Historical basis data indicate the nearby Apr futures contract may have little room to grow while the Jun contract may be too high, and cash prices this week have another level of pressure. The 2010-2014 fed steer basis for Kansas cattle, or the difference between the live cattle cash price and the futures contract price, … Read More

The USDA Tuesday raised its estimate of total red meat and poultry production from last month as higher expected cattle slaughter and heavier carcass weights more than offset a lower pork production forecast. The USDA changed its production estimates in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. The USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board … Read More

After running the numbers reported in the USDA’s March 31 Prospective Plantings report, it seems only a small shortfall in US average corn yield below trend would be needed to eliminate the current modest surplus of corn. That assessment was made by agricultural economists at the University of Illinois and published by the Corn and … Read More

For the second straight week, large commodity investment funds, called managed money, cut their net long live cattle positions as commercial traders covered their short positions. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday reported the outstanding positions of various traders as of Tuesday, revealing the latest moves of those two trader groups. Managed money’s new net … Read More

February US red meat exports were about steady with last year, but their values moved lower, according to USDA statistics compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. The USMEF said in a release that the lower prices reflect more abundant red meat supplies and a fiercely competitive international market. February beef and variety meat exports … Read More

Slaughter steer prices in the Southern Plains traded about steady this week at mostly $133 per cwt with some instances of $134 being paid. So far this year, cash cattle prices have held in a narrow range, shuffling between an average $139.14 per cwt on the top to $133.14 on the bottom.  This flat market … Read More

Steer and heifer slaughter weights are moving higher at a time when they should be moving lower, beginning the spring rise about six weeks early. Beef production, however, is holding about steady, following a seasonal pattern. The average estimated live weight of slaughter cattle last week was 1,376 pounds, up one from the previous week … Read More