CBOT corn futures closed higher for the second straight day as fundamental factors strengthened, yet some technical indicators urge caution about the extent of a rally. Since setting a new contract low of $3.46 a bushel on July 6, the most-active Dec corn contract has risen to Wednesday’s high of $3.75 ½, a gain of … Read More

The USDA’s World Agriculture Outlook Board Tuesday raised its estimate of total red meat and poultry production for this year from its June projections. In the monthly World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report, the beef production forecast was raised largely on the pace of second-quarter slaughter, which was up.  Second-half feedlot marketings also were … Read More

US beef exports rose significantly in May, counter to what might be expected given the strengthening US Dollar Index. The Dollar Index is a comparison of the greenback against a basket of other currencies.  The Index was rising in May, signifying a strengthening US currency when compared with other currencies.  The action made US products … Read More

Commodity investment funds, together called managed money, increased their net long live cattle futures position as the nearby Aug contract made a short-term high. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission said in its weekly Commitments of Traders report that managed money’s net long live cattle position amounted to 19,157 contracts, up 4,943, or 34.8%, from last … Read More

Feeder cattle prices are trending lower in the long run as prices this week struggle to maintain average values. The effect of rising supplies of feeder cattle is being seen in a graph of feeder cattle prices.  Prices last year responded by moving lower as cattle were pulled off pastures that were going dormant and … Read More

As a relatively mild spring changes suddenly into a very hot summer in the Plains, feedlot cattle can be stressed, leading to poor weight gains and even death. Weather forecasts have temperatures into the upper 90s Fahrenheit across most of Kansas, and with recent rains, it will feel like 105 to 115 degrees.   SUSCEPTIBILITY … Read More

The value of beef hides and offal continues to march along at levels that are far below average, but they may cross above last year soon, if only temporarily. The total value of those products, the so-called “drop credit” or the “drop,” the last week of June was reported by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service … Read More