As prospects for rising live cattle futures prices increase, the level of participation by managed money increases. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly commitments of traders report as of the week ended Tuesday shows managed money’s net long position was 112,270 contracts, up from 103,924 the previous week, an 8.03% increase. During the same week, … Read More

The US Dollar Index declined overnight, and European stock prices were sharply higher after Scottish voters rejected independence from the UK by a 55.3% to 44.7%.  Dow Jones Industrial Average futures also rose overnight. The weaker US Dollar will help with US exports, although the overnight gains do not erase the overall 6.39% gains seen … Read More

Despite recent gyrations in the weekly wholesale beef prices, monthly retail beef price charts continued to rise through August, widening the gap between this year, last year and the previous five-year average. Compiling data from the USDA and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Livestock Marketing Information Center shows the retail price of choice … Read More

Improved pasture and range conditions this year, along with improved wheat pasture last year and prospects for similar conditions this year, are offering ranchers and farmers the opportunity to increase their cow herds cautiously. The notable exception being California, which continues to suffer through its worst drought in decades. Sources say the nationally improved conditions … Read More

Slaughter steer prices increasingly appear to have fallen into the fall pattern of sideways prices, albeit in a wider, more volatile range. USDA data compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information center show Southern Plains slaughter steer prices peaking at an average $163.77 per cwt on a live basis during the last week of July.  The … Read More

Managed money is stepping back into live cattle, even as producers increase their hedges, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Commitments Of Traders report. For the week ended Tuesday, the CFTC reported managed money, a proxy for large speculators, was net long by 103,924 contracts, the second straight week of increases after a decline … Read More

Total meat production will be down this year and next if the USDA’s latest estimates are correct. The USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Thursday said beef production this year, at 24.321 billion pounds, is down from August’s projection of 24.561 billion because the number of cattle exiting feedlots has been below expectations. … Read More