Large commodity investment funds broke their string of 12 straight declines in their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday while commercial traders continued to trim their net short position. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission made the data known Friday in its weekly Commitments of Traders report. The CFTC said … Read More

US beef exports remained well above last year’s pace in July, posting one of the highest monthly export value totals on record, according to the US Meat Export Federation, which compiled USDA data. In contrast, July pork export volumes dipped below its year-ago counterpart for the first time in 15 months, with export value also … Read More

Weekly average butcher hog prices continue to drop as pork cutout prices exert seasonal pressure.  However, hog slaughter and dressed weights are only a little above last year and the 2011-2015 averages. Data from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service that was compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center shows barrow and gilt prices falling away … Read More

The USDA’s World Agriculture Outlook Board Tuesday reduced its total 2017 meat production forecast from a month earlier.  Decreases in commercial beef and broiler production more than offset increases in pork and turkey production. The World Outlook Board made its new predictions in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand report. Second-half 2017 beef production … Read More

The Livestock Marketing Information Center expects cull cow prices this fall to decline compared to recent levels by average percentages. Forecasts are that fed cattle prices into the first few months of next year will strengthen, but remain below 2017, the LMIC’s “Livestock Monitor” said.  Levels of beef imports and national dairy cow slaughter may … Read More

The live cattle futures market saw its 12th straight week of fund liquidation during the week ended Tuesday as commercial traders trimmed their net short position for as many straight weeks. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission said in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday that managed money, those large commodity funds, cut their net … Read More

The forecast for total meat production in 2017 was raised from last month as increases in commercial beef and broiler production more than offset declines in pork and turkey output. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, along with the World Outlook Board, made the prediction in Thursday’s release of its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand … Read More