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Beef packer continued with a stranglehold on cattle markets last week, buying a few cattle to fill their needs at lower money and keeping operating margins historically high.

As expected, beef packer margins jumped wildly higher the week ending Aug. 17, while cattle feeding margins slipped into the red.

The Sterling Beef Profit Tracker reports average cattle feeding closeouts were in the black last week, but with little room to spare.

Low grain prices may be frustrating for farmers but it could be a real opportunity for end users looking to lock in feed prices.

Low grain prices may be frustrating for farmers but it could be a real opportunity for end users looking to lock in feed prices.

Cattle feeding and packer profit margins were mostly steady the week ending December 21, with cash prices for fed cattle slightly higher.

Why would In the Cattle Markets write an entire article on African Swine Fever? The answer lies in trade and competitive meat prices.

Cattle feeding losses averaged $83 per head last week, while packers recorded $168 per head profits, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Packer margins improved $55 per head last week as Choice beef cutout values gained nearly $4 per cwt and cash cattle prices declined $1 per cwt.

Despite cattle prices being lower than year-ago levels, of the major livestock markets beef has weathered the storm better than poultry or pork.

Depending on your production system, consider the timeliness, biosecurity and potential impact on the environment for handling mortalities.

After big key reversals on live cattle, feeder cattle and hogs on Monday, the trade continued to follow through on Tuesday, with strength in both hogs and cattle markets.

Packer margins have grown to exceptionally high levels in recent weeks, while feedyard profits have eroded.

U.S. red meat and poultry production is increasing at a rapid rate, and market analysts warn cattlemen to be prepared for pressure on prices the rest of 2018.

Feedyard closeouts revealed profits of $92 per head last week after two weeks of losses.

Though still operating with solid profits, packer margins have slowly eroded in recent weeks.

Livestock producers in the Texas Panhandle were put on notice after several reports of fumonisin contamination in recently harvested grain.

The northwest Iowa expansion project adds five new pellets mills, two separate processing lines, and a 50,000-sq. ft. warehouse.