The USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board Monday cut its estimate of total 2016 US meat and poultry production from its estimate last month. Reductions in beef, pork and chicken production were seen in the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report from the agency.  The turkey production estimate was the only one that was … Read More

Managed money, also known as commodity funds, cut their net long live cattle position for the fourth straight week during the week ended Tuesday as the most-active Oct contract set three new contract lows. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission made the disclosure Friday in its weekly Commitments Of Traders report.  The Commission went on to … Read More

The frustratingly slow lag between a decline in fed cattle prices and drops in retail beef prices is not necessarily a bad thing as it indicates consumer beef demand is strong relative to other meats, said Oklahoma State University Agricultural Economist Darrell Peel in a market commentary. “Slowly adjusting retail beef prices in the face … Read More

Fundamentally led live cattle futures traders probably are focused on total meat supplies and not just beef or even cattle numbers, said a well-known market analyst Wednesday. John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing Inc., said live cattle futures prices continue to fall, and have reached a point that many consider to be oversold. Within the … Read More

The outlook for fed cattle prices is not good.  Wholesale beef prices continue working lower and dipping below multi-year averages as they follow last year’s trend but at a lower level. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service’s price for choice boxed beef last week was $195.67 per cwt, below the 2010-2014 average of $196.21 by $0.54, … Read More

During the week ended Tuesday, Aug. 30, large commodity funds cut their net long live cattle futures position for the third straight week as prices continued to tumble. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments Of Traders report Friday listed the net long live cattle position of those funds, also known as managed money, at … Read More

The US cattle herd continues to expand, but the rate of growth may be slowing as average returns to cow/calf producers decline. USDA data compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center show that returns to producers spiked in 2014 to a record high of $530.22 per cow but dropped to $303.08 by 2015, which was … Read More