Fed cattle prices have been climbing, slowly, following the market correction that began in late July-early August, said David Anderson, livestock and food product marketing specialist at Texas A&M University, in a Livestock Marketing Information Center letter called In The Cattle Markets. After falling from a high of $197.09 to $181.18 per cwt. the USDA’s … Read More

After plunging to their second-lowest point this year, weekly average wholesale prices for 50% lean beef bounced last week, leading some to wonder if the product hasn’t found at least a temporary bottom. The USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service price compiled and recorded by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver two weeks ago was $61.68 per … Read More

Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, continued to extend their collective net long live cattle futures position in the week ended last Tuesday, Oct. 22, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC made the data known Friday in its weekly Commitments of Traders report, which also showed that cattle hedgers lengthened … Read More

Total red meat supplies in US freezers rose about up 3% through September, but were down about 1% from last year on Sep. 30, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service said in its monthly Cold Storage report Friday. Total frozen poultry supplies on Sep. 30 were down about 1% from the previous month and down … Read More

The difference between weekly wholesale prices for USDA choice and select boxed beef are reaching what might be called a decision point. The price difference, or spread, has widened sharply since its most recent low the second week of September, but this week or next is the point at which the 2018-2022 average begins to … Read More

An Associated Press story on the National Public Radio website said McDonald’s was trying to reassure customers that its food was safe despite a deadly E.coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounder hamburgers. At the time of this writing, at least 49 people in 10 states had been sickened, and one person had died.   … Read More

In a recent report, the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook said global growth was expected to remain stable yet underwhelming, and near-term policy priorities should be calibrated to ensure a smooth landing. At 3.2% in 2024 and 2025, the IMF’s growth projection was nearly the same as those in the July and April updates. … Read More