Hog Prices-Markets
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.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures recovered nicely from Friday’s selloff with some contracts making new highs for the move, pricing in record cash cattle trade. Grain markets are seeing fund buying with soybeans and meal leading on dry weather forecasts for Argentina.
Cash cattle averaged $195.68 per cwt. while lean carcass hog prices were at $81.02 per cwt., both up slightly from last week.
From trade and deregulation to alternative land uses and cash rent prices, ag economists have no shortage of issues on their radar for 2025.
Cash cattle averaged $194.99 per cwt. while lean carcass hog prices were at $80.35 per cwt.
The packer/feeder margin spread grew this week in favor of the feeder at $285 per head while pork producers found positive margins of $39.77.
Packer margin losses grow, with beef packers at a loss of -$91.33 per head and pork packers averaging losses of -$5.87 per head.
Tariffs could lead to produce shortages as well as price hikes, experts warn Mexico and Canada are top suppliers of U.S. agricultural imports. Tariffs may disrupt cattle and pork trade between U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Margins widened this week this week for pork and beef producers while packer margins remain in the red for beef at -$34.67 and decreased for pork to $8.65.
After posting a record net revenue in the third quarter and a 571% increase in net income, year-over-year, JBS raised its earnings estimates for 2024.
The estimated total cost for finishing a steer last week was $2,770 per head. Hogs placed for finishing last week had a breakeven at $68.36 per head.
Time is running short for Congress to come together to address the farm bill in a bipartisan way, says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
Beef packers saw profits increase $26 per head to a total loss of $86 per head. That puts the packer/feeder margin spread at $289 per head in favor of the feeder. Meanwhile, pork packers saw average profits of $25 per head, up $2.68 from the previous week.