The University of Michigan US consumer sentiment index fell sharply to a record low of 50.2 in June, well below market forecasts of 58, preliminary figures showed.  Inflation was credited as the biggest reason for the decline. The consumer sentiment index for the US was revised down to 58.4 in May, the lowest since August … Read More

In the week ended Tuesday, large commodity investment funds, or managed money, increased their collective net long live cattle futures position as hedgers added to their total net short position. That conclusion came from data supplied by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday.   FUNDS BOOST LONG CATTLE … Read More

April US beef exports topped $1 billion for the third time this year, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation.  April pork exports were well below the large totals posted a year ago. “Global demand for US beef continues to overcome enormous obstacles, from inflationary pressure to logistical … Read More

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped to its lowest level since April 2020, down 22 points in May to a reading of 99, said James Mintert, Purdue University agricultural economist, in a release. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 US agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey.  This month’s … Read More

The number of fed cattle the “average” feedlot marketed to beef packers in April rebounded from the March low but remained slightly lower than last year and significantly lower than the 2016-2020 average. The data came from the Kansas State University Extension Service which polled a select segment of Kansas feed yards for the information, … Read More

Farm real estate debt at commercial banks grew modestly in the first quarter, while production loans remained steady, said Economists Nate Kauffman and Ty Kreitman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, in a report. Alongside soaring farmland values, real estate loan balances increased at the fastest pace in nearly four years and drove an … Read More

Large commodity investment firms, known as managed money, slashed their collective net long position live cattle futures in the week ended Tuesday as hedgers did the same to their total net short position. The data was revealed in Friday’s Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.   FUNDS CUT LONG CATTLE POSITIONS … Read More