Beef and cattle prices could be supported in coming days and weeks by the latest USDA/National Agricultural Statistics Service Cold Storage report Monday, which showed stored beef supplies continuing to decline to their lowest point in three years. However, since declining inventories were expected widely, the bullish effect may be reduced to being only supportive. … Read More

Large commodity funds, or managed money, increased their net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday to its largest in more than two months while commercial traders upped the ante on their net short positions. During the week ended Tuesday, managed money’s net long live cattle position jumped 18,856 contracts, or 83.6%, … Read More

Fed cattle prices have taken a decided bounce the last two weeks, but rising beef production could prove problematic for feeders trying to get more.  In fact, the bounce already is running into trouble. Since bottoming at $123.84 per cwt on a live basis the last week of April, Southern Plains slaughter cattle prices have … Read More

The basis for fed steers in western Kansas is much wider than the 2010-2014 average, but a wider basis has been a trend the last few years and may continue. The basis, or the difference between cash and futures prices, last week was $9.17, $4.13, or 81.9%, above the five-year average of $5.04, according to … Read More

Historically, the spread between wholesale choice and select beef prices should be nearing a seasonal high, although suitable grilling weather could flatten the top. The wholesale price spread between choice and select graded beef was catapulted higher last week by renewed demand for the more-expensive choice product.  An influx of warmer, drier conditions for many … Read More

Beef and pork demand appear to be trending higher since demand indices of both continued to rise through last year from 2010 lows. The beef demand index is calculated by the Livestock Marketing Information Center using Bureau of Labor Statistics and USDA Economic Research Service data.  With the 1990 Consumer Price Index equaling 100 on … Read More

Large commodity funds reduced their net long live cattle futures position for the third straight week during the week ended Tuesday as cash-connected traders continue to hold their net short positions relatively stable. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday reported that for the week ended Tuesday, managed money, a term for those large commodity funds, … Read More