By Jeff Lehmkuhler
The weather this year has been extreme. Early this spring in Kentucky we had significant dry conditions across large regions of the state. Those in Liberty experienced lingering drought leading to water restrictions. June brought record rainfall across the central area of the state with flooding in Richmond and other areas. Viewing the U.S. Drought monitor maps, conditions in the southeast have improved slightly, though the Carolinas and Virginia are still dry as is much of the west.
With weather conditions slowing herd expansion coupled with continued demand of beef, prices this fall are expected to remain strong with feeder futures remaining near $350/cwt. Continued stable corn and soybean CME market prices lends support to reasonable feed prices through this fall. As summer marches forward, forage productivity and quality may limit suckling calf performance.
Source : osu.edu