After taking their net long live cattle position to the highest level in more than six months, large commodity funds in the week ended Tuesday cut their position by 3,314 contracts, or 14.4%, to 19,745 from 23,059. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments Of Traders report Friday also said commercial traders, those who theoretically … Read More

At this point in the year it is difficult to draw accurate conclusions about how the markets will play out over the year, although many market analysts have tried.  The latest to weigh in is the USDA which this week projected increased per capita disappearance of red meat, poultry and eggs in 2016. Total red … Read More

The live cattle futures contract currently is in a downward trend channel and appears to be headed lower.  The nearby Feb contract could even test support at the contract low of $123.05 per cwt that was set Dec. 17. The contract violated the downward sloping channel support once on Jan. 15 by closing down the … Read More

Despite average fed cattle prices being up $1 per cwt last week, unhedged cattle feeder losses increased marginally last week, according to the Sterling Marketing Beef Profit Tracker, which is released through AgWeb. The estimates show average fed cattle losses totaled $387.70 a head, using the USDA’s five-area direct live-basis price of $133.49.  This is … Read More

Large commodity funds boosted their net long live cattle position in the week ended Tuesday, Jan. 12, to its highest level since the week ended July 28, even though futures peaked and turned lower. As of a week ago, managed money, or the funds, had a net long position of 23,059 contracts, up 3,270, or … Read More

Even though beef cutout values seemed to rise in December, a look back at values in previous months tells a different story and shows why packer buyers were reluctant cattle buyers. A Livestock Marketing Information Center graph clearly shows the decline.  All quality grades showed a clear decline from August through December, although branded and choice … Read More

As a growing number of consumers shy away from products containing ingredients they can’t pronounce and increasingly opt for products that are grown or produced locally, branded beef products play well. Those consumers want to know where their meat comes from, and the best way to handle that demand is for more producers within the … Read More