CME October 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs drop in broader commodities sell-off

Investors take 'risk-off' approach, U.S. dollar surges

Chicago | Reuters — Cattle and hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell on Thursday, tracking broader market pressure amid worries about global growth and despite rising prices for beef and pork, traders said. Crude oil fell to its lowest levels since May and the U.S. dollar surged to a nine-month high, as rising […] Read more

CME October 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle up on firm cash market, beef prices

Speculative buying, cash pork prices lift lean hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed on Wednesday on higher cash cattle and beef prices, while feeder cattle gained as rains were forecast to hit drought-parched grazing pastures in the western Midwest and northern Plains, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported moderately active cattle sales […] Read more


The Andersons Grain Group’s Toledo-area elevator at Maumee, Ohio. (AndersonsGrain.com)

The Andersons to pay debt, invest in core units after rail business sale

Renewable fuels, specialty foods investments considered

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain handler The Andersons plans to use US$550 million from the sale of its rail leasing business to pay down debt and invest in sustainable farming and low carbon initiatives in its core grain and fertilizer units, CEO Pat Bowe told Reuters on Tuesday. Maumee, Ohio-based Andersons sold its rail […] Read more

A sharply smaller spring wheat harvest due to drought may force bakers to change how they work with flour.  Photo: DanielBendjy/E+/Getty Images

Millers, bakers fret as drought withers North America’s spring wheat

Reuters – Millers and bakers are draining wheat reserves and paying more for spring wheat used in baking, as drought shrivels crops across the Canadian Prairies and northern U.S. Plains that produce more than half of the world’s supply. U.S. and Canadian farmers are bracing for a sharply smaller spring wheat harvest due to the […] Read more



CME August 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20- and 50-day moving averages (pink and brown lines) and August 2021 live cattle (red line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs drop on weaker pork, falling prices in China

Live cattle down with cash beef prices; feeder cattle up as corn eases

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell sharply on Monday, continuing a retreat from multi-year highs set earlier this month as cash pork prices dropped and worries increased about Chinese import demand for U.S. pork. Technical selling and profit-taking have sped the multi-session decline after the actively traded Chicago Mercantile Exchange August lean […] Read more


CBOT July 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and November 2021 soybeans (yellow line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans firm on long-term forecast, China demand

Wheat mixed on winter crop harvest, spring wheat drought

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures advanced on Monday on renewed buying by China and as concerns lingered about dry conditions in western portions of the Midwest farm belt despite scattered storms over the weekend. Corn futures were mostly lower as rain in the central corn belt boosted crop prospects, while wheat was mixed […] Read more

CBOT July 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (dark green line) and CBOT July 2021 corn (orange line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy drop; soyoil limit-down

Spring wheat futures guide wheat markets lower

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures eased and soyoil futures plunged by their daily trading limit on Friday on concerns about demand for renewable fuel feedstocks after news the White House was considering offering fuel refiners relief from biofuel blending mandates. The Reuters report that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was pondering […] Read more


CME August 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20- and 100-day moving averages (dark red and black lines) and CME July 2021 lean hogs (pink line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle gain on strong packer margins

Profit-taking sinks hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures firmed on Friday on strong beef plant margins and good demand from packers for fed cattle, traders said. Cash beef prices have flattened after a prolonged run higher, but packers continue to make a large profit on each animal slaughtered. “We’re probably seeing that our […] Read more

CME July 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with June 2021 lean hogs (pink line), June 2021 live cattle (dark red line) and August 2021 live cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs end mostly higher

Cattle futures advance

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures were mostly higher on Thursday on elevated pork prices and strong demand, although profit-taking clipped some of the gains, traders said. Lightly traded June hog futures climbed to the highest for a spot month contract in nearly seven years. More actively traded nearby contracts […] Read more