Farmer sentiment saw an unexpected surge in October ahead of the US election, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. This month’s survey was conducted from Oct. 14-18.   FUTURE EXPECTATIONS JUMP   In a release, Purdue University Agricultural Economist James Mintert said, the index rose to 115, marking a 27-point increase … Read More

Canada’s Sep. 1 cattle on feed likely hit the annual low point at 767,495 head after declining consistently through the first eight months of the year, according to data gathered from members by CanFax, a nonprofit industry organization based in Calgary, Alberta. CanFax gathers information monthly from member feedlots in Alberta and Saskatchewan and forward … Read More

Managed money, a proxy for large commodity index funds, continued to take on a larger collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended Tuesday as hedgers advanced their total net short position. The data for that assessment came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday.   LARGEST … Read More

In the fall, summer grilling demand gives way to stronger demand for roasts, crock pot cooking and increased middle meat demand in restaurants, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner. Wholesale ground beef prices have moderated recently as hamburger grilling demand slows but prices remain well … Read More

Fed cattle prices have been climbing, slowly, following the market correction that began in late July-early August, said David Anderson, livestock and food product marketing specialist at Texas A&M University, in a Livestock Marketing Information Center letter called In The Cattle Markets. After falling from a high of $197.09 to $181.18 per cwt. the USDA’s … Read More

After plunging to their second-lowest point this year, weekly average wholesale prices for 50% lean beef bounced last week, leading some to wonder if the product hasn’t found at least a temporary bottom. The USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service price compiled and recorded by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver two weeks ago was $61.68 per … Read More

Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, continued to extend their collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended last Tuesday, Oct. 22, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC made the data known Friday in its weekly Commitments of Traders report, which also showed that cattle hedgers lengthened … Read More