learn to live with $5 corn. Many already have because corn prices dropping back below $3 just isnt going to happen. The cattle industry has developed itself around cheap corn for the past 50 years. The corn rally in 2008 made you think a bit, but it seemed