April Pork Exports Remain Strong; Best Month of 2012 for Beef Exports 

April exports of U.S. pork were up slightly in volume (183,618 metric tons) from a year ago and 4 percent higher in value ($509.2 million), keeping 2012 exports ahead of 2011's record pace. Through the first four months of the year, pork exports stand 6 percent higher than last year in volume (781,676 metric tons) and 16 percent higher in value ($2.17 billion), according to statistics released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

April was the strongest month so far this year for U.S. beef exports, despite a decline of 8 percent in volume (94,734 metric tons) compared to last year. April export value was $469.6 million - 9 percent higher than a year ago. From January through April, beef exports were up 6 percent in value to $1.72 billion despite a 10 percent decline in volume (361,122 metric tons).

On a per-head-slaughtered basis, April pork exports equated to $57.69 - down slightly from the first quarter of this year but still more than a dollar higher than in April 2011. For the first four months of this year, exports equated to $58.84 per head.

April exports of pork muscle cuts equated to 24 percent of production, 27.7 percent when including both muscle cuts and variety meat. These ratios were roughly the same as April 2011 and slightly lower than the first quarter of this year. 

Click here for more of the April meat export report.

Is Increasing Demand Driving Improving Wholesale Beef Values?

Rising wholesale beef prices could be due to several factors says Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University extension livestock marketing specialist. He offers his latest analysis courtesy of this week's Cow-Calf Newsletter:

The Choice boxed beef cutout value was $197.16/cwt. last week, the second highest weekly average this year and only $1.35/cwt. below the early March peak. Choice values have made a strong rebound after dropping to a weekly low of $177.79/cwt. in mid-April. Currently, Choice boxed beef is 13 percent higher than the same time last year. The latest Select boxed beef weekly average was $185.01/cwt., up 10 percent from one year ago at this time.

The Choice-Select spread has widened sharply in recent weeks, which is the typical seasonal tendency at this time of year. The latest boxed beef values increase the Choice-Select spread to $12.15/cwt., about double the $6.03 spread this time last year. The spread is also above the five year average level of $10.13/cwt. (for this time of year), which represent the first time the spread has exceeded the five year average weekly level since the first week of January. Thus, the Choice-Select spread has gone from a seasonal low in late March of $0.30/cwt. (well below the average seasonal low) to current levels above the average level for this time of year. 

For more of Derrell's beef market analysis, click here.

2012 Oklahoma Wheat Harvest 90% Done- Texas and Kansas Hit the Halfway Mark as Early Harvest Trend Continues

Ninety percent of the winter wheat crop in the state of Oklahoma was harvested by Sunday, the new USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report notes. That's 54 points ahead of the five year average. Many parts of the state received rainfall last week. You can read Oklahoma's report by clicking here.

Food Distributors Behind Gestation Crate Bans Might Want to Review the Facts, Lindsey Says

Recent announcements by food giants McDonald's and Kroger have roiled the pork industry. Both companies, as well as other smaller food distributors and retailers, have stated they will source their pork only from producers who do not use individual sow housing.

Kroger did not set a time limit, but McDonald's put the pork industry on a deadline of ten years.

In calling for gestation crate bans, the food industry has bowed to pressure from animal rights groups, says Roy Lee Lindsey, executive director of the Oklahoma Pork Council. Lindsey spoke at length with us recently about the effect of these announcements on the pork industry. He said these decisions are not based in science, not based in economic reality, and will cause difficulties without any real increase in animal welfare.

Click here to check out the in-depth discussion with Roy Lee Lindsey on this hot-button issue.

Choice Boxed Beef Prices Mostly Steady, Finished Cattle Up, Czerwien Says

In this week's beef report with Ed Czerwien, we saw the choice cut market end the week at $196.94 cwt, which was only .25 lower comparied to the previous Friday. During the post-holiday week, the spot load for the choice cuts was 1,161. The total volume for all cuts was 7,438 loads as retailers began restocking shelves after the Memorial Day holiday.

The general trend in the finished cattle trade was $1.00 higher with instances of $2.00 higher than the previous week, with live sales in Texas and Kansas selling at $122.00 cwt and $123 to $124 in Nebraska. Dressed sales were $195 to $196 cwt.

The average live weight from the Texas Panhandle was 1,245 pounds, nine pounds heavier than a week ago. The average live weight continues to increase.

Check out Ed's full audio report by clicking here.

Can Cattle Producers Continue to Ignore Crossbred Advantages?

In the second part of a four-part Beef Buzz series, Dr. Dave Lalman from Oklahoma State University, talks about how chasing higher carcass quality through purebred cattle may actually be losing producers dollars in lower efficiency.  Lalman spoke at the recent Alltech International Symposium on the Future of Agriculture held in Lexington, Kentucky.

He says the two states with the most beef cows, Texas and Oklahoma, are the two fastest growing Angus registration states in the nation.

He says carcass grade has undoubtedly improved because of this trend, but the trend may, in fact, cost more than any perceived gains.

Lalman says that since the 1960s the cattle industry has decided to pass on the efficiency of cross breeding.   He says that's a decision the industry might want to revisit. 

Catch more of today's BEEF BUZZ by clicking here.

Agritourism Bus Ready to Roll Through Northeast Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Agritourism Program will roll through northeast Oklahoma Thursday, June 28. Registration is open for this traveling workshop which includes networking opportunities between tours of agritourism attractions. Participants on the chartered bus will have time to stimulate new ideas and get to know other entrepreneurs who may become future business partners.

The rolling workshop will focus on U-Pick farms where customers come onto a farm or ranch to pick produce such as peaches, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and more. U-Pick farms are a popular category of agritourism enterprise.

The bus tour will feature Thunderbird Berries, Livesay Orchard, Stone Bluff Cellars and Owasso Tree and Berry Farm. This lineup will give participants access to incredible ideas from various U-Pick farms and an outstanding agritourism winery. 

Click here to learn more about the 2012 tour- and how you can sign up to ride along.