Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures closed lower on Friday on light technical selling, with the spot February contract pressured as speculators rolled long positions into forward months, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) February live cattle futures settled down 0.5 cent at 114.475 cents/lb. (all figures US$). Friday was the first day of […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures drift lower on technical selling
Back months in hogs, cattle draw speculators' interest
Intercropping can be a win win for mixed operations
The practice comes with a learning curve, but can increase grazing options while boosting soil health
Reading Time: 3 minutes There is a lot of buzz in beef and forage production systems around the concepts of sustainability and soil health, and the numerous different production practices that can support those ideas. Intercropping is one strategy that can improve efficiency and soil health. Manitoba producer Alan MacKenzie considers intercropping to be two crops that are grown […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle end mixed, feeders firm
Cattle take cues from pause in corn rally
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures closed narrowly mixed on Thursday with the spot February contract drifting lower in rangebound trade, awaiting direction from cash markets, while back months firmed on optimism about the U.S. economy, traders said. Feeder cattle futures rose as prices for corn, the main feed grain for cattle, retreated from […] Read more
Manitoba to consolidate and shut agriculture, MASC offices
Province announces 'new rural service delivery model'
Updated, Jan. 7 — Manitoba’s agriculture and resource development department and crop insurance and ag lending agency will close their offices in 21 communities and consolidate others this spring, in a bid to reduce their “physical footprint.” Agriculture Minister Blaine Pedersen on Wednesday announced what the province billed as “a new rural service delivery model […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs trim as packers work through holiday backlogs
CME cattle futures pressured lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell on Wednesday as packers work through backlogs caused by holiday shutdowns, analysts said. Daily hog slaughter regained from holiday pace, with 495,000 head processed compared to 472,000 head the week prior, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, but was still short of prior year pace. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle rally on fund-driven buying
CME lean hogs end narrowly mixed
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose two per cent on Tuesday, bouncing back from a sell-off a day earlier, lifted by speculative buying and broad strength in commodities as investors seek a hedge against inflation, analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) February live cattle futures settled up 2.75 cents at 115.05 cents/lb. […] Read more
There’s a payoff ahead for the cattle sector, say industry leaders
There are fewer cows and ranchers than 10 years ago, but that may change in the coming decade
Reading Time: 4 minutes After a decade in “cow politics” — and a lifetime in the cattle sector — Bob Lowe has a pretty straightforward wish for what he’d like to see in the coming decade. “I’d like to see Canada’s beef industry get bigger,” said the Nanton rancher and feedlot operator, who is also president of the Canadian […] Read more
Sustainable beef processing expanded
Reading Time: < 1 minute Cargill will be able to source beef from farms and ranches across the country that are certified under Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef protocols. However, while the company’s processing plant in Guelph, Ont. has successfully completed certification, it was temporarily shut down on Dec. 17 after more than 80 workers contracted COVID-19. Once it is […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices digesting uncertainty
Defensive tone likely through January
The feeder cattle market was very quiet during the last week of December with auction barns in holiday mode. There were discussions regarding direct sales but no actual business was confirmed. The stakes are too high given the market uncertainty; a defensive tone will likely continue throughout January. Feed grains continue to percolate higher; the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle sag as Wall Street retreats, grain prices rise
Wholesale ham prices supportive for hogs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell more than two per cent on Monday, pressured by ample beef supplies and fund-driven selling as Wall Street equities declined, analysts said. Feeder cattle futures fell even harder, dropping by three per cent as U.S. corn futures rose to almost $5 a bushel for the first […] Read more
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