Search our entire resource library

You're viewing a specific archive. Looking for something and want to search by keyword or just take a general look at ALL our resources? Click Search below!

Search

Livestock

U.S. Is A Pork Export Powerhouse

Recent disruptions to economic activity around the world as a result of the Corona virus have served to reemphasize the importance of trade to the U.S. pork industry. Trade in pork products has grown as the U.S. has turned into a pork export powerhouse.

Read More

Prospects for Swine Feed Costs in 2020

Recent trends in feed costs for farrow-to-finish and swine finishing enterprises, and projections for 2020.  Feed costs are expected to be similar to that experienced in 2019.  However, current projections have a wide band around them.

Read More

Cattle Finishing Net Return Prospects for 2020

At the end of 2019, fed cattle prices were $122.00. This increase in fed cattle prices had a large impact on cattle finishing profitability in the fourth quarter of 2019. Moreover, fed cattle prices are predicted to remain strong through at least the second quarter of 2020.

Read More

Swine Finishing Feed Cost Prospects

Corn prices have been quite volatile in 2019. Corn prices in Indiana were approximately $3.70 per bushel in April, $4.55 in July, and $3.90 in December. Given the uncertainty regarding what gets planted to large amount of acres that were not planted in 2019 (i.e., prevent plant acres), corn prices are likely to also be volatile in 2020.

Read More

Ag Outlook: Looking Beyond the 2020 Crop Year

Top Farmer 2020 slidedeck presentation by Chad Hart, Associate Professor of Economics, Iowa State University. Examine the current outlook for corn and soybeans, but also take a longer view of what’s ahead for the U.S. ag economy and the management implications for the next several years.

Read More

U.S. Cattle & Hog Sectors

Chicago Federal Reserve 2019 presentation by James Mintert.

Read More

Cattle Feeders Place More Heifers on Feed

USDA’s October Cattle on Feed report, released on Friday, October 25th, indicated that the nation’s on feed inventory of 11.3 million head was about 1% smaller than a year ago, but still more than 4% larger than two years ago.

Read More

Impact of Recent Changes in Corn and Fed Cattle Prices on Cattle Finishing Net Returns

This article discussed recent trends in feeding cost of gain, the feeder to fed price ratio, and cattle finishing net returns. Average cattle finishing losses in the first six months of 2019 were $52 per head.

Read More

The Economic Importance of U.S. Animal Agriculture

Today, farms are much more specialized in crops or animals, and many fewer are in both. Has this changed the relative economic importance of crop and animal agriculture in the U.S.?

Read More

Beef Herd Expansion Near End?

From the low point in 2014, beef cow numbers have expanded by nine percent. Total cow numbers including dairy cows are up seven percent.

Read More
Load More