Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. government has indicted six more chicken-industry executives over alleged price-fixing, broadening antitrust prosecutions in its probe of the US$65 billion poultry sector. In June, the Justice Department indicted Pilgrim’s Pride CEO Jayson Penn and three others in its first charges in the criminal probe involving broiler birds, which account […] Read more
U.S. indicts six more chicken-industry execs over alleged price fixing
Case alleges executives conspired to inflate prices for broilers
U.S. livestock: Hog futures up on pork demand, cash prices
November feeder cattle touch lowest level since July 2
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. hog futures extended gains on Wednesday and the front-month contract reached its highest price in about a year due to strength in the cash market, traders said. Solid pork demand has underpinned cash prices in the face of large hog supplies. The U.S. pork cutout, an indication of wholesale pork […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, soy futures hit multi-year highs
Dry weather in U.S., Russia, Argentina supports wheat prices; soybeans, corn rise as Brazil also dry for planting
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat and soybean futures soared to multi-year highs on Wednesday as unfavourable weather threatened production in exporting countries. Dryness has raised concerns among traders about the prospects for wheat planting in the U.S. Plains and the Black Sea region and for soybean planting in Brazil. Weather in the southern U.S. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise on strong cash markets
U.S. packers seen dialing up slaughter pace
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle and lean hog futures advanced on Monday on expectations that cash prices will remain firm, analysts said. Cash cattle prices are expected to rise $1-$2/cwt this week as packers ramp up slaughtering, said Brian Hoops, president of broker Midwest Market Solutions (all figures US$). Fat cattle last week […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures slip as feed grain prices soar
Firm cash prices support CME hogs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures retreated on Wednesday after the December contract hit its highest price in more than a month, while feeder cattle futures slumped as prices surged for grain used as animal feed. The rally in U.S. grain futures prices hung over cattle markets because livestock producers will be more […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soy, wheat futures surge on lower-than-expected stocks
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade grain and soybean futures soared on Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture surprised traders by reporting crop inventories that were smaller than expected. Supply levels have declined after China, the world’s top soybean importer, stepped up its purchases of U.S. farm goods this summer. Corn supplies […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs climb on bullish pork export prospects
Live cattle continue following hogs higher
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures closed higher on Friday for a second session on expectations of increased export demand for U.S. pork after rival supplier Germany confirmed a case of African swine fever in a wild boar. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) October lean hog futures settled up 2.2 cents at 66.575 cents/lb. […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy rallies on expectations for higher exports
U.S. yield estimates may decline more, analysts say
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures on Friday rallied to their highest since June 2018 as traders projected an increase in the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast for exports with a further cut in domestic production. Corn futures reached a six-month high, while wheat futures fell to a two-week low. USDA, […] Read more
U.S. rolls back inspection rules for egg products
New rule to affect 83 U.S. facilities
Chicago | Reuters — The Trump administration said Wednesday it will stop requiring U.S. plants that produce egg products to have full-time government inspectors, in the first update of inspection methods in 50 years. Under a new rule that takes effect immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow companies such as Cargill and Sonstegard […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit four-month high on export hopes
Post-Labour Day beef demand in doubt
Chicago | Reuters — Strong export demand for U.S. pork pushed Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures to a four-month high on Friday. Traders are optimistic China, the world’s biggest pork consumer, will remain a strong buyer, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported strong weekly export sales on Thursday. Chinese importers have been bringing […] Read more
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