The Farmer's Weblog
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Monday, January 27, 2003 |
The USDA-NASS monthly Cattle on Feed report (released January 17th) showed the number of cattle in U.S. feedlots with a one-time capacity of 1,000 head or more was 8 percent below a year ago as of January 1. That was about as expected. However, there were some differences in the marketings and placements between the historically reported 7-states and the U.S. numbers.
7:30:00 PM
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Recent declines in eggs set and chicks placed for broiler production have translated into some modest declines in broiler slaughter. The USDA-NASS Monthly Poultry Slaughter report (released January, 3rd) showed slaughter down from the prior year. Broiler slaughter for November 2002 totaled 639.8 million head, down 4 percent from 2001?s and the smallest reported for 2002. On a monthly basis, November slaughter declined 131.2 million head (17 percent) from October, which was the largest month for broiler slaughter during 2002. The last time broiler slaughter posted a lower number was in April 2000 (635.9 million head). However, there was one less slaughter day in November meaning slaughter was actually up about one percent from the year earlier. Still, that was a much smaller than normal year-to-year increase.
7:28:59 PM
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As expected, the USDA-NASS Crop Production report (released January 10th) showed nationwide hay stocks down from a year earlier as of December 1, 2002. U.S. hay stocks on December 1 were reported at 103.8 million tons. That was down 6.8 million tons, or 6 percent, from 2001?s. Compared to December 1, 2000, U.S. hay stocks were down by about 1.8 million tons. Although several states posted increased hay stocks, many areas of the country hurt by drought in 2002 face tight supplies and high prices.
7:25:35 PM
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Cattle on Feed
The USDA releases the Cattle on Feed report on Friday and it contained few surprises. There were 10.59 million head of cattle on feed as of January 1, 2003. This is an 8 percent decline from 2002 and a decline of 10 percent from 2001. This decrease was in line with trade expectations. December placements were a little higher than expectations, but December marketings were also above trade expectations. It appears that northern sellers (Colorado +37%, Iowa +20% and Nebraska +14%) were particularly aggressive with marketings.
7:16:32 PM comment []
