ne-agri-facts NEBRASKA AGRI-FACTS Issue 03/2004 Released: 02/04/2004 by USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service Mark Harris, State Statistician Dean C Groskurth, Deputy State Statistician ------------------------------------------------------------------------ P.O Box 81069 Location: 298 Federal Bldg Lincoln, NE 68501 Phone: (402) 437-5541 e-mail: nass-ne@nass.usda.gov Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/ne/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear producers and other data users: Information contained herein is the result of mail, phone and personal interview surveys conducted during the past few weeks. Special recognition and appreciation are extended to all producers and agribusinesses who provided data making these reports possible. Mark Harris State Statistician ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cattle Inventory All cattle and calves on hand January 1, 2004, in Nebraska totaled 6.25 million head, up 1 percent from a year ago. All cows on hand January 1, at 1.91 million head, were 4 percent below last year. The 2003 calf crop totaled 1.77 million head, down 3 percent from 2002. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots on January 1 were 2.45 million head up 7 percent from last year. All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2004, totaled 94.9 million head, 1 percent below a year ago. All cows and heifers that calved, at 41.9 million, were down 1 percent from the 42.1 million on January 1, 2003. The 2003 calf crop was estimated at 37.9 million head, down 1 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots on January 1 were 13.8 million head up 4 percent from last year. Cattle and Calves: Number by Class and Calf Crop, Nebraska and United States, January 1, 2002-2004 Nebraska United States 1/ Class --------------------------- ----------------------------- 2002 2003 2004 2004/2003 2002 2003 2004 2004/2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1,000 Head Percent 1,000 Head Percent Cattle and calves 6,400 6,200 6,250 101 96,704 96,100 94,882 99 Cows and heifers that have calved 2,000 2,000 1,910 96 42,229 42,125 41,851 99 Beef cows 1,932 1,934 1,848 96 33,118 32,983 32,860 100 Milk cows 68 66 62 94 9,112 9,142 8,991 98 Heifers 500 pounds and over 1,730 1,690 1,820 108 19,678 19,629 19,341 99 For beef cow replacement 285 280 280 100 5,561 5,624 5,517 98 For milk cow replacement 25 20 20 100 4,060 4,114 4,020 98 Other heifers 1,420 1,390 1,520 109 10,057 9,891 9,804 99 Steers 500 pounds and over 2,120 2,000 2,120 106 16,790 16,554 16,280 98 Bulls 500 pounds and over 100 100 90 90 2,244 2,248 2,206 98 Calves under 500 pounds 450 410 310 76 15,763 15,545 15,204 98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2001 2002 2003 2003/2002 2001 2002 2003 2003/2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Calves born 1,820 1,820 1,770 97 38,280 38,224 37,903 99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Totals may not add due to rounding. Source: USDA NASS Cattle, January 30, 2004. Cattle On Feed Nebraska Cattle on Feed Up 7 Percent Nebraska feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more head contained 2.28 million cattle on feed on January 1, up 7 percent from last year and 2 percent above 2002. Placements of cattle into feedlots during December totaled 350,000 head, up 3 percent from 2002 and 17 percent above 2001. Fed cattle marketings for the month of December totaled 340,000 head, down 8 percent from last year but 5 percent above December two years ago. Other disappearance during December totaled 10,000 head compared with 10,000 head during December 2002 and 15,000 head during December 2001. U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 6 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.2 million head on January 1, 2004. The inventory was 6 percent above January 1, 2003 but 3 percent below January 1, 2002. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.75 million, 10 percent above 2002 and 11percent above 2001. Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.74 million, 3 percent below 2002 and 4 percent below 2001. Other disappearance totaled 90,000 during December, 9 percent below 2002 and 3 percent below 2001. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 2002-2004 January 1 December December Dec. Other State Number on Feed 1/ Placements Marketings Disappearance 2/ 2004/ 2003/ 2003/ 2003/ 2003 2004 2003 2002 2003 2002 2002 2003 2002 2002 2003 2002 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,000 Head % 1,000 Head % 1,000 Head % 1,000 Head % Arizona 289 293 101 25 32 128 27 22 81 4 1 25 California 490 510 104 55 70 127 55 55 100 10 5 50 Colorado 1,020 1,040 102 145 180 124 185 190 103 10 10 100 Idaho 295 300 102 44 53 120 47 60 128 2 3 150 Iowa 355 370 104 65 50 77 59 48 81 1 2 200 Kansas 2,200 2,430 110 390 410 105 470 435 93 20 25 125 Nebraska 2,140 2,280 107 340 350 103 370 340 92 10 10 100 New Mexico 119 115 97 12 14 117 15 17 113 1 3 300 Oklahoma 330 355 108 34 53 156 41 45 110 3 3 100 So. Dakota 205 200 98 38 31 82 27 30 111 1 1 100 Texas 2,630 2,830 108 360 420 117 400 410 103 30 20 67 Washington 185 195 105 32 30 94 40 38 95 2 2 100 Other States 335 330 99 55 55 100 65 50 77 5 5 100 United States 10,593 11,248 106 1,595 1,748 110 1,801 1,740 97 99 90 91 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. 2/ Includes death losses, movement from feedlots to pastures and shipments to other feedlots for further feeding. Source: USDA NASS Cattle on Feed, January 16, 2004. Milk Cows and Production: By Quarter, Nebraska, 20 States and United States, 2002-2003 Item and Quarter Nebraska 20 States United States 2002 2003 2002 2003 2002 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Milk cows 1/ 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head July-September 67 63 7,782 7,753 9,153 9,064 October-December 66 62 7,794 7,712 9,148 9,007 Milk production 2/ Million Pounds Million Pounds Million Pounds July-September 283 268 36,152 36,098 41,791 41,520 October-December 290 270 35,938 35,879 41,555 41,322 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Source: USDA NASS Milk Production, January 16, 2004. Sheep and Lambs: Number by Class, January 1, 2003-2004 and Lamb Crop, Nebraska and United States, January 1, 2002-2003 Total Total Breeding Lambs Breeding Market Ewes 1 per 100 State Sheep & Sheep & All Sheep Year & Ewes 1+, Lambs Lambs & Lambs Older Jan 1 Lamb Crop 2003 2004 2003 2004 2003 2004 2002 2003 2002 2003 2002 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------1,000 Head--------------------- Percent 1,000 Head Nebraska 77 81 20 21 97 102 58 63 145 140 84 88 United States 4,658 4,480 1,642 1,610 6,300 6,090 3,980 3,770 109 109 4,357 4,120 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: USDA NASS Sheep and Goats, January 30, 2004. Poultry During December 2003, layers in Nebraska totaled 11.7 million birds, an increase of 1 percent from the previous year. The total number of layers in the United States during December 2003 averaged 339 million, down 1 percent from December 2002. Poultry: Layers and Eggs, Nebraska and United States, December 2003 with Comparisons Item 2002 2003 2003/2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Millions Percent Number of Layers Nebraska 11.6 11.7 101 30 States 318.3 315.7 99 United States 340.3 338.5 99 Eggs Produced Nebraska 251 268 107 30 States 6,966 7,021 101 United States 7,451 7,531 101 Chickens Hatched United States Egg-type 32.0 33.9 106 Broiler 753.9 778.2 103 Hatched thru December United States Egg-type 421.3 415.8 99 Broiler 9,079.0 9,077.2 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: USDA NASS Chicken and Eggs, January 30, 2004. Commercial Livestock Slaughter December 2003 output and changes from last year and last month are shown below. December 2002 contained 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays. December 2003 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays. Livestock Slaughter: By Commodity, Nebraska and United States, December 2003 with Comparisons Dec. 2003 percent of Item Total 1/ Dec. Nov. (1,000) 2002 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nebraska 1,000 Head % % Cattle, head 555.4 94 114 Hogs, head 614.1 101 108 Red Meat, mil. lbs. 555.5 93 114 United States Cattle, head 2,668.2 96 110 Calves, head 97.5 99 125 Hogs, head 9,346.6 108 109 Sheep & Lambs, head 262.0 94 111 Red Meat, mil. lbs. 3,876.0 100 110 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Excludes animals slaughtered on farms. Source: USDA NASS Livestock Slaughter, January 23, 2004. Prices Received By Farmers The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in January, at 111, based on 1990-92=100, is 2 points (1.8 percent) below the December index. Lower prices received for cattle, lettuce, milk, and tomatoes more than offset higher prices for broilers, soybeans, corn, and eggs. The seasonal change in the mix of commodities farmers sell, based on the past 3-year average, also affects the overall index. Increased average marketings of cattle, soybeans, corn, and strawberries offset decreased marketings of cotton, grapes, tobacco, and cottonseed. The preliminary All Farm Products Index is up 11 points (11 percent) from January 2003. The Food Commodities Index, at 112, is 3 points (2.6 percent) below last month but 14 points (14 percent) above January 2003. Prices Received: By Commodity, Nebraska and United States, Preliminary January 2004 with Comparisons --------Nebraska-------- ----------United States------------------ Commodity Unit Jan Dec Jan 15 Jan Dec Jan 15 % of Parity 2003 1/ 2003 1/ 2004 2003 1/ 2003 1/ 2004 Parity Price 2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dollars Dollars Wheat, All Bushel 3.70 3.52 3.60 3.89 3.69 3.73 38 9.75 Corn Bushel 2.32 2.28 2.40 2.33 2.32 2.46 38 6.55 Oats Bushel 2.04 1.40 1.40 2.04 1.58 1.50 39 3.82 Grain Sorghum Cwt 4.26 4.14 4.30 4.12 4.21 4.44 42 10.60 Soybeans Bushel 5.39 7.14 7.75 5.51 7.17 7.82 51 15.40 Hay, All, Baled Ton 85.00 53.00 52.00 91.40 81.30 79.30 Alfalfa, Baled Ton 86.00 54.00 53.00 98.50 87.90 83.60 Other, Baled Ton 78.00 50.00 47.00 78.10 66.90 71.40 Dry Edible Beans Cwt 16.40 15.40 15.60 16.40 17.20 17.40 34 50.50 Hogs Cwt 34.40 36.20 37.80 33.00 34.20 35.70 35 102.00 Barrows & Gilts Cwt 34.70 36.40 38.00 33.50 34.60 36.10 Sows Cwt 22.10 27.90 27.50 22.20 28.10 28.80 Beef Cattle Cwt 76.30 98.60 83.30 73.20 90.50 77.40 47 165.00 Steers & Heifers Cwt 77.50 100.00 84.40 77.80 95.70 81.20 Cows Cwt 37.50 51.80 46.60 36.90 49.40 45.80 Calves Cwt 101.00 123.00 118.00 96.80 112.00 105.00 48 221.00 Sheep Cwt 40.00 38.80 41.30 44.40 81.20 Lambs Cwt 88.50 90.50 92.00 98.40 195.00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Entire month average except hay. 2/ Parity price based on data for January 2004. Source: USDA NASS Agricultural Prices, January 30, 2004.