The strong cattle and beef price trend coming into 2025 is expected to continue as cattle inventories and beef supplies tighten further in the coming months, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension marketing specialist, in a newsletter. However, while cattle and beef markets are very strong internally, external shocks from political uncertainty along with … Read More

Hog prices started 2025 on a strong note compared with the start of 2024, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center. Weekly carcass-base slaughter-ready barrow and gilt prices in Iowa and Minnesota last week averaged $83.31 per cwt, up $2.39, or 11.3%, from $80.92 a week earlier and up $20.68, or 33.0%, from $62.63 a … Read More

US farmers began 2025 with an optimistic outlook, as the January Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose five points from December to a reading of 141, said Purdue agricultural economist Michael Langemeier, in a release of the monthly survey’s results. This month’s survey was conducted between Jan. 13-17.   CURRENT CONDITIONS INDEX UP   … Read More

Large commodity index funds, or managed money, increased their collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended last Tuesday, Jan. 28, while hedgers moved their total net short position higher. The data came from the weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.   FUNDS BUY MORE CATTLE … Read More

Friday’s annual USDA Cattle (Inventory) report showed the US cattle herd on Jan. 1 was down about 1% from a year earlier, but will the report move cash and futures cattle markets substantially?  No, say some market analysts and traders because the strength seen in both markets over the last several months and years has … Read More

Cattle markets are off to a hot start in 2025, observed Will Secor, Extension livestock economist, at the University of Georgia, in a Livestock Marketing Information Center letter called In The Cattle Markets. All through the supply chain from beef markets to feeder cattle markets, prices are up significantly from last year, Secor said.  Continuing … Read More

Kansas feedlot fed steer sales to packers, or closeouts, dropped to an annual 2024 low in November but could climb again with December data. The information came from a Kansas State University Extension service survey of select feedlots around the state, the information gathered is turned over to the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver … Read More