Thursday’s Cold Storage report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service was bullish for cattle futures and neutral to friendly for lean hog futures, Market analysts said. On-hand supplies of beef, pork and pork bellies on May 31 were down significantly from a month ago and a year ago.  One mitigating factor for red meat … Read More

Stephen Koontz, agricultural and resource economist at Colorado State University, is recommending producers who anticipate selling calves in the fall purchase some price protection in the form of options. Koontz make his recommendation in this week’s In the Cattle Markets for the Livestock Marketing Information Center.  In the article, he says the market is giving … Read More

Strong wholesale beef prices were cited for pulling cash cattle and then futures markets higher this spring, but now it seems limp cash cattle and seasonalities are dragging on beef markets. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service reported the average cutout price for choice 600- to 900-pound beef carcasses last week was an annual high of … Read More

Good farm management often is the difference between profit and loss, with a knowledge of production costs and crop insurance the keys to good farm management, said a Farm Credit Services of America survey. FCSAmerica, a financial cooperative owned by agricultural producers, announced the survey results on its website.  The results shed light on the … Read More

Major players in the live cattle futures market held their net long or short positions relatively steady in the week ended Tuesday, said the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Large commodity investment funds, called managed money, extended their net long live cattle futures position in the week, remaining near the top of their recent high volume, … Read More

The USDA’s Economic Research Service’s new forecast for 2018 red meat exports is higher for red meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products as production in most products rises. The forecasts came in the ERS’ June Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook report, which was released Thursday. In the report, forecasts for more exports of lamb and … Read More

Given live cattle futures and cash market action this week, it seems the market is giving up on its unusual spring bull run.  It was good while it lasted. The Jun live cattle futures contract settled Wednesday at $124.50 per cwt, down the daily limit of $3.00, with Aug also off $3.00 at $117.87 and … Read More