Record Fed Cattle Prices
U.S. fed cattle prices have climbed back to near- or record-highs as persistent herd shortages — the smallest in 75 years — keep cash and futures markets buoyant. April live cattle futures topped last October’s all-time highs above 250, while regional cash trades in the North and Kansas briefly exceeded prior records and pushed the five-area weighted average steer price toward a new weekly peak. Market resilience reflects limited seller urgency from feedlots holding cattle amid tight break-evens and lighter packer buying, producing sporadic high-priced trades rather than broad, sustained bids from major processors. Analysts expect the “holding action” to sustain elevated cash and futures levels for several weeks, though broader economic and geopolitical pressures have not yet derailed the rally.
4 Things Farmers Should Know About A Lesser-Known Tax Deduction
The video spotlights the residual soil fertility deduction, a little‑known tax break that can exceed $1,000 per acre for qualifying farmland, and urges producers to consider it before the April 15 filing deadline. Host Margy Eckelcamp explains four critical points: the...
Market Now Closes 4/13 - Grains and Livestock End Mixed: Was It Trading War or Weather Headlines?
The Markets Now segment opened with Michelle Rook and Mark Schultz reviewing Tuesday’s mixed close across grain and livestock futures. While equity markets slipped and energy spiked then fell, the grain complex showed wheat gaining on rain‑related optimism, corn holding...
Oil Plunge Shakes Markets, Fertilizer Worries Grow
The video reports a sharp drop in U.S. crude after a two‑week cease‑fire in the Strait of Hormuz, alongside growing fertilizer‑supply worries for U.S. corn growers and updates on livestock processing. Crude fell more than 20% in hours—the biggest one‑day plunge...
The Pork Podcast: Mark Knauer - Wrestling with Sow Mortality | Episode 44
The Pork Podcast episode features Dr. Mark Knauer, a swine researcher and former collegiate wrestler, discussing his career trajectory from a family farm in Wisconsin to a faculty role at North Carolina State University. Knauer explains how his early...
Maine Breakfast Spot with Ag Roots
The Farmer’s Table is a popular, family-run breakfast diner in Corinna, Maine, founded by Deborah Bradstreet after returning to her hometown and taking over a local eatery. The restaurant emphasizes homestyle, farm-inspired dishes—like hot turkey sandwiches, seafood chowder (made to...
U.S. Beef Gets Access to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has removed its export verification (EV) program requirement for U.S. beef, a change that has been fully implemented and eliminates a major trade barrier dating back to 2015. The move simplifies export procedures and relaxes certain feed-traceability requirements...
Markets Now - Corn, Soybeans and Cattle Higher Monday
Markets were mixed Monday after a long holiday and lingering uncertainty over Iran, with corn, soybeans and live cattle finishing higher. Crude oil rallied amid geopolitical risk, keeping a ‘war premium’ that is influencing grain and livestock markets. Analysts said...
In Depth: Another Blow to Global Fertilizer Markets
The interview focuses on India’s unprecedented move to purchase roughly 2.5 million tonnes of fertilizer through a government‑backed subsidy scheme, effectively inserting state money into a market that has long been governed by pure supply‑demand dynamics. By fixing farmer prices well below...
Markets Now Closes - 4/6 Grains Back Trading War, Weather: Live Cattle Hit Contract Highs Chasing Ca
The Markets Now segment centered on the intersecting forces shaping U.S. grain and livestock markets as planting season approaches. Analysts highlighted how geopolitical tension, especially the ongoing war, is keeping crude oil prices elevated, which in turn lifts soybean oil...
Markets Now Early - 4/6 Cattle Up W/Cash, JBS Strike Ends, Await MX Border News: Hogs Soar on China
Cattle futures pushed to new contract highs this week after sharply stronger cash trade, with bids rising from roughly $235 to about $245–246 and traders eyeing $250–260. The JBS Greeley strike appears largely resolved as union workers agreed to return,...
Before You Plant A Closer Look at the Latest Drought Monitor
The latest Drought Monitor briefing highlighted a mixed picture across the United States. After a week of a jet stream positioned over the Midwest, multiple low‑pressure systems delivered significant rain, easing drought stress in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. In contrast,...
Markets Now: Row Crops Ease, Cattle Continue to Climb Friday
The Markets Now segment highlighted a mixed start to the week: corn and soybeans fell after an early‑day rally tied to higher crude oil, while wheat managed modest gains. Meanwhile, cattle futures surged to contract highs, seemingly detached from broader...
In Depth What Do New DEF Rules Mean for Truckers
The Trump administration proposed removing diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) sensors, saying the change could save farmers billions and cut downtime from DEF system failures. Louie from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association warned current DEF rules, implemented around 2011, have raised...
Some Farmers Won't Get All Their Fertilizer for Planting
Farmers across the U.S. corn belt are confronting an unexpected supply shock as the military conflict between Iran and its adversaries has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that handles a sizable share of global fertilizer...
Farmers Plant Amid Uncertainty: Will 2026 Bring a Break?
The video centers on the USDA’s latest planting‑intentions report, which shows corn acreage slipping modestly while soybeans and cotton gain ground, and highlights the broader climate of uncertainty facing U.S. farmers. Analysts note that the survey’s response rate fell...
The New Biofuel Boom? Historic RFS Mandates Drive 2 Billion-Gallon Expansion
The Environmental Protection Agency released its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule, earmarking a historic expansion of biomass‑based diesel blending mandates for 2026‑2027. The rule adds roughly two billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel to the market, representing the most...
Farmers Plant Amid Uncertainty: Will 2026 Bring a Break?
The video examines the USDA’s latest planting‑intentions report, which shows farmers back in the fields but still wrestling with volatile fertilizer prices, lingering trade tensions and a historically low survey response rate. Corn acreage is projected at 95.3 million acres, about 3 %...
Markets on Edge: What’s Really Driving Grain Prices Right Now?
The US Farm Report panel dissected the latest Prospective Plantings and Grain Stocks data, probing why grain markets remain volatile despite modest USDA surprises. Dan Basse noted the acreage shift—roughly 3.5 million fewer corn acres offset by an equal gain in soy—suggesting...