Latest News From Markets

The CME will amend the feeder cattle futures contract rule to include cattle identified in the USDA reports as fancy, thin, fleshy, gaunt or full in the calculation of CME’s feeder cattle index price.

Packer margins have grown to exceptionally high levels in recent weeks, while feedyard profits have eroded.

Market volatility is not new. However, it seems more pervasive and this is true whether discussing the futures market or the stock market.

Packer margins have grown to exceptionally high levels in recent weeks, while feedyard profits have eroded.

Confinement barns provide some advantages to both the animals and caregivers compared to outside pens or pasture systems.

During periods of herd expansion, the heifer percentage of yearling slaughter drops to roughly 31 percent and during periods of herd liquidation, heifers will contribute about 40 percent to total yearling slaughter.

The seasonal pull on Choice middle meats continues to be the driver of the beef market as Memorial Day grilling is only ten days away.

Cattle supplies are on the rise with more cattle being placed in feedlots leading to some discrepancies in the futures and cash market.

Cattle supplies are on the rise with more cattle being placed in feedlots leading to some discrepancies in the futures and cash market.

Adding value and capturing that value (making money) versus adding value and losing value (losing money) is largely a function of your break-even price. 

The latest USDA carcass weight data for the week beginning April 30th brings us ever closer to the lowest anticipated fed steer and heifer carcass weights of 2018.

Packer margins advanced on softer cash cattle prices and gain in the beef cutout prices.

Packer margins advanced on softer cash cattle prices and gain in the beef cutout prices.

Many feeders chose not to sell this week because they did not not want to give in to a softer cash market.  The cattle that traded in the north and south, found the cash market $4 dollars lower at $122. 

The price uncertainty in the feeder cattle market continues to stem from the finished cattle market and uncertainties concerning how many head of cattle will be harvested in the next couple of months.

U.S. red meat and poultry production is increasing at a rapid rate, and market analysts warn cattlemen to be prepared for pressure on prices the rest of 2018.

Beef cutout prices jumped $7.22 per cwt. last week, boosting packer profits $40 per head.

Cash trade in the South was robust once again this week, with most cattle bringing $126, and a handful trading early at $125. The trade in the North was steady to a little weaker.

Consumer support for beef in the marketplace is further supported by the Restaurant Performance Index (RPI).

JBS USA has recalled approximately 35,464 lb. of raw ground beef following the finding of hard plastic in contaminated beef.

JBS USA has recalled approximately 35,464 lb. of raw ground beef following the finding of hard plastic in contaminated beef.

A deeper look at the Prime quality grade reveals a year-to-date (YTD) jump from 6% in ’17 to 8% as we compare the first 16 weeks with 2018.

A walkout over a pay shift differential at a Cargill Schuyler, Nebraska, beef processing plant partially disrupted production at the facility and diverted some cattle back to area feed lots.

Feedyard margins climbed back into triple digits last week with a $1 to $2 price rally.

Feedyard margins climbed back into triple digits last week with a $1 to $2 price rally.

Larger numbers of cattle on feed indicate that even more cattle and beef are to come to market in coming months. 

Packers could potentially find it challenging to obtain enough market ready cattle to meet their spring order demands.

The spring run for grass cattle is coming to a close in the Southeastern United States.

U.S. Federally Inspected steer and heifer slaughter for 2018’s first quarter was nearly 1% above a year ago.

Decreased March placements are not an indication of fewer total cattle supplies but rather are a confirmation of the change in feedlot timing in recent months. 

Feedyard closeouts revealed profits of $92 per head last week after two weeks of losses.

In the face of growing beef production, all eyes are on beef demand in 2018. 

This week should show us how willing the packers are to pull May contracts.

This week should show us how willing the packers are to pull May contracts.

There are several big storylines in the cattle industry with the number of cattle on feed and a wall of cattle on its way to a store near you being one of the big headlines.

The Cattle on Feed report has been on a continual increasing trend since December 2016 and the current April inventory is the highest for the month in 12 years.

The Cattle on Feed report has been on a continual increasing trend since December 2016 and the current April inventory is the highest for the month in 12 years.

USDA’s cattle on feed survey data can have inherent problems, but additionally, we don’t really know the feeding performance of cattle in feedlots in the major feeding regions.

Producers will learn how their Angus-sired cattle could perform in a feedlot.

Farm state legislators have asked for a review of whether the acquisition of National Beef by a Brazilian company threatens the U.S. food supply.

Farm state legislators have asked for a review of whether the acquisition of National Beef by a Brazilian company threatens the U.S. food supply.

Historical expectations for the month of April are for a decline in the percentage of cattle grading Choice and Prime.

With beef liver prices depressed at around $3 at the packer level, liver condemnations due to abscesses represent a relatively minor economic problem.

Feedyards lost an average of $43 per head last week, nearly $7 more than the week before, while packer profits remain in triple-digits.

What began as a dismal start in the cash trade early last week, shifted into a more positive direction on Friday.  

What is evident in the market is continued strong demand for grass cattle.

Amid the dryness, farmers placed 1.82 million cattle in feedlots in February, up 7.3 percent from the prior year, according to USDA. What will this week's Cattle on Feed report show?

Host Chip Flory talks with Christine McCracken, Executive Director, Animal Protein for RaboAgriFinance, who explains additional slaughter capacity in the U.S. should help the hog market continue the price recovery

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says supply and demand factors led to the dramatic cattle price decline from 2013 to 2016.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he thinks a conversation he had with China’s President Xi Jinping has had an impact on U.S. beef exports to China, where American exporters are now selling “a lot” of beef.