Photo: Geralyn Wichers

U.S. livestock: Live cattle drop as beef prices, packer margins erode

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures fell on Wednesday on long liquidation by funds and as sinking beef prices and eroding packer margins weighed on the market. Feeder cattle futures also retreated in a technical correction after four consecutive sessions of gains that were fueled by concerns over tightening U.S. supplies. “We […] Read more



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U.S. grains: Soy futures set six-week low as China buys Argentine cargoes, snubs U.S.

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. soybean futures set a six-week low on Tuesday under pressure from a lack of Chinese demand and increased competition for export sales from Argentina, analysts said. The market finished slightly higher in a technical rebound, traders said. Wheat futures also recovered after setting contract lows, with an expected boost to […] Read more

Photo: Geralyn Wichers

U.S. livestock: Hogs rally ahead of USDA report

Chicago lean hog futures rallied on Tuesday ahead of the USDA’s Hogs and Pigs report, due on Thursday. “The report may show a slight increase in total hog population, but analysts are speculating over what other stats may show and mean for futures prices,” the Wall Street Journal reported. The question is if producers expanded […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures higher on screwworm news

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Monday after news that New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, was detected 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, analysts said. Analysts believed the news would mean the U.S.-Mexico border will be closed to feeder cattle imports for the foreseeable future. “It’s bullish […] Read more

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U.S. grains: Soybeans drop on lack of Chinese demand, wheat hits contract lows

Chicago | Reuters – soybeans fell to a six-week low on Monday, as a phone call last week between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping provided no signs of progress on negotiations over agricultural exports, analysts said. Wheat fell on expectations of plentiful global supplies. Corn also dipped as dealers awaited the […] Read more



Cattle at a feedlot near North Platte, Nebraska. (AndrewLinscott/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures higher, though traders uncertain about demand

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures rose on Thursday on a tight cattle supply, though industry experts expressed doubt over consumer demand for beef as concerns grew over the U.S. economic outlook. CME December live cattle LCZ25 ended 1.475 cents higher to 234.15 cents per pound. October feeder cattle […] Read more


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U.S. grains: Grains off highs with fed in focus, soyoil down more than two per cent

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago corn and soybean futures sagged on Wednesday, retreating from multi-week highs on profit-taking and an uptick in the dollar, while a drop in soyoil futures added pressure, analysts said. Wheat futures followed the lower trend, with forecasts for rains in the southern U.S. Plains adding to bearish sentiment. Chicago Board […] Read more

 Photo: Canada Beef

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures fall

Chicago cattle and hog futures fell for the second day running ahead of Friday’s cattle on feed report. Most-active December live cattle closed at 232.675 cents a pound, down 2.475 cents. October contracts settled at 231.100 cents a pound, down 2.350 cents. Most-traded October feeder cattle futures closed at 349.125 cents per pound, a loss […] Read more