Chicago | Reuters — China’s pledge to buy U.S. farm goods based on “market conditions” during the Phase One trade deal signing ceremony on Wednesday added to doubts among farmers and commodity traders over the lingering tariffs on U.S. exports. The agreement, meant to reduce tensions after nearly two years of a tit-for-tat tariff war, […] Read more

‘Market condition’ caveat on U.S. ag purchases adds to Phase One doubts

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures rebound
Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) closed higher on Tuesday, bouncing a day after falling to a one-month low as traders adjusted positions ahead of Wednesday’s planned signing of a U.S.-China trade agreement, brokers said. “The choppy trade continues. There is clearly some nervousness associated with what is […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs hit one-month low on weak cash values
Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) fell to a one-month low on Monday, pressed by ample U.S. pork supplies and a discount in the cash hog market relative to futures, traders said. “We’ve got a problem where we are still seeing big hog numbers,” said Doug Houghton, analyst […] Read more

VIDO-InterVac joins swine fever fight
The University of Saskatchewan’s vaccine research and development arm is set to become Canada’s first non-government agency to work with the African swine fever virus. Saskatoon-based Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) will start work with the virus this month at its Containment Level 3-Agriculture (CL3-Ag) facility, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle rise on firm cash market, harsh Plains weather
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures climbed to the loftiest levels of the week on Friday on expectations for higher cash cattle sales at Plains feedlot markets and as harsh weather in parts of the region increased stress on the animals. Some feedlot cattle in the central and northern Plains have traded at […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs sink on big supply, premium to cash prices
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell on Thursday on ample supplies of hogs and a weak cash market, and as traders remain uncertain about how much additional pork China would buy as part of a Phase One trade deal with the United States. The actively traded Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) February contract […] Read more

African swine fever spreads near German border
Paris | Reuters — Poland recorded 55 outbreaks of African swine fever in wild boar near the German border last month, the world animal health body said on Thursday, in a sign the deadly virus is spreading near one of the European Union’s biggest pork exporters. A report posted on the World Organization for Animal […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Chinese buying drives record pork exports in November
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. pork exports in November surged to a record high for any month, according to new government data, driven by a fatal pig disease stoking a meat shortage in China. The shipments fueled expectations for more big sales to China, although U.S. hog futures slumped on Wednesday. China, the world’s largest […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle pull back after Monday rally
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. live cattle futures eased on Tuesday in a profit-taking setback from the prior session’s steep jump after weeks of rising cattle prices that have eroded beef packer margins. Live cattle futures were due for a pullback after scaling to an 8-1/2 month peak last week on strong beef demand and […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle rally on tightening supplies, strong cash market
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures jumped by as much as two per cent on Monday and feeder cattle futures rose by up to three per cent, propelled by strong cash market prices and tightening supplies of animals, analysts said. A $2 jump in cash cattle prices at southern Plains feedlot markets late […] Read more