CLARA’s Top 10: Fast, Focused, and Essential Insights for Cattle Producers

In the fast-moving world of cattle production, staying informed can be a challenge. Markets shift, prices fluctuate, and industry news evolves quickly. That’s where CLARA’s Top 10 comes in—a powerful tool that delivers the 10 most critical things producers need to know about any subject in a concise, easy-to-read format.

Whether it’s market trends, cattle prices, slaughter numbers, or economic factors, CLARA’s Top 10 breaks down the noise and gives producers the key takeaways they need to make informed decisions.

How Does CLARA’s Top 10 Work?

Each Top 10 list is designed to highlight the most important and actionable information in a given category. For example, in a recent Top 10 Things Producers Need to Know This Week, CLARA covered:

1️⃣ Fed Cattle Prices Surge – Live cattle traded $5 to $6 higher, with the 5-area weighted average at $209.36, marking a $31.62 increase from last year.

2️⃣ Cash vs. Futures Discrepancy – February live cattle futures trade at a discount to cash prices but hold a premium over April and June contracts, signaling uncertainty.

3️⃣ Beef Cutout Holds Steady – Choice cutout at $327.56, slightly down from last week, while Select sits at $316.25, narrowing the Choice-Select spread.

4️⃣ Retail Beef Adjusted for Inflation – In real dollars, 100% ground beef costs just 10 cents more than in 2014, despite a $1.45 increase in nominal terms over the past decade.

5️⃣ Steer and Heifer Prices Climb – Steer prices jumped $7 to $12 and heifers rose $6 to $11 this week across Tennessee auctions, reflecting strong feeder demand.

6️⃣ Tennessee Cattle Market Activity Up – Over 12,000 head traded this week, with several auctions handling 1,600+ head each, showing strong movement.

7️⃣ Slaughter Cattle Prices Mixed – Some markets saw week-over-week gains in slaughter cow and bull prices, while others experienced declines.

8️⃣ Load Lot Prices Remain Strong – A load of 896-lb black steers sold for $264.25/cwt ($2,368 per head) and 643-lb black steers brought $323.75/cwt ($2,082 per head).

9️⃣ Spring Grass Cattle Rally Coming? – Feeder cattle seasonal strength typically builds in late February through March, but outside market factors could impact prices.

🔟 Political & Market Uncertainty – President Trump’s administration policy shifts could influence the market, adding potential volatility to cattle prices.

This simple yet powerful format allows producers to quickly scan for insights, identify key trends, and take action where necessary.

What Else Can CLARA’s Top 10 Cover?

Beyond weekly market insights, CLARA’s Top 10 can break down any important topic in the industry, including:

📌 "Top 10 Factors Driving Feeder Cattle Prices"
📌 "Top 10 Trends in Beef Demand"
📌 "Top 10 Things to Know About Cattle Slaughter This Month"
📌 "Top 10 Weather Events Impacting Cattle Markets"
📌 "Top 10 Ways Policy Changes Affect Ranchers"

If producers need quick answers, CLARA’s Top 10 delivers.

Why CLARA’s Top 10 Matters

Producers don’t always have time to dig through reports or analyze complex data, and that’s where CLARA makes life easier. With the Top 10 format, producers can get a clear, direct summary of what actually matters—without the fluff.

In an industry where timing is everything, knowing what’s happening right now can be the difference between a smart decision and a missed opportunity.

Want a custom Top 10 on a specific subject? Just ask CLARA!