Hog Prices-Markets
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle rally chasing record cash with the basis historically wide.
Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle futures are chasing exploding cash early Friday, with more record high prices paid in all areas. Corn and soybeans continue to be weak with mostly favorable weather.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures are seeing some early weakness despite last week’s record cash and neutral USDA Cattle on Feed Report compared to expectations. Corn is down with wheat and mostly favorable weather.
Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says ag markets are seeing red with the threat of 50% tariffs on all EU imports.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle futures are in recovery mode for a second day after scoring key weekly reversals last week on the charts, a bearish sign of a possible top. Corn is also trying to bounce after new lows for the year in the December contract.
Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says after two ugly down days in cattle futures the markets are trying to recover and so is the soybean market.
The markets have several big headlines they’re digesting including news over the weekend that China and the U.S. are de-escalating the tariff war.
Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle continue to hit all-time highs in cash and futures. While corn is seeing some short covering after new lows for the move on Thursday.
As trade negotiations continue with China and Mexico, USMEF’s Dan Halstrom and Illinois pig farmer Chad Leman share their perspectives on what’s ahead for pork and beef producers.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cash cattle trade was record high again last week with $223 live paid in much of the North and even a few $224 trades to a regional. Grains are mostly lower.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says grains are seeing pressure on weather. However, both live and feeder cattle futures are making new contract and all-time highs on last week’s record cash.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says grains lose early strength running into chart resistance. While cattle also started higher with the sharply higher cash trade Thursday but faded.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle are seeing followthrough buying and strength Monday morning as the S&P 500 continues to stabilize and recover after the tariff delays.
Arlan Suderman, StoneX Chief Commodities Economist says the markets reacted positively to the 90-day delay on reciprocal tariffs for countries that reached out to negotiate with the U.S. and did not retaliate.
Non-tariff barriers, which also include food safety regulations, are “orders of magnitude” more important than tariff rates.
There’s no question the U.S. public likes meat. That’s critical to purchasing decisions, says K-State’s Glynn Tonsor. But the reality is consumers must have the financial ability to pay for it.
The plants will produce beef, pork and poultry, and will mainly use raw materials imported from Brazil.
The retail meat industry sold 500 million more packages in 2024 than they did in 2023. Of that 500 million-package growth, 62% was driven by millennials.
While tariffs are negative for grain and hog producers, tariffs on U.S. beef and cattle imports have a net effect of tightening supplies and that’s price positive.
The registration status for pork, beef and poultry plants across the U.S., including some owned by major producers, was changed from “effective” to “expired.”
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says live cattle see buying interest after strong cash late last week. Corn tries to hold gains with soybeans seeing South American harvest pressure and concern about China’s 10% tariffs on U.S. soybeans.
Darren Frye, Water Street Solutions, says corn, wheat and hogs reacted negatively to the 25% tariffs being imposed on Canada and Mexico on March 4.
Beef packers saw losses of $195.60 per head and pork packers saw losses of $1.41 per head.
Cash cattle decreased slightly at $202.85 per cwt., while lean carcass hog prices came in higher at $89.67 per cwt.
Cash cattle decreased slightly at $207.25 per cwt., while lean carcass hog prices came in slightly higher at $85.78 per cwt.
Cash cattle remained steady at $209.97 per cwt., while lean carcass hog prices came in slightly higher at $85.56 per cwt.
Cash cattle averaged $204.12 per cwt., up from last week, while lean carcass hog prices came in at $81.79 per cwt.
Cash cattle averaged $202.96 per cwt., up from last week, while lean carcass hog prices were slightly down at $81.08 per cwt.
November was an exciting month for U.S. red meat, with year-over-year gains across all categories.
Cash cattle averaged $199.48 per cwt. while lean carcass hog prices were at $81.79 per cwt., both up from last week.