December retail price information issued by the Economic Research Service and the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows consumers paid slightly lower retail prices for pork, broilers and turkey last year than in 2017 but higher prices for beef and eggs. The information came from the USDA’s Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook. Specifically: -The 2018 Economic … Read More

Large commodity investment funds again extended their collective net long live cattle futures positions during the week ended Tuesday, Feb. 5, their twelfth straight week of taking on a longer cattle position. The data came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Commitments of Traders report Friday.  The CFTC got behind in making this report during … Read More

Before the USDA can release its Cattle on Feed data for Jan. 1, CanFax, a private market advisory group, released its data for Feb. 1 showing more cattle populating the feedlots of Alberta and Saskatchewan than last year or the 2013-2017 average. The number of cattle on feed in Canada, however, declined seasonally and appear … Read More

Barrow and gilt prices are lagging last year and the 2013-2017 average, and there are many reasons to think they will remain challenged for the rest of the year.  But a market analyst said they are likely to resemble the average seasonal directions by the end of the year. There is an adage among traders … Read More

Managed money, the term for large commodity investment funds, lifted their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday, Jan. 28, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC data came in the form of its Commitments of Traders report for that week, which was delayed by the … Read More

Cull cow prices are rising seasonally but remain below last year and the 2013-2017 average and are likely to follow seasonal patterns more closely in 2019, said Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel, in a newsletter to Extension agents. Peel projected cow slaughter would decline about 1.5% this year, moderating cow beef … Read More

Large commodity investment funds, or managed money, increased their net long live cattle futures position for the 10th straight week during the week ended Tuesday, Jan. 22, said the Commitments of Traders report Friday. Data show the new position was the largest net long position by managed money since Feb. 27, 2018, when it was … Read More