Beef magazine recently ran a series of articles from Private Market Advisor Nevil Speer about the inner workings of the futures markets.  Beef has graciously allowed their reprinting here. This is the third in the series, edited for length and style.   FUTURES BY ANY OTHER NAME   Futures markets seem to illicit an array … Read More

The USDA Monday raised its forecast for total red meat and poultry production in 2019 to 104.624 million pounds from 104.517 million last month as increases in broiler and turkey production more than offset expected production declines in beef and pork. For 2020, the red meat and poultry production forecast was raised to 106.479 billion … Read More

Fed cattle prices likely will weaken in the wake of Saturday’s fire that closed Tyson’s Holcomb, KS, fed cattle slaughter and packing facility “indefinitely,” market analysts and a feedlot manager said. Wholesale and retail beef prices also could rise until supply chains can be reshaped, the analysts said. At the very least, cattle market volatility … Read More

The live cattle basis isn’t allowing much of a hedging window for cattle futures currently. The basis is the difference between cash and futures markets, calculated by subtracting futures prices from cash prices.  When the result is a positive number, it means cash prices are higher than the futures delivery month in question, and when … Read More

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reading jumped to 153 in July, up 27 points from June and up 52 points from May on improved expectations for current economic conditions, according to a university release. Results are based on a survey of 400 agricultural producers across the US conducted from July 15 through 19, … Read More

US pork and beef exports were above year-ago levels in volume and value in June, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. Led by a rebound in Mexico and China, pork export value was the highest in 14 months, while strong results in South Korea and Taiwan … Read More

Cattle and wholesale beef prices vary seasonally, and it’s useful to examine how they change over time.  Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University agricultural economist, looked at these seasonal variations over the last three years and spelled it out in a letter to Extension agents called Cow/Calf Corner.   BOXED BEEF CUTOUT   The USDA’s boxed … Read More