The majority of the cow-calf sector has been on the defense for the past two to three years due to adverse weather and production cost conditions. Widespread drought has forced significant herd liquidation and resulted in additional feed and other production costs. It appears that the beef cow herd has decreased by roughly 11 percent since the last cyclical peak in 2019 and has decreased perhaps six percent in just the last two years due to drought.
Report due Jan. 31
USDA will release the January 1 cattle inventory numbers on January 31 and confirm herd changes in 2023. The drought…
