Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, reduced their net long live cattle futures positions in the week ended Tuesday as hedgers cut their net short position. The information was reported by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday in its weekly Commitments of Traders report. MANAGED MONEY CUTS LONG POSITION Tuesday, managed … Read More
February Kansas Feedlot Closeouts Drop
Like many feedlots around the country, the average Kansas feed yard sales to packers, or closeouts, in February, dropped, according to data collected by the Kansas State University Extension service and compiled and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver. The data is taken from select, representative feedlots around the state and them … Read More
Choice/Select Beef Spread Narrows, Drops Below Average
The sudden narrowing of the difference between wholesale choice and select beef prices last week caught many traders and analysts off guard. But what seems more startling is that the weekly average difference, or spread, last week dropped to less than the 2018-2022 average. USDA data compiled and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center … Read More
Farmer Outlook Rises Amid Hopes For Lower Interest Rates
US farmers’ outlook improved in March as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index increased to 114, three points higher than in February, said James Mintert, Purdue agricultural economist, in a release Tuesday. The March survey was conducted from March 11-15,. FUTURE EXPECTATIONS UP While the Index of Current Conditions fell by … Read More
Funds Reduce Net Long Live Cattle Position
Managed money, a moniker for large commodity index funds, reduced their net long live cattle position as of last Tuesday, March 26, while hedgers cut their net short positions. That information came from Friday’s weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. FUNDS REDUCE LONG CATTLE POSITION As of Tuesday, … Read More
US Hog Population Rises
The USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report revealed that US hog producers had more hogs on hand March 1 than a year ago, yet a decline in the breeding herd indicates a desire either to cut production or take advantage of greater piglet survival rates. In the short term, though, the industry will have to … Read More
Lower Cattle Numbers, Herd Rebuilding To Cut Fed Supplies
On Jan. 1, the total feedlot inventory represented a record of 16.5% of the All Cattle and Calves inventory in the country, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner. However, decreased cattle numbers and herd rebuilding inevitably will lead to smaller feedlot inventories in the coming … Read More