With all of the fanfare surrounding the historic visit of President Obama to Cuba and his meeting with President Raul Castro, a group of U.S. farmers only saw one thing: a chance to export more chicken to the island state just down the pond from Miami. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and his ag contingent … Read More

Commercials stayed on their stair-step increase for live cattle net short positions during the week ending March 15, with 78,784 net short contracts, up 13,441, or 17%, In its commitment of traders report issued Friday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said there were 49,609 long positions and 128,393 short positions. Long positions were down 3,332 … Read More

February placement of cattle and calves in feedlots were 10% above 2015 at 1.71 million head, signaling pressure on cash and futures even as wholesale beef  prices have  risen in past days on increased packer  demand. The placements number is above industry estimates.  A Reuters poll of 10 analysts had  placements estimated at 8%  over … Read More

The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) will no doubt enhance the competitiveness of U.S. mean on the Japanese market, according to the president and chief executive of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Phil Seng said it is too early to make any volume increase forecasts, the outlook is strongly positive. “It will bring down the tariffs … Read More

Bullish beef cutout sentiment continued Wednesday as packers sought product to meet demand but futures prices, although up a second straight day, were curbed by the Cattle on Feed report expectations on Friday. A rebound in packer margins to positive territory and a decline of about 13,000 cattle for sale this week, contributed to higher … Read More

Boxed beef prices thrust higher again Tuesday with choice reaching the highest average since January 18, pushing live cattle futures to solid gains and raising hopes for higher cash prices in coming days. Choice prices were up $3.54 to $231.01 and select boxes were $4.09 higher to $221.58. WTD slaughter was estimated at 223,000 head, … Read More

The U.S. and Peru have agreed to remove barriers that will open one of the fastest-growing markets in Latin American to all American beef and beef products. The restrictions have been in effect since 2003. In 2015, the United States exported $25.4 million in beef and beef products to Peru. Since the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion … Read More