Posted on 07/30/2022 5:39:55 AM PDT by dennisw
U.S. cattle producers are sending higher numbers of breeding stock to the sale barn, and some are liquidating their herds entirely, signaling a trend that analysts say will likely push already-elevated beef prices even higher in the not-too-distant future.
The latest cattle report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows the market has contracted to levels not seen in years, with total inventory dropping 2% to 98.8 million head since July 2021.
But it's not just the reduction in cattle overall that is of concern. It's what is getting sent to slaughter. There is a notable boost in calf-producing females getting sold for processing in addition to steers, which are typically favored for consumption.
"We are seeing large numbers of female stock have been placed in feedlots," USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam said in a radio report for the agency Tuesday.
HEAT WAVE HITS US FARMS, STRESSING CROPS AND RANCHERS' HERDS
The number of females in feedlots is up 3%, and existing herds are down roughly 2.7% from a year ago. Shagam said that combination means "supplies of cattle going to feedlots is going to be declining," resulting in "progressively tighter supplies of all fed cattle available for slaughter as we move into 2023."
With the price of ground beef up 9.7% in June from the same month a year ago, the ongoing decrease in supply could cause prices to surge even further than earlier estimates. The USDA's previous price forecast projected average steer prices would be up nearly 8.5% next year, prior to the storm of conditions causing increasing headaches for producers.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
Headline reminds me of the “muh Russia” hoax headlines:
“Mueller poised to . . .”
“Special Counsel considering . . . .”
“Democrats on verge of . . . “
“likely to . . .”
Needless to say, this isn’t news. It’s only news when/if prices actually rise.
Here in Texas:
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2022/07/19/texas-ranchers-rush-to-sell-livestock-amid-drought/
I just bought a whole and split it with a friend for $4.50 a lb. hanging weight. It’s Custom Cut,too. http://www.mtxbeef.com.
First bought from them during lockdowns, supply chain disruptions in Spring 2020. Haven’t bought grocery store beef since then.
I am not in a drought area, however, my costs for fertilizer, feed, and fuel are more than double what they were last year.
“”We are seeing large numbers of female stock have been placed in feedlots,””
Hmmm - perhaps an answer to the witches protesting about NO ABORTIONS! Just an idea!
With food prices skyrocketing, and me retiring and having a lot more time, a vegetable garden in the summer is becoming a thing — also foraging for mushrooms and other delicacies.
For the winter .... I’m developing a bushmeat paradigm. I don’t care what is legal or not — I won’t get caught, but safety is important, and no harm to troubled species — I don’t want to be the guy who eats the last ivory billed woodpecker.
On the list here in SWPa. are deer, canada goose, coyote, black bear, snapping turtles, raccoons, woodchuck, possum, skunk, squirrel, rabbit, house sparrows, starlings, pigeons, turkey...
What am I missing? What is your favorite knarly free meat?
Eat your bugs, serfs.
But don’t worry, BIll Gates and China have secured American ranchland for the elites’ supply of steak and burgers, so all is good for them.
Just pointing out that the left are trying to exp.oit a drought and make it seem doom and gloom for the beef industry when it likely will be just a temporary issue. The depression. Was much more severe, and food prices and beef prices rebounded fine. The left are on a crusade to force people to stop eating meat, claiming cattle are causing climate change, and they seem I explicitly giddy when stories like this attack the industry.
I’m more concerned about China buying farmland all over the US than I am about a temporary drought which we’ve been through many times before.
Yeah, that is another huge problem- children not keeping up the traditions of farming- that may be more troubling than the drought in the long term, especially with China buying massive properties across the US.
the beef at the feedlots are smaller/lighter weight from the lack of grazing land because of the drought, and higher hay prices from higher fuel prices and water availibility. The prices may be lower this year because of a larger numerical amount, but next year it will skyrocket from lack of cattle being slaughtered. it takes 2 years to properly raise beef.
[[I don’t want to be the guy who eats the last ivory billed woodpecker.]]
Spotted owls are much more abundant, and their eggs make excellent omelets.
If you're cheerleader for the proxy war in Ukraine, you're behind "the liberal world order" that is pushing the green agenda.
You are humorously delusional. I am as anti-WEF as you. Only difference is you favor Russian imperialism. Putin just shut off gas flow to Latvia. WEF is Greenie imperialism over our farmers and food supply. WEF clot shot/vaxx imperialism over your body.
Obviously the Dutch and Canadian farmers are in the front line now. Sri Lanka was the WEF test case (obviously)
There are no good guys in the world these days.
Sounds like Bruce Springsteen could swipe that line for a new song.
The Bidens and all green one-worlders are doing all possible to decimate oil and oil-derived fuels and products of many types. To most specifically nitrogen fertilizer. Those hungry for tyrannical power and population control will do all possible things to starve the world.
Some rain in the Midwest won't fix these directed shortages. Nor will it soon replace the fertilizer and the breeding stock now being sold off.
We sold all but 2 the other day. Had them processed and bought another freezer. We have had one rain in the past 9-10 weeks. 1/2 inch. Over 100 degrees 23 days in July. People here are looking at $100 round bales this winter. Everybody’s pastures are burning up. I’m playing the market. Hope to get grass grown before winter (if we get rain)…. And plan to buy calf steers in late Feb. Maybe have enough grass to mostly feed them until next spring hits. Put 500 pounds on them and sell in Nov 23. All hinged on Feb prices. Could get back in cow calf operation if prices warrant.
there is a new term the scum on the left are using these days- they call it ‘Rewilding the Planet” - ie kicking man out and letting the wilds go back to uninhabited and running wild with animals-
Keep an ear out for that term- I’ve heard it on wildlife shows now- and I’m guessing the left are gonna glom onto that because they try to portray that man is a virus and must be eliminated so that ‘nature can revert back to it’s pristine conditions’
Look up or recall ‘Buffalo Commons’ (not the music bands). Concept from commies in New Jersey.
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