CME December 2020 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up as Wall Street rallies

COVID-19 worries remain in picture

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures ended mostly higher on Monday on spillover support from soaring equities markets, although gains were limited by worries about rising coronavirus infections and likely restaurant closures. News of a second promising COVID-19 vaccine lifted both the S+P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average to record highs on […] Read more

(Photo: Reuters/Chris Wattie)

Telus’ farm and food sector acquisitions take new shape

Canadian telco giant launches new Telus Agriculture unit

Canadian telco and info tech giant Telus has consolidated its recent — and ongoing — acquisitions in farm tech, ag data management and supply chain management into a single new business unit. The Vancouver company, one of Canada’s “big five” telecommunications firms, on Thursday formally launched Telus Agriculture, billed as “a new business unit dedicated […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sag as COVID surge threatens meat demand

Demand uncertainty also weighs on hogs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. livestock futures slumped on Friday as soaring coronavirus cases raised expectations for lockdowns on commerce that will hurt demand for meat from restaurants, hotels and other venues, analysts said. Cities and states across the country have moved to re-impose restrictions to tame new spikes in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. Additional […] Read more

CME December 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures move up off one-month low

Lower corn, soy values support feeder cattle

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Thursday in a rebound from a one-month low reached in the previous session, while live cattle futures weakened. The hog market’s recovery carried futures to their highest level since Monday. Traders said the market continues to face pressure from large U.S. supplies and uncertainty over […] Read more


Nelson Fagan Jr. greets 10 Charolais cows at his ranch near Conception Bay South in October. (N. Fagan Meats video screengrab via Facebook)

Newfoundland beef producers backed to develop abattoirs

Three proposals get six figures each; breeding cows also provided

A provincial call for proposals to boost beef slaughter capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador has yielded three successful applicants. The provincial government on Nov. 5 announced its Beef Industry Enhancement Initiative will provide just over $1.8 million in total to its three successful proposals: $719,750 for Troy Humber of Northern Arm, about 40 km northeast […] Read more

CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures gain on boxed beef strength

Lean hog futures down with slaughter pace

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures climbed on Wednesday as strength in the cash market and firm beef cutout prices continued to offer support, traders said. “We’ve had a pretty decent rally on the meat side, and I think that’s certainly been a factor,” said Altin Kalo, economist with Steiner Consulting Group. Chicago […] Read more


CME January 2021 feeder cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle futures slump as corn prices surge

Hogs down off Monday's gains

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feeder cattle futures ended lower on Tuesday after nearing a six-week high as soaring corn prices signaled that feed costs will increase. Live cattle futures finished near unchanged after setting a fresh four-week high, and lean hog futures weakened. Rising crop prices hung over the markets after the U.S. Department […] Read more



CME January 2021 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures surge on COVID-19 vaccine progress

USDA expected to trim estimates for feed crops

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures reached a four-week high on Monday and feeder cattle hit their highest prices in more than five weeks as progress toward a COVID-19 vaccine raised hopes for a quick economic recovery from the pandemic and increased beef demand. Lean hog futures also finished firmer. Commodity and equity […] Read more

CME December 2020 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures up despite slower slaughter

December lean hog futures drop

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures gained slightly on Friday after a week of range trading, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange December live cattle futures settled 0.3 cent higher at 108.65 cents/lb. (all figures US$). CME feeder cattle futures gained 0.525 cents to end at 135.925 cents/lb. For the week, live cattle futures […] Read more