Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, expanded their collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended last Tuesday, Sep. 24, as hedgers took on a larger total net short position. The data came from the weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday.   MANAGED MONEY … Read More

The US inventory of all hogs and pigs on Sep. 1, was reported Thursday at 76.480 million head by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. That was up 347,000, or 0.46%, from 76.133 million on Sep. 1, 2023, and up 1.269 million, or 1.69%, from 75.211 million on June 1, 2024. Of that, 6.044 million … Read More

Total red meat supplies in freezers Aug. 31 were down about 1% from the previous month and down about 2% from last year, according to the monthly Cold Storage report from the USDA’s Nation Agricultural Statistics Service Thursday. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down about 2% from the previous month and down slightly … Read More

USDA data show wholesale boneless beef prices are declining, with the fattier product dropping faster than the leaner production. “Boneless” beef often is a euphemism for trimmings from the fed cattle slaughter process along with meat from cull cows and imported beef trimmings.  The fat content is measured and traded accordingly, but the two most … Read More

Fed steer and boxed beef prices could be about to rebound seasonally as consumer buying interest picks up with cooler weather. Both sets of prices declined through August as consumer buying interest faded during the hot part of the summer.  Consumers also were paying down some vacation debts and spending more for back-to-school supplies and … Read More

Mexico is an anomaly among US beef trade markets with exports increasing, despite decreasing exports to most other markets and decreasing imports from Mexico, despite increasing imports from other major import sources. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, said in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner that numerous factors contribute to current beef … Read More

Large commodity index firms, known as managed money, trimmed their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday while hedgers pared their total net short position.   MANAGED MONEY SELLS CATTLE   Tuesday, managed money had a collective net long live cattle position of 43,777 contracts, down 545, or 1.23%, from … Read More