In the week ended Tuesday, managed money, or large fund speculators, increased their net long position in live cattle futures by a small margin as futures prices attempted, but failed, to stabilize. During the week, managed money’s net long position increased 1,097 contracts, or 21.9%, to 6,098 from 5,001 the week before, according to the … Read More

Kansas feedlots, and likely those in other states, are getting more efficient, according to data collected by Kansas State University agricultural economists. Feedlots are working through their inventory of that have been there a long time, thus improving the pounds of feed to pounds of gain ratio.  The number of head sold to packing plants … Read More

The price spread between choice and select beef at the wholesale level has taken an unprecedented turn lower over the last three weeks, dropping to $4.28, choice premium, last week, but the reasons aren’t exactly clear. What is clear is that consumers are being drawn away from the more expensive choice beef products and toward … Read More

Rabobank’s Third Quarter Beef Quarterly report expects US beef exports to remain challenged while Brazilian beef exports could rise. “With little change expected in major beef-trading economies in the coming quarter, other than the possibility of the US Federal Open Market Committee raising interest rates, a strong US currency is expected to continue to affect … Read More

Perhaps it’s just “that time” for feeder cattle to come to market in larger numbers, but declining grazing options may have just as much to do with decisions to sell feeders. Monday’s USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service weekly crop conditions report showed a decline in pasture conditions and a lag in winter wheat planting and … Read More

Managed money, or large fund traders cut their net long positions in live cattle futures by 5,382 contracts, or 51.8%, to 5,001 from 10,383 the previous week for the fifth straight weekly decline as futures dropped to contract lows. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission made the revelation Friday in its Commitments-of-Traders report for the week … Read More

Calculated feedlot margins are dismal and set to get worse before they get better. Average margins dropped $52.44 a head last week for unhedged cattle, and with cash cattle prices dropping $5 to $10 per cwt this week, feeding returns are sure to get worse this week. The Sterling Beef Profit Tracker from Sterling Marketing … Read More