The good news is there will be ample supplies of corn and hay for cattle producers, the bad news is these stocks likely will cost a little more this year. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service data show expectations of a national average corn yield of 168.5 bushels per acre, down 6.8, or 3.88%, from last … Read More

Large investment funds, called managed money, cut their net long live cattle futures position for the second straight time during the week ended Tuesday as commercial traders only trimmed their large net short position. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said in its weekly Commitments of Traders Report Friday that managed money’s new net long position … Read More

Along with higher cattle and feeder cattle prices comes increased volatility, which can increase premiums on puts and calls in the options market, but at least one agricultural economist says they still are reasonable. Writing for the Livestock Marketing Information Center’s “In the Cattle Markets,” Brian Williams, assistant extension professor of economics for Mississippi State … Read More

In addition to lower projections for world corn stocks, the USDA’s World Agriculture Board Wednesday projected higher total red meat and poultry production for 2018. The forecasts came in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, which added that the increased red meat and poultry production estimate was based on ideas of increased production … Read More

The weekly average cash cattle basis continues to run at a significant premium, easily eclipsing the basis in the previous five years. It means something is out of whack.  Either cash prices are too high in relation to historical norms or futures prices are too low, based on the same historical norms.  Either futures prices … Read More

Fed cattle prices last week traded as much as $9 per cwt higher to their highest levels since August 2015, prompting University of Tennessee Extension Economist Andrew Griffith to ask, “how can the price escalation be maintained?” “There is always the possibility for fed cattle prices to hold this week’s prices or push further, but … Read More

Investment funds cut their net long position in live cattle futures during the week ended Tuesday as commercial traders continued to advance their collective net short position. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday said that during the week ended Tuesday that managed money, a proxy for those large … Read More