Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures jumped to their highest in more than three months on Thursday, supported by strength in the cash markets, traders said. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 2.625 cents, to 84.925 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The front-month contract closed just below its session peak of 84.975 […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures touch highest since mid-October
CME cattle futures down on day
U.S. livestock: Cattle and hog futures firm
Meat supplies remain tight
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and hog futures rose on Wednesday, with tight supplies supporting prices after a slowdown in the pace of slaughter. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 0.7 cent, to 82.3 cents/lb. Hog futures have risen for three days in a row, their longest streak of gains […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures weak
Hog futures firm
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Tuesday, with mild profit-taking noted after rallying in three of the previous four sessions. Hog futures were firmer, extending their rebound from the five-week low hit last week. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 0.7 cent to 81.6 cents/lb. (all figures US$). […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures rebound, slaughter pace still weak
CME February live cattle up
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures bounced back on Friday, though analysts said U.S. staffing shortages caused by COVID-19 infections continued to limit meat production. Most actively traded February lean hogs touched a one-week high and ended 3.05 cents stronger at 80.9 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The contract recovered after falling […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs dip on concern over slower slaughter, heavier pigs
Feeder cattle up as feed grain prices drop
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell on Thursday amid concerns that a reduced pace of slaughtering is limiting demand for pigs that are growing heavier, analysts said. Slow slaughtering has weighed on hog and cattle futures because livestock back up on farms when they cannot be processed, traders said. Slaughtering […] Read more
Impossible dream? Program opens the door to young would-be farmers
There’s no shortage of people who yearn to farm, and mentors and networks offer the hopeful a chance
Reading Time: 8 minutes Jason Stuka didn’t grow up with a dream of farming. Unlike his parents, he wasn’t raised on a farm nor was he immersed in the culture of farming. When he got a bachelor of arts degree, a job in ag wasn’t even on his radar. But that all changed in his late 20s. He delved […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog slaughter hits five-month low on Omicron spread
CME hogs up, cattle down
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rose on bargain buying on Wednesday, traders said, though U.S. pig slaughtering sank to its lowest level since August as rising cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant hit meat plants. Live cattle and feeder cattle futures slumped as traders remain concerned that the highly contagious […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures end higher in short-covering bounce
Hogs extend slide
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday, on a technical bounce a day after falling to three-week lows, with optimism about a slight improvement in the U.S. slaughter pace lending support, traders said. But worries about slowdowns at packing plants due to worker shortages continued to hang over […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs sag on Wall Street woes, worker shortages
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog and live cattle futures closed lower on Monday, pressured by declines on Wall Street along with slowdowns at slaughterhouses due to worker shortages, traders said. CME February live cattle futures settled down 1.075 cents at 136.25 cents/lb., while March feeder cattle futures ended down 1.325 cents […] Read more
India to allow imports of U.S. pork and products
Washington | Reuters — India has agreed to allow imports of U.S. pork and pork products into India, removing a longstanding barrier to U.S. agricultural trade, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Monday. “India’s agreement to allow U.S. pork imports for the first time is great news for U.S. […] Read more