Beef Production Expected To Increase

"Up," is the word the USDA is using to describe the outlook for most of the cattle industry.

"Our forecast, a 5.9% increase in total beef production 27.7 billion pounds that will be a record, if reached in 2018," said livestock analyst Seanicaa Herron.

She added a total commercial cattle slaughter is expected to increase between 4%-5% year-over-year and cattle should be heavier from 2017, as feed lot operators take advantage of favorable feed costs,  As for the forecast for US beef exports..

"Beef exports are also forecast to increase our forecast for 2018, at 3 billion pounds this year," said Herron.

Herron said that is due to expected demand strength in U-S beef across the globe.  The only category down year-over-year, price, with steer prices expected down 2%.