In The Cattle Markets
Current market and trade implications.
Seasonal beef production increases are expected in the latter half of the year. Although the supply increases may be lower due to recently lower-than-expected slaughter weights, there will still be year-over-year beef production increases of 3.3% (down from expectations of 3.7%). This supply pressure will continue to put long-term downward pressure on prices.
This increase in beef production will be occurring simultaneously with the increase in pork production. Export markets have until recently absorbed large amounts of our increased animal protein production. Higher tariffs and weaker demand are putting pressure on those exports.
USDA’s Economic Research Service released its quarterly Situation and Outlook report in late August. The report forecasts exports of beef, pork, dairy, poultry and other livestock products to be down $300 million in fiscal year (FY) 2019. Beef exports are projected down $100 million due to lower prices, while pork is forecast down $300 million due to weaker demand and retaliatory tariffs.
Beef trade has been supportive of beef prices. The bigger trade concern for cattle is the indirect effects from decreased trade opportunities for pork. Futures markets will react quickly and aggressively to political announcements that may or may not materialize into market changes.
Increasing/decreasing the market export opportunities is similar to increasing/decreasing the size of the cattle herd. It takes a long time to increase the number, but we can lose our markets very quickly. The short-term excitement over the U.S.-Mexico agreement has worn off as people realize the agreement isn’t finalized or ratified.
Getting the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) finalized however would free up trade negotiators for more discussions with China. Beginning those negotiations with China now may possibly have fortuitous timing impacts, as China will start needing U.S. soybeans in the next few months, as well as U.S. pork. The Chinese demand for U.S. soybeans and pork will depend on trade, as well as impacts felt from the African Swine Fever, a highly contagious disease with no known vaccine.
Editor’s Note:Brenda Boetel is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and a contributor to the Livestock Marketing Information Center, which provided this article. Find more at lmic.info.