crop futures

Agricultural Futures Continue to Struggle

Dan Cattle, Commodities, Corn, Cotton, Economy, Field Crops, Marketing, Soybeans

With harvest continuing across the growing areas of our country, agricultural futures continue to struggle. Mark Oppold has an update on what traders are facing right now. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025

meat industry

USDA Releases Interim Report on Meat Industry Practices

Dan Agri-Business, Beef, Cattle, Marketing

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its Interim Report: Competition and Fair Practices in Meat Merchandising. The report aims to assess how retail concentration and business practices affect competition in the food sector, with a focus on the meat industry—especially beef. This report follows President Biden’s 2021 Executive Order No. 14036, which directed federal agencies to promote fair …

McDonald’s

McDonald’s Sues Meatpackers for Collusion

Dan Beef, Economy, Marketing

McDonald’s has filed a lawsuit against Tyson Foods, JBS, and other major meat packing companies. The fast food chain is accusing the packers of colluding for years to limit beef supplies. The suit says that the collusion allowed the companies to boost their profits while forcing McDonald’s to pay inflated prices for their meat supplies. McDonald’s says the companies conspired …

Georgia Beef Board

Georgia Beef Board Wraps up Fair, Prepares for Another Promotion

Dan Beef, Cattle, Georgia Beef Board (GBB), Marketing

The Georgia Beef Board (GBB) staff has been busy with various activities, with one of those just wrapping up this past weekend. GBB Executive Vice President Dale Sandlin talks about the Georgia National Fair, and how things went there in promoting beef and then has a preview of an upcoming promotion. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, …

cattle

Many Cattle Producers Still Optimistic About Their Futures

Dan Beef, Cattle, Economy, Marketing

Cattle producers, like other farmers, are generally an optimistic bunch. A Drover’s beef industry survey shows that 64 percent of the respondents remain optimistic about the future. Over half (51 percent) of the producers plan to grow their herd size in the next five years, and another 38 percent will maintain their herd sizes. Parts of the U.S. still face …

grain trade

No News in the Grain Trade

Dan Cattle, Commodities, Cotton, Economy, Field Crops, Marketing, Peanuts, Wheat

Monthly crop reports come out Friday and thus, news for the grain trade is hard to find right now. Mark Oppold has the latest on that and other bits of information. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025

cattle market

Competition in the Livestock Markets

Dan Cattle, Marketing

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced more steps to deliver on the President’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy to promote fair and competitive markets for American farmers and ranchers, and lower food prices for American families.  USDA published an interim report that assesses competitive conditions in the meat retail industry. The report draws on over 1,600 comments received …

commodities

Tracking Agricultural Commodities

Dan Cattle, Commodities, Economy, Marketing, Pork, Specialty Crops

In his continuing effort to track agricultural commodities, Mark Oppold looks at where some of them stand as we start the last quarter of 2024. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025

numbers

Looking at the Numbers

Dan Cattle, Commodities, Corn, Economy, Field Crops, Marketing, Soybeans

As harvest continues with many of the row crops, Mark Oppold reports traders continue to look at the various numbers and news to help drive the markets. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025

Cattle feeders

U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent

Dan Beef, Cattle, Marketing, USDA-NASS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released their September Cattle on Feed Report this afternoon, and the new numbers indicate cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.2 million head on September 1, 2024. That is one percent above September 1, 2023.  Placements in feedlots during August totaled …