· This week in the markets – Live cash cattle were down nearly $4 lower. Feeder cattle markets were anywhere from $3 to $10 lower. April live cattle closed down more than $10 for the week and the March feeder cattle contract was down more than $9. Choice Box Beef prices were $.60 higher this week. Cash barrow and gilt prices were unchanged for the week. The April lean hog futures contract closed $5.25 lower for the week. The pork cutout value was $1 higher this week.

· Cold Storage – Beef ending stocks were down 4.1 percent over a year ago. Total supplies of pork in cold storage was 625 million pounds, 11 percent higher than last year at this time. Ham stocks were only 1.7 percent above year-ago levels, while bellies were up 32 percent and loins were up 43 percent respectively.

· Restaurant Performance Index – Came in at 101.1 for January, higher than the December number. Both the current situation index and expectations index were higher than the previous month. The index of same-store sales was strong at 104.4, that’s a 3 percent increase from December.

· Increased volatility in the market – There are a lot of issues that have been popping up that are creating more volatility in the markets. Some of those include how the coronavirus outbreak is and will impact overall demand, increased competition on the global pork market from Brazil, and worries about the US allowing imports of Brazilian beef.

· Next week’s reports: US and Canada Cattle and Hogs and the latest Jobs report.

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BASF has launched a new industry-initiative targeting pigweeds on the farm.

Pigweed resistance continues to rise and the spend on herbicides for pigweed species has nearly quadrupled in the last decade – posing a growing threat to farmers.

Herbicide-resistant pigweed is a major economic issue for growers across the U.S.

In this Operation Weed Eradication Radio Road Show, Kate Greif, Marketing Manager with BASF discusses the threat pigweeds pose to farmers 

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During their graduate school research, the co-founders of Pivot Bio found a better, more efficient way of delivering what the plants needed.

In this Managing for Profit, Karsten Temme – CEO of Pivot Bio shares how their product works to boost yields and deliver crops the nutrients they need.

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From seed decisions to maintaining product quality post-harvest, UPL offers an integrated portfolio of solutions for America’s farmers.

In this Managing for Profit, Vicente Gongora, head of UPL North America outlines the portfolio of products and how it benefits the nation’s growers.

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We’ve heard about equipment that uses propane to knock down weeds. Today we get a weed specialist’s perspective.

“Basically we’re using a heat source to control the plants out there,” said Dr. Stevan Knezevic, weed specialist at the University of Nebraska.

Controlling weeds with propane flaming is appropriate for a variety of operations, including organic and conventional systems, Knezevic told Brownfield Ag News, and at this point, no weed has developed tolerance for flame weeding.

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• This week in the markets – Live fed cattle are up $.90 on the week, feeder cattle were anywhere from steady to $9 this week. The April live cattle futures contract closed $2.35 lower, while the March feeder cattle contract closed $1.25 higher. Choice box beef is down $1.90 this week, that puts Choice box beef prices $12 lower last year at this time. The cash barrow and gilt prices were $2.25 higher this week and the April lean hog futures closed nearly $3 higher this week. Pork cutout value gained $.40 this week, supported primarily by the strength in hams. 
• Livestock Slaughter – Not a friendly report. January beef production up 3.4 percent and pork production up 7.6 percent relative to year-ago levels. Continuing the trend of more red met. Hog slaughter was 7.1 percent above year-ago for January. Cattle dressed weights were up 8 pounds relative to a year ago. Beef cow slaughter was 14.5 percent above year-ago levels for January. 
• Cattle on Feed – The positive news this month is that placements were down .6 percent, which is well-below the pre-report guess of up nearly 2 percent. Cattle on Feed as of January 1 came in at 102.2, very close to pre-report estimates. 
• USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum – Was this week. Scott and Meghan take a look at those numbers.
• Next week’s reports: Cold Storage and Restaurant Performance Index.

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In this Operation Weed Eradication Radio Road Show, Darren Unland Technical Marketing Manager at BASF explains that there are several variables and unsustainable practices that can cause potential setbacks to on-farm eradication of pigweeds.

Operation Weed Eradication includes a multi-year approach to cultural and mechanical practices, chemical control and eradication diligence on the farm. 

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Half of the world’s food supply is dependent on synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, but it can have serious environmental impacts.

In this Managing for Profit, Pivot Bio’s Ernie Sanders explores how they’re working to reduce the use of synthetic nitrogen without impacting yields.

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Bayer’s Crop Protection Portfolio provides farmers with a wide variety of choices to best control and manage weeds. With the Bayer PLUS Rewards program, farmers can earn more money back from their purchases.

In this Managing for Profit, Bayer’s Frank Rittemann explains.

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Organic farmers have an uphill battle with weeds. The few chemicals available are very expensive and labor-intensive mechanical weed control is also cost prohibitive. Mechanical engineering professor George Gogos at the University of Nebraska has developed equipment that eliminates weeds using propane generated flame. It’s effective, but also qualifies as an organic method of killing weeds. 

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