Managed money, or large investment funds, raised their net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday, while commercial traders boosted their net short position. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday announced in its weekly Commitments of Traders report that managed money’s new net long live cattle position was 94,694 contracts, up 2,711, … Read More

Wholesale beef prices are in the midst of a sharp rise in value as demand kicks up for the spring grilling season. The turn higher for the benchmark choice 600- to 900-pound carcass values came right on schedule in mid-February but may be nearing a seasonal peak. The weekly price listed for that week shows … Read More

Red meat and poultry disappearance this year was expected to increase 2.6 pounds per capita from last year, according to the latest USDA projection. The USDA’s Economic Research Service made the forecast in its monthly Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook report Wednesday.  “Disappearance” was clarified to mean the quantity of red meat and poultry used … Read More

Too much volume; too much volatility; too much big money; what’s a hedger to do? Such issues have plagued the live and feeder cattle futures markets for years, but no one has come up with a viable solution.  Many traders and economists lay the blame for high volatility in the futures markets and a lack … Read More

Following three months of strong gains, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer shifted course in February, declining to a reading of 134, compared with 153 in January. A survey of farm and ranch attitudes about the economy and their outlook about operating within the economy is done monthly and graphed for easier viewing.  It … Read More

Managed money, or large commodity funds, trimmed their net long live cattle futures position in the week ended Tuesday, while commercial traders pruned their net short positions, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday said managed money’s new net long position amounted to 91,983 contracts, down 1,633, … Read More

The USDA World Outlook Board’s latest estimate for 2017 meat production was increased from February as higher forecast beef production estimates more than offset lower forecasts for pork and turkey production.  The broiler production estimate was unchanged from February. The new figures came in the WOB’s latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Thursday. … Read More