Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday touched a three-month top, spurred by short-covering and fund buying, said traders. April closed up its three-cent-per-pound daily price limit (all figures US$). Investors bought that contract and simultaneously sold February. The limit will expand to 4.5 cents on Friday. February live cattle […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle limit up on fund buying
U.S. livestock: Hogs jump on pork gains
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures surged three per cent to a seven-month high on Tuesday as rising pork and cash hog prices triggered investment fund and chart-based futures buying, traders and analysts said. CME live and feeder cattle futures fell to multi-week lows, pressured by ample cattle supplies. The U.S. […] Read more
Adjusting cow-calf inventory value can pay off in the future
Making this adjustment during an unprofitable or low-profit year can save taxes when cattle prices go up again
Reading Time: 2 minutes Cow-calf producers should consider taking advantage of the optional inventory adjustment, says a provincial farm business management specialist. “Economic returns for cow-calf operators this year will probably not be all that profitable,” said Ted Nibourg. “High feed costs in the winter of 2015 coupled with reduced calf prices this fall may result in negative margins […] Read more
U.S. cattle herd growth to five-year high spells cheaper beef ahead
Chicago | Reuters — Beef prices will keep trending lower, analysts said after the government’s semi-annual cattle inventory report on Friday showed the U.S. cattle herd as of Jan. 1 grew three per cent from a year ago, to a five-year high. Healthy pastures, more-affordable grain and record-high cattle prices a year ago encouraged ranchers […] Read more
Watching what moves markets
Monitoring response to government crop and livestock reports helps with risk assessment and marketing plans
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s a fact — government agricultural reports can affect the market. Those who follow crop and livestock markets often see the dramatic reaction these reports can have on prices, says provincial market specialist Neil Blue. “The reports are usually the result of a survey of inventory, or of estimated inventory and estimated use of crops […] Read more
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