The sudden narrowing of the difference between wholesale choice and select beef prices last week caught many traders and analysts off guard.  But what seems more startling is that the weekly average difference, or spread, last week dropped to less than the 2018-2022 average. USDA data compiled and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center … Read More

US farmers’ outlook improved in March as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index increased to 114, three points higher than in February, said James Mintert, Purdue agricultural economist, in a release Tuesday. The March survey was conducted from March 11-15,.   FUTURE EXPECTATIONS UP   While the Index of Current Conditions fell by … Read More

Managed money, a moniker for large commodity index funds, reduced their net long live cattle position as of last Tuesday, March 26, while hedgers cut their net short positions. That information came from Friday’s weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.   FUNDS REDUCE LONG CATTLE POSITION   As of Tuesday, … Read More

The USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report revealed that US hog producers had more hogs on hand March 1 than a year ago, yet a decline in the breeding herd indicates a desire either to cut production or take advantage of greater piglet survival rates. In the short term, though, the industry will have to … Read More

On Jan. 1, the total feedlot inventory represented a record of 16.5% of the All Cattle and Calves inventory in the country, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner. However, decreased cattle numbers and herd rebuilding inevitably will lead to smaller feedlot inventories in the coming … Read More

Canada’s cattle on feed on March 1 totaled 1.015 million head, down from a year earlier but more than the 2018-2022 average, according to data from CanFax that was compiled and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver. CanFax, a private market advisory firm, collects data from members in Alberta and Saskatchewan monthly.  … Read More

After becoming one of the major US beef export destinations about 25 years ago, the last dozen years have shown greater market evolution, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner. Mexico now is one of the US’ major beef trading partners as the market evolved from … Read More