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Livestock

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.

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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.

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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.

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More milk, consolidation continues, but still an improved 2020 price outlook

By Nicole Olynk Widmar | Given the challenging market situation facing dairy producers, the ending stocks for dairy products have been closely monitored and heavily reported on in 2019. September ending stocks (as reported in November) were significantly (159 million pounds on a milk-fat basis) higher for 2019 than they were a year earlier (Sept 2018).

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U.S. Cattle & Hog Sectors

Chicago Federal Reserve 2019 presentation by James Mintert.

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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.

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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.

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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.?

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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.

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Impact of Higher Corn Prices on Swine Finishing Feed Cost

Corn price futures for the December 2019 contract increased from $3.79 per bushel for the week ending May 10 to $4.55 for the week ending June 28. Even though corn futures prices weakened after the release of the June crop acreage repor.

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