50th Annual
Dixie National
Livestock Show & Rodeo

         Convention,
          San Antonio

13-14 MCA Convention &
             Trade Show

Wheels for Bucks

Dr. Mike Apley will join us to discuss the looming issue of antibiotic use in animals.
A pharmacologist at Kansas State University, Dr. Apley is one of the foremost authorities on issues related to drug use in food animals.
"A Taste of Beef" dinner and auction returns in 2015 with a dozen of Jackson's finest restaurants serving their favorite beef dishes on February 13 at the Agriculture Museum.
The Dixie National Farm Expo is back on February 13 & 14 in the Trade Mart with the latest products and services for beef producers.
MCA's Annual Convention activities include the business meeting, Scholarship Luncheon, and President's Banquet, all on Saturday, February 14.

This is the final week to consign heifers to the March 28, Mississippi Agribition Sale in Verona.
Contact Mike Howell (mhowell@ext.msstate.edu, cell 662-871-8468, office 662-566-2201) for details. 

January 9, 2015

The headline from the first full week of trading in 2015 was largely a carry-over from the previous year, "Cash trading is at a standstill." Expect this sentiment to continue as a result of smaller supplies and the continued move to formula type pricing. On Tuesday, Texas and Kansas sold live cattle at $168-$170.50.
After taking the holidays off, auction markets across the U.S. resumed activity this week. In Mississippi, 700-800 pound feeder steers averaged $204, 600-700 pound steers averaged $237.50, 500-600 pound steers averaged $270, and 400-500 pound steers averaged $303.75. Heifers in Mississippi were roughly 90% of steer prices. In Oklahoma City, #1 and #1-2 steers weighing 500-550 pounds were $291, while 750-800 pound #1 feeder steers were $232, while #1-2 feeder steers were $223.

Cattle futures also started the new year where last year ended... sliding south. On Friday, feeder cattle futures lost about $10 compared to the close on January 2. Live cattle futures gave up about $5-$7 over the course of the week.
Beef demand continues to be questioned in spite of lower oil prices, which should translate into more available spending (or possibly more saving), but time will provide the answer. Still, traders appear to be cautious across all commodity sectors as oil has fallen.
Corn futures prices were mostly steady on the week. USDA will release their monthly supply and demand report on Monday (Jan 12).

Wholesale boxed beef prices were higher. Choice boxes averaged $252.76, up $5.36. Select boxes ended the week at an average of $243.23, up $5.44.