US agricultural exports could be running into trouble as moves by international shipping companies to consolidate and cut costs threatens access to world markets. The Wall Street Journal reports that a strong greenback is making it tougher for US farmers to compete in export markets.  No news there, but the fact is being compounded by … Read More

In what is perhaps a boost for cattle producers, a well-known hog market economist is predicting a continued rise in hog prices for at least the next few weeks, albeit at a slower pace. Ron Plain, agricultural economist at the University of Missouri, said in an article for the National Hog Farmer the pace of … Read More

The good news is there will be ample supplies of corn and hay for cattle producers, the bad news is these stocks likely will cost a little more this year. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service data show expectations of a national average corn yield of 168.5 bushels per acre, down 6.8, or 3.88%, from last … Read More

Large investment funds, called managed money, cut their net long live cattle futures position for the second straight time during the week ended Tuesday as commercial traders only trimmed their large net short position. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said in its weekly Commitments of Traders Report Friday that managed money’s new net long position … Read More

Along with higher cattle and feeder cattle prices comes increased volatility, which can increase premiums on puts and calls in the options market, but at least one agricultural economist says they still are reasonable. Writing for the Livestock Marketing Information Center’s “In the Cattle Markets,” Brian Williams, assistant extension professor of economics for Mississippi State … Read More

In addition to lower projections for world corn stocks, the USDA’s World Agriculture Board Wednesday projected higher total red meat and poultry production for 2018. The forecasts came in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, which added that the increased red meat and poultry production estimate was based on ideas of increased production … Read More

The weekly average cash cattle basis continues to run at a significant premium, easily eclipsing the basis in the previous five years. It means something is out of whack.  Either cash prices are too high in relation to historical norms or futures prices are too low, based on the same historical norms.  Either futures prices … Read More