Managed money, or large speculators, increased their net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday, Oct. 27, for the second straight week.  Yet the gains seemed tepid and left them with a near-neutral net long position. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission reported Friday that for the week, managed money held a new … Read More

Retailer demand for holiday beef cuts is showing up in rising prices for choice primal ribs, with demand for other choice-graded products in tow. The USDA Thursday reported its price for the choice rib primal, from which those juicy rib roasts are cut, at $359.58 per cwt, a one-day gain of $9.33, or 2.66%, from … Read More

As work progresses on the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility near Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University research has simulated the economic effect of an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. FMD has been called the most infectious disease known to man, even though it does not affect humans.  Cloven-hoofed animals like cattle and hogs … Read More

Many agronomists and Extension livestock specialists have said they view raising cattle and calves as a by-product of the real crop, which is grass.  They urge producers to do the same – take care of the grass, and the grass will take care of you. This season’s first freeze has been late, but when it … Read More

In general, feeder cattle prices are following the cash live cattle market higher but remain on an overall downtrend.  Regional differences are evident, but data show a buyer preference for heavier calves continues as well. Prices for slaughter steers in the Southern Plains have risen sharply over the last three weeks after bottoming at an … Read More

Managed money and commercial traders were nearly on the sidelines in live cattle futures market during the week ended Tuesday, even though the nearby Dec contract was gaining rapidly. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report showed that managed money, or large speculators, made only small gains to their net long positions, … Read More

Total US frozen red meat and chicken supplies rose to record highs in September, a fact that could have bearish implications for cattle, hog and chicken markets down the road. The USDA Thursday reported total frozen red meat supplies Sep. 30 were up 2% from August at 1.2 billion pounds and up 24% from last … Read More