Large commodity investment funds, called managed money, lowered their collective net long live cattle position for the eighth straight week during the week ended Tuesday as commercial traders cut their net short position for as many weeks. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday said managed money’s new net … Read More

The USDA Thursday raised its forecast for total 2017 US meat production from its outlook a month ago as increases in commercial beef and broiler production more than offset expected declines in pork and turkey production. The USDA’s World Outlook Board made the predictions in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, where … Read More

Concerns that beef exports could be harmed if North Korea initiates hostilities aimed at the US pressured US live cattle and feeder cattle futures Wednesday, even though the US exports no beef to the seemingly battle-hungry country. The issue lies with two of the US’ largest beef importing countries, Japan and South Korea.  Japan’s imports … Read More

Just about everything in hog production is turning south seasonally. Feeder pig prices, barrow and gilt prices and pork cutout value all appear to have peaked seasonally and will offer only brief bounces until they begin turning higher again in January, according to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service data compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center. … Read More

As the USDA spread between choice and select wholesale beef prices narrows, it’s natural to assume the spread is unnaturally narrow, but this is not the case.  In fact, it is just now coming back in line with last year and the 2011-2015 average. The Livestock Marketing Information Center has plotted USDA Agricultural Marketing System … Read More

For the seventh straight week, managed money, or large commodity investment funds, cut their net long live cattle futures position, bring it down to the lowest point since the week ended March 14. The Commodities Futures Trading Commission said in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday that for week ended Tuesday, managed money’s new … Read More

Although many spring-calving producers likely will not market their calves for another month or two, a few more feeder cattle than normal could hit the market during August and September, says a Mississippi State University agricultural economist. Brian Williams, writing this week’s In the Cattle Markets for the Livestock Marketing Information Center, said much of … Read More