The average October basis for fed cattle may be even weaker than last year after futures prices jumped higher on Friday and appear to be holding relatively flat through Tuesday. Basis is calculated by subtracting the futures delivery month price from the cash price.  The average live cattle futures price in July, for instance, was … Read More

Stress in agricultural lending within the Federal Reserve’s Tenth District has increased over the last three years, especially in areas with a heavy concentration of cattle and/or wheat production, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Stress may be compounded in areas of oil and gas production because of oil … Read More

Large commodity investment funds cut their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday for the second straight week, bringing them to their lowest net long position in almost two months. The data came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday. The report said … Read More

The US Foreign Agricultural Service in an analysis of the conditions in China said cattle and beef consumption and demand likely will continue to outpace domestic production, leading to a 10% increase in beef imports at 8.6 million tonnes.   CATTLE HERD DECLINING   China’s cow herd beginning stocks in 2019 were forecast by USDA … Read More

Near the bottom of Wednesday’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report was a lowered prediction for total meat production this year. The total 2018 red meat production forecast was lowered to 53.992 billion pounds from 54.026 billion in August, while this year’s broiler production forecast was raised slightly to 42.620 billion pounds from 42.615 … Read More

It’s important to understand the differences between Classical Swine Fever, which was reported in Japan last week, African Swine Fever, which is spreading across a wide swath of China.  But controlling these diseases is proving difficult. To get a handle on the differences, a Veterinary Research article published online on Nov. 28, 2017, by BioMed … Read More

US beef and pork exports in July were higher than a year ago, according to data from the USDA and compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center. The data from the USDA’s Economic Research Service and the Foreign Agriculture Service showed exported values were mixed with beef posting another near-record month while pork export value … Read More