Sort & Cull

As hard as it may be, we must separate ourselves, our operations and our assets from the emotional roller coaster of the marketplace.

Feeder cattle prices have rallied significantly over the past four months and currently remain above year-ago levels, but markets remain at significantly below-average levels, creating concern of continued low prices.

Until mid-October, cattle contracts tend to retract and withdraw as boxed beef prices fall, and cash cattle prices weaken. But for cow-calf producers preparing to sell calves later this fall, stay attuned to the market to avoid playing catch-up down the road.

The traditional way to summarize the USDA Cattle on Feed report -- and many reports -- is to measure percentage change from the previous year. This works well when markets follow normal seasonal patterns, but changing market patterns limit the reliability of this metric.

Given the spring's uncertainty, producers didn't want to market their calves and feeders in the hype of the COVID-19 pandemic and risk volatile prices. But as time has progressed, feeders are pouring into feedlots as the market has gotten stronger.

The market's ability to rally over the last two months has surprised most, but many wonder how the market will fare after Labor Day.

This past year has seen unprecedented market swings and changes through the cattle industry, making it uncertain just how closely seasonal trends should be followed. Even though markets remain volatile, a look back may indicate market movement in the coming weeks and...

In hindsight, the 2019 Tyson packing plant fire has a different feel to it than it did at the time. Now, with having endured a packing plant fire and a disease outbreak, there's nothing cattlemen can't handle.

Just as perplexing as the feeder cattle rally has been, last week cows sold quite well at Superior's Video Royale sale.

The cattle marketing calendar we have become accustomed to isn't what we will face in the second half of 2020.

This upcoming week is a busy one for the cattle market as the industry prepares for the Cattle on Feed report, the Bi-Annual Cattle Inventory report and another great test for the feeder cattle market as Northern Livestock Video Auction ramps up for its sale this...

The relationship between formula-based cash cattle and negotiated cattle trade indicates the dynamic relationships in the industry. Significant formula premiums have quickly eroded over the last month as slaughter numbers have ramped up to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Understanding what tools to use, and when, can yield great insight into the cattle market.

The recent spur in live cattle contracts couldn't seem more baffling as the market still faces vast numbers of fat cattle that need slaughtered, sees heavier carcass weights, and has concerns about the third quarter's boxed beef demand.

Slowly, the industry is making progress and we can celebrate the wins along the way. Last week's slaughter is estimated at 680,000 head -- the last time cattle slaughter exceeded 680,000 head was in late March.

With Superior Livestock Auction and Northern Livestock Auction hosting their early summer sales this week, the feeder cattle market is going to be tested.

Producers begin to look at summer sales while bearing the blow of a weakening cash cattle market.

As the market heads into summer, the hype of the coronavirus may be dying down, but its effects on the market are still alive and very evident.

Wholesale beef values seem to be returning to more realistic levels as prices continue to steadily fall from May highs.

Producers know that cash cattle prices weaken throughout the summer, but questions that still need answers revolve around the feeder cattle market and just how much cash cattle prices intend to regress.