Large commodity index funds, called managed money in the industry, expanded their collective net long live cattle positions during the week ended Tuesday while cattle owners put on some fresh short positions. The information came from the weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. FUNDS PUSH NET LONG CATTLE … Read More
Pork Cutout Running Higher Than Last Year
The USDA’s weekly pork cutout value is running at a higher level than the same week last year and the 2020-2024 average, pushing feeder pig prices higher. Weekly prices for 40-pound feeder pigs are rising faster than is average and already are higher than last year’s peak. They even started the year at a higher … Read More
Lower Cow Kills May No Longer Signal Herd Rebuilding
The semi-annual USDA Cattle (Inventory) report Friday fell short of revealing data telling of herd rebuilding. The report only hinted at the first whiff of herd rebuilding with heifer numbers being kept for breeding up about 1%. But many in the cattle industry have said for the last few years that herd rebuilding would begin … Read More
Farmer Sentiment Weakens In January
Farmer sentiment weakened sharply in January as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index dropped from 136 in December to 113 in January. The Current Conditions Index dropped 19 points while the Future Expectations Index dropped 25 points. The January barometer survey took place from Jan. 12-16. FARMERS LOOK AHEAD Among the … Read More
November Beef, Pork Exports Decline
Exports of US pork remained relatively strong in November but were below the large total reported in November 2024, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. Beef exports were significantly lower year-over-year, in large part because of the ongoing lockout by China, the USMEF said in a release … Read More
Cattle Report Hints At Herd Expansion Desires
Friday’s annual USDA Cattle (Inventory) report showed continued shrinking of the US cattle herd on Jan. 1 versus a year earlier but hinted at the stirrings of herd rebuilding. The data for herd rebuilding was not conclusive since the changes were small and easily redirected, a market analyst said. The number of beef heifers being … Read More
Cattle Report May Show Hint Of Herd Rebuilding
Today’s scheduled release of the Jan. 1 Cattle (Inventory) report from the USDA will have as much, or more, focus by the cattle and beef production industries as ever. The report, scheduled for 2:00 pm CT, gives as good of an estimate as there is of the size of the US cattle herd on Jan. … Read More