Cattle Sector Monitors Forecast as Frigid Temperatures Spread Nationwide

Frigid winter weather and rapid temperature swings have cattle markets watching closely for livestock stress, as analysts say fluctuations pose the greatest risk.

NASHVILLE, TENN (RFD-TV) — Frigid cold and winter weather are sweeping through many parts of the United States, with the official start of winter quickly approaching. Analyst Sam Hudson, vice president of Corn Belt Marketing, said the cattle markets will be closely watching fluctuating temperatures this week for signs of livestock stress.

“I would say the temperature fluctuations are probably a bigger danger and threat overall,” he explained. “Sometimes, if it just gets cold and can stay cold and kind of freeze over, sometimes that’s a better situation all the way around. But this is that time of year you get those types of weather systems.”

Hudson said snow has been piling up across fields in his area of Illinois in recent days, but noted that farmers and ranchers in the region need any moisture they can get right now.

Today’s Weather Forecast

Related Stories
U.S. consumers are still reaching for beef even though the country now produces more pork than beef.
As cattle producers continue to navigate labor constraints and rising production demands, innovation in handling systems will remain a key driver of the industry’s long-term efficiency and safety goals.
Steven McBee Jr. of McBee Farm & Cattle Company joins us to discuss the family farm crisis, producer mental health, cattle industry challenges, farmland preservation, and the role of agriculture in popular media.
Suzanne Fanning with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin joined us to discuss the “Born to Dairy” campaign, dairy promotion efforts in Wisconsin, and the economic role of the state’s dairy industry during National Dairy Month.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Explore the culinary wonders of Camino’s Apple Hill, where tradition meets delicious innovation at community institutions like Larsen Apple Barn.
Seven out of the eight major fertilizers saw recent price decreases. However, one key type of fertilizer bucked the overall trend with an 11-percent rise.
The USDA’s latest crop forecast for corn and soybean production will impact U.S. producers as well as make an impact on global trade.
Egg prices have been on a roller coaster this year, soaring sky-high and falling back down to Earth in just a few months.
Diesel prices are on the rise, posing a huge challenge for farmers as they navigate their operations through the beginning of harvest season for many key U.S. crops.