News Update
February 5, 2018
In the Cattle Markets
Jan. 12 saw the release of a plethora of USDA feed-related reports. Specifically relevant to cattle markets were the Crop Production 2017 Summary and the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE). The annual crop production summary releases detailed estimates of corn harvested acres and yields. These estimates are the result of extensive surveys of producers. The production estimates are incorporated in the WASDE grain balance sheets.
The most recent corn yield estimate for the 2017-2018 crop year is 176.6 bushels (bu.) per acre. This is better than a full bushel increase over the December estimate and is record high. However, harvested acres were reduced 400 thousand acres, so production was only increased about 25 million bu. Feed-use estimates were revised down 25 million bu. and food, seed and industrial use was revised up 10 million bu. The result is that ending stocks were increased 40 million bu. to 2.477 billion bu., and a stock-to-use ratio of 17.1%. Production-related numbers are often revised going forward, but the revisions tend to be modest and the action is now usually on the use or demand side for the remainder of the crop year.
Continue reading this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
— Adapted from an article by Stephen Koontz, Colorado State University.
Parts of the State Enter Wildfire Season Earlier than Usual
Wildfire season has arrived earlier than usual due to high fuel availability, drought and other environmental conditions, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
Andy Vestal, AgriLife Extension director for emergency management at Texas A&M University, College Station, said the Energy Release Component (ERC), which measures how hot and long available fuel can burn if sparked, is at critical levels in some areas of the state. Conditions for wildfires are high when coupled with high winds, low relative humidity and other environmental factors.
Vestal said most of the state west of the Interstate 35 corridor is at a critical point as existing fuel, arid conditions and wind contribute to fire potential and threats.
“Grasslands that have not been regularly grazed or managed have enough fuel to create high ERCs, and that is the threat,” he said. “You add high winds like we’ve been seeing into the equation and you have the threat of a serious fire that could be extremely difficult to control.”
Wildfire season typically starts around March and lasts through spring green-up in April and May, Vestal said, as dead grasses, warm, dry conditions and spring winds increase fire potential.
For more information, read the full AgriLife news release online.
— Adapted from a release by Adam Russell, Texas AgriLife Communications.
Doud to Headline 105th Cattlemen’s Day Program
Gregg Doud, the president of the Commodity Markets Council and a recent nominee by President Donald Trump for U.S. Chief Agricultural Negotiator, will highlight the 2018 Cattlemen’s Day at Kansas State University (K-State) on March 2.
The 105th annual Cattlemen’s Day activities begin at 8 a.m. in Weber Hall with refreshments, educational exhibits and a commercial trade show. The event is hosted by the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry.
The cost to attend Cattlemen’s Day is $20 if paid by March 1 at noon, or $30 at the door. There is no charge for students. For more information and online registration, visit KSUBeef.org or contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or lschrein@ksu.edu.
“We’re excited and honored to have Gregg Doud join us for Cattlemen’s Day,” said Dale Blasi, professor and a beef cattle specialist with K-State Research and Extension.
Doud, a K-State alum, is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. about trade issues in the beef industry. K-State agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor will follow Doud with a talk on the importance of international trade as the U.S. beef herd expands.
Read the full K-State news release online.
— Adapted from a release by Angie Stump-Denton, K-State Research and Extension.
— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Journal.
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