Tuesday’s drop in corn futures was linked to Monday’s USDA crop reports and disappointment that the USDA did not cut acreage more than it did, but it may have been a case of “buy the rumor, sell the fact” as some analysts say the reports should have been more price supportive. The post-report futures trade … Read More

Consumers are expected to have more meat to eat this year as red meat and poultry production rise and exports decline. The USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Monday showed beef and pork production are expected to rise this year.  Pork production is expected to surpass beef for the first time ever as … Read More

After a week of buying live cattle futures contracts, managed money added more short positions to their portfolios than they did long positions, resulting in a decline in their net long positions during the week ended Tuesday, Jan. 6. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday reported that managed money, a proxy for large investors, had … Read More

At $6.49 billion, the value of 2014 beef exports through November is up 16% from 2013 and has eclipsed the previous annual total, as the 11-month volume rose 2% to 1.1 million tonnes. USDA figures show that pork exports also were up 2% at 1.99 million tonnes with a value of $6.13 billion, up 11% … Read More

Cattle feedlots saw their margins improve this week as fed cattle prices rose $2 to $4 per cwt on a live basis in the Southern Plains, although fluctuating corn costs likely gave some managers indigestion. Feedlot margins were minimal last week, according to the Sterling Profit Tracker, averaging only $8.28 a head.  A week earlier, … Read More

Slaughter steer prices in the Southern Plains traded $2 to $4 per cwt higher this week, extending the $4 rally of the previous week and going against the average trend as short-bought packers stepped up. Central and Southern Plains fed cattle Tuesday sold at $170 per cwt on a live basis and at $268 to … Read More

Managed money and cattle producers reversed the direction of their futures market positions during the week ended Tuesday, Dec. 30, with large speculators adding to their net long position and producers adding to their net short positions. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report showed managed money raising its net long position … Read More