Looking ahead to what will be important to the cattle and beef markets for the rest of 2015, a few points keep bubbling to the surface among market analysts. They likely will be themes examined and discussed time and again as the year rolls on. Stated points of interest for cattle and beef markets can … Read More
Cattle Feeding Margins Likely Dented
Cattle feeding margins may be taking a hit this week as live basis fed cattle cash prices fall as much as $6.00 per cwt, although lower corn prices could ease some of the strain. After last week’s cash cattle price jump of $2 to $4 to mostly $170.00 per cwt, cattle feeding margins jumped $43.21 … Read More
Report Pressure On Corn Overdone?
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
2015 Meat Production Seen Rising
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
Managed Money Adds Short Cattle Positions
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
2014 11-Month Beef Export Value Surpasses 2013 Total
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 Feeders See Margins Improve
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