Latest News From Packer

A large contract foodservice company claims the nation's largest beef packers conspired to fix prices and drive up profit margins from 2015 through 2021.

Price-fixing allegations were again levied against America's largest beef packing companies, this time by a group of small distributors.

Working off a big trade the previous week and slowed production, packers were reluctant to purchase cattle but the futures market took a dip and buyers stepped in at steady money and gathered inventory. 

Eight beef packing projects are in various stages of completion that could add 10% to total industry capacity; is it needed? What potential headwinds might these ventures face?

Tyson Foods is deploying autonomous refrigerated box trucks to bolster Tyson routes in Northwest Arkansas. Operating 18 hours a day, these driverless trucks will deliver products to distribution and storage facilities.

Generally, a good week for agriculture with cattle steady to stronger despite a significant rally in the corn market. Packers try to hide their hand, but without inventory they must pay up to keep plants running.

Cash cattle prices retreated from the previous week's historic highs and a seasonal decline was to be expected. Analysts, however, believe another rally is brewing later in the season.

Set to open in 2025, the Olathe, Kan., plant will further Walmart’s commitment to creating an end-to-end Angus beef supply chain.

A significant rally in fed cattle over the past three weeks confirms the front-end supply of cattle remains extremely current and cattle feeders have been willing sellers driven by good profits and a strong basis.

Packers were aggressive bidders in all regions as cash fed cattle markets made historic late-season moves higher in the holiday-shortened trading week.

Cattle feeders experience largest average profits in seven years as packer margins dip into the red.

Cattle feeders saw average profits of more than $300 per head last week while pork producers found average losses of about $13 per head.

U.S. House Agriculture's Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday provided an opportunity for animal agriculture stakeholders to detail their priorities they hope to achieve from lawmakers actions.

Judas goats? One of history’s last slaughterhouse witnesses to the bizarre Judas goat spectacle recalls the death parade to the killing floor.

After Tyson Foods reports anemic first quarter sales and downgrades its forecast, The Wall Street Journal editors wrote, “This doesn’t look like an antitrust conspiracy or market oligopoly.”

Negotiated cash cattle prices declined for the fourth consecutive week in the South but held steady in Northern trades.

Negotiated cash cattle prices declined for the third consecutive week in a moderate to active trade. Wholesale beef prices also declined yet remain above seasonal averages.

Negotiated cattle prices fell short of steady on the week, though fundamentals point to further gains in the short-term. Cattle on feed found 4.4% fewer cattle at the bunk, but placements were mildly surprising.

Cattle markets surging $10 higher over the past two weeks have pushed the 5-area average price to record levels and the rally may continue this week.

With cattle feeders in the driver's seat, packers will seek leverage to price cattle for future delivery. They aren't looking to do feeders a favor with the strategy.

New research helps policymakers understand the role multi-plant coordination plays in the fed cattle market as they consider policies aimed at increasing negotiated trade with the hope of improving price discovery.

Tyson Foods gave its chicken suppliers two months' notice of its plan to shut a Virginia processing plant in May, raising concerns among farmers and legal experts about Tyson's compliance with antitrust regulations.

Cattle feeding margins declined last week after modest declines in cash cattle prices. Pork producer margins remain underwater.

A proposal for a new 320,000-square-foot beef processing facility has been submitted for a site in eastern Kansas by an unnamed retailer.

USDA issued a proposed rulemaking on Monday that would effectively close the "Product of the U.S.A." loophole that has been in effect since the repeal of COOL in 2015.

Rising wholesale beef prices and declining packing plant utilization are two indicators to watch as the 2023 cattle markets unfold.

Packers grudgingly bid higher for the week in what was called a light to moderate trade. Cattle feeders were firm sellers as some passed on those higher bids late week.

Cattle and hog harvest rates were lower last week with higher cash prices paid to farmers and feeders. Margins for both beef and pork packers are trending lower.

Cattle feeders and packers were in a standoff most of the week with cash trading only moderate in all regions. Cattle feeders are in a good position as inventories and carcass weights declining.

Construction is expected to begin this year for Cattlemen's Heritage Beef Company, a 2,000-head per day beef processing facility south of the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolitan area.

Negotiated cash cattle trade was slow to develop but finished the year strong with price advances in all regions.

Wholesale beef prices are running $20 per cwt. higher than the same week a year ago, with last week's blizzard one factor in the rally. But retail demand for a shrinking supply will support prices into the New Year.

Cash cattle trades a week following the Thanksgiving rally saw steady prices, but the steadily declining supply of harvest-ready cattle will continue to shift bargaining leverage to producers.

The pendulum continues swinging toward cattle feeders as cash prices jumped $3 last week and left packers with their largest negative margins in nearly six years.

Packers were forced to raise bids to acquire inventory during the holiday-shortened week, extending the autumn price rally.

What number of beef processors would resolve producer concerns about “lack of competition?” Should meat processing be different than other industries?

Profit margins for both cattle and hog finishing operations saw modest gains last week but also carry significantly higher feed costs than a year ago.

Profit margins for both cattle and hog finishing operations saw modest gains last week but also carry significantly higher feed costs than a year ago.

The nation’s fifth-largest beef packer will receive a grant from USDA that will help add 700 head to its daily harvest capacity.

Cattle feeders refused some early bids last week and were rewarded with higher prices in all areas, resulting in another opportunity to clean up show lists.

Brazilian meatpackers continue to procure cattle from inside the country’s protected areas more than a decade after zero-deforestation cattle agreements were signed to reform the sector.

Beef packers would like to own more cattle but they’re afraid showing their hand will only raise asking prices. Moderate trade occurred in all regions at slightly higher money.

Market leverage has shifted dramatically toward ranchers and cattle feeders over the past two months. The combination of rising cattle prices and declining wholesale beef prices has eroded historic packer margins.

Western Legacy Development Corp. continues to search for a site to build its $1.1 billion beef processing facility after being rejected by two cities in the northern plains.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing regulations to prevent meat companies from retaliating against livestock and poultry farmers who speak out on practices such as price-fixing.

Cheyenne, Wyoming's mayor fueled speculation about possible relocation of the Western Legacy beef packing project with his comments in a weekly column in Wyoming media.

Once operational in late 2024, American Foods Group's new beef facility in Warren County, Missouri, will process 2,400 head of cattle per day.

Sustainable Beef LLC received a giant boost in its efforts to bring a new, 1,500 head per day beef processing facility online with a commitment from Walmart.

The average cost of feeding a steer to finish weight was 25% higher for cattle marketed last week and is projected to be 31% higher for cattle placed on feed last week at roughly $600 per head.

For many industry stakeholders, the go-to solution seems to be more localized, regional supply chains. To these folks, the cohort of soon-to-be-built processing plants looks like a golden next era of the meat business.