Industry Headlines

Feeding margins decline again, packer margins improving

Cash cattle prices declined for the second consecutive week, producing another decline in cattle feeding margins. Beef packer margins improved, and are nearing the break even point. Pork packer margins are in the black. ... Full story.

D.C. Watch: Budget proposals could impact new farm bill

Members of Congress released new budget proposals last week, but House and Senate proposals were very different. ... Full story.

Mexican beef market impacts on the U.S. beef industry

The Mexican beef cattle industry has been severely impacted by the drought the past two years, much as the U.S. has been impacted. Additionally, changes in Mexican domestic beef consumption and beef trade have significant implications for the interaction of the Mexican and U.S. cattle and beef industries in the coming years. ... Full story.

Distillers grain prices remain strong

Ethanol coproduct feed prices have increased since the beginning of the year, albeit not to the record prices posted in August 2012 when corn price peaked. ... Full story.

Combest’s path to a more effective, less costly farm legislation

As we move into March 2013, no news report is complete without some acknowledgement of the sequester and the potential for the mandatory across-the-board cuts to affect services that the US public has come to depend on and reduce the rate of economic growth. ... Full story.

Japan offers growth potential for U.S. beef

Back in 2000, U.S. beef exports to Japan reached 1.16 billion pounds valued at $1.77 billion, and accounted for 43 percent by volume and 50 percent of the value of all U.S. beef exports. We also enjoyed a 53 percent share of Japan’s beef imports at the time. Those figures dropped to zero following discovery of the first case of BSE in the United States in December 2003. ... Full story.

Cattle Outlook: Export beef demand starts 2013 higher

Domestic beef demand was up 2.8% in January and export demand was up 4.4%. Demand for fed cattle was down 0.7% due to wider packer margins than in January 2012. ... Full story.

Commentary: Did Whole Foods Market go too far on GMO-labeling?

Was becoming the first national grocery chain to set a timeline for GMO-labeling a savvy PR move or unnecessary scare tactic? Your answer may well depend on your annual income and food budget. ... Full story.

Proposed mCOOL rule changes released

USDA released their response to the final ruling of the World Trade Organization’s findings related to the U.S.’s mandatory country-of-origin-labeling law. ... Full story.

Ag degrees in demand: Graduates report positive job outlook

A growing number of recent agriculture graduates and graduating seniors are reporting strong job prospects with their agriculture and natural resources degrees in Ohio and nationwide thanks to the growing world-wide demand for food and an increasingly strong agriculture industry, experts say. ... Full story.

Brazil meatpacker JBS posts Q4 profit of $33.9 million

Brazil's JBS SA, the world's biggest beef producer, posted fourth-quarter profits on Wednesday that came in at a fraction of estimates by a poll of analysts this week despite stable prices and rising volumes boosting its bottom line. ... Full story.

USDA budget cuts halt cattle inventory, milk reports

Automatic budget cuts have forced the U.S. Department of Agriculture to suspend publication of 10 statistical reports or series, including an upcoming semiannual cattle inventory and monthly milk production data, for the rest of the fiscal year, the agency said on Tuesday. ... Full story.