Author: ploewen

Date: July 18th, 2022 Livestock futures backed off to end last week but still finished higher week over week. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade in the South mostly steady compared to the week previous at $137 live. North live trade steady to lower at $144 to $145 while dressed trade done mostly at $230 which is $2 lower than the week previous. Feeders will be the ones to watch this week as we have shifted prices higher into a new trading range. Lean hogs remain range bound and without higher cash trade this week, so will live cattle. For the week, Friday July 8th through Friday July 15th, August Live Cattle +$.97, October +$.60, August Feeder Cattle +$4.62, September +$4.95, July Lean Hogs +$2.05, August…

Date: July 6th, 2022 Well, I guess we can call yesterday’s markets an explosion, maybe the better term is implosion though coming off the 3-day holiday weekend. Cattle futures did open higher yesterday but quickly moved and held triple digits losses as equites, energies and all grains lower and a sharply higher US$. Lean hogs were the only Ag commodities to hold gains as cash prices and pork values jumped to support the front two months. We should be able hold steady cash fed cattle trade again this week and continue to see the premiums paid in the North. Showlists are mixed, a bit bigger in the North and smaller in the South, but all still very manageable supplies. I think the questions still exist…

Date: July 5th, 2022 Livestock futures finished out last week on a higher note which allowed for week over week gains. Beef demand remains strong domestically but pork movement prior to Independence Day was light. Feeders remain very choppy but supported with sharply lower corn this past week. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade mostly steady last week with KS at $138 live, TX at $137 to $138 live and NE still carrying premiums from $144 to $150 live and $232 to $238 on a dressed basis. For the week, Friday June 24th through Friday July 1st, August Live Cattle +$1.22, October +$.22, August Feeder Cattle +$2.00, September +$2.57, July Lean Hogs -$1.32, August -$3.80. Boxed Beef, Choice -$1.16 @ $263.82, Select -$4.55 @ $240.47, Pork…

Date: June 29th, 2022 A complete flip in the Ag markets on Tuesday with grains higher and livestock futures lower. There’s been a lot of pressure recently on the grains, so to see a little bounce yesterday was not that unexpected. The updated weather forecasts yesterday still calling for some scattered rains over this week mostly in the western and northern Corn Belt. The extended forecasts also got a little hotter and moving some moisture further north, still clipping the Corn Belt though. Feeders led the way lower for cattle as they continue to bounce back and forth at the mercy of the grains. Cash fed cattle trade still yet to develop sizeable volume with some light $144 live trade in the North yesterday. Hogs…

Date: June 27th, 2022 Livestock futures finished out last week on a higher note but steady to lower week over week. Even with the sharply lower grains, feeders could only hold their ground, still very choppy trading as fats were pressured lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade steady to lower in the South at $137 to $138 live but mostly higher in the North at $145 to $150 live and $234 to $238 dressed. A slightly friendly Cattle on Feed report after the close on Friday…On Feed right in line with expectations at 1% above a year ago, but another record on feed number for the month of June at 11.846 million head. Bullish Placements, 1.869 million, 2% below a year ago and under the…

Date: June 22nd, 2022 Feeders benefiting from the sharply lower grains yesterday with $2+ gains as live cattle futures hung around steady all day trading both sides of unchanged. Lean hogs continue to rally as cash was over $4 higher yesterday. Cash fed cattle trade starting this week, reported after the close, at steady to higher with KS at $139, TX at $138 and NE $145 live and $238 dressed. A recap of last week’s trade shows the weighted average a full $4 higher than the week previous on a total of 107,080 head of which 73% were committed for nearby delivery. We have some solid footing now heading through summer and possibly the end of the year in which I would have to call…

Date: June 21st, 2022 Livestock futures finished last week on a higher note with lean hogs able to make gains 4 out of the last 5 trading days and hit new recent highs. Live cattle continue to lead the way higher as slaughter rates remain high, fed cattle supply is current and beef demand is strong. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade last week $2 to $7 higher than the week previous. Live trade in the South ranging from $136 to $140 and in the North from $140 to a few up at $150 with dressed trade from $230 to $232 and a few up to $235. For the week, Friday June 10th through Friday June 17th, June Live Cattle +$1.82, August +$.37, August Feeder Cattle…

Date: June 17th, 2022 A mixed day for livestock futures as cattle were mostly lower and lean hogs trending higher this week. Feeders didn’t have a chance from the opening bell with a flat and low volume live cattle trading, equities sharply lower and grains sharply higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade most active Tuesday and Wednesday this week at $2 to $7 higher than a week ago. Live trade in the South ranging from $136 to $140 this week and in the North from $140 to a few up at $150 with dressed trade from $230 to $232 and a few up to $235. Premiums still prevalent in the North as we remain very current with supply. Winter Livestock - Pratt, KS Livestock Weighted…

Date: June 16th, 2022 Almost an entirely green screen for livestock futures yesterday with Live Cattle leading the way. Through yesterday afternoon the USDA confirmed 71,307 head of negotiated cash and 16,464 head of negotiated grid cattle selling nationwide in a range of $136-$149 live and $2.23-$2.36 dressed. Rallying futures and cash thanks to current showlists and strong demand. Feeders were a follower higher yesterday, and still have quite of bit of room to make up, the past couple weeks has been choppy but trending higher. There’s also been quite bit of chatter about death loss this week here in KS feedlots with some reporting up to 10,000 head dropping due to heat stress. June Live Cattle +235 @ 137.55, August +272 @ 136.80 August…

Date: June 13th, 2022 Cattle futures finished the week lower while lean hogs rebounded some but still finished the week lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was $2 to $3 higher at $137 live in the South and $142 to $143 live in North with dressed trade mostly at $225 to $226. USDA updated the meats balance sheet on Friday morning. Beef production for 2022 increased by 65 mln lbs as well as exports as imports were reduced by 30 mln lbs. Pork production increased by 180 mln lbs but exports down 60 mln while imports increased by 35 mln lbs. Total poultry production decreased by 111 mln lbs but exports increased by 30 mln. For the week, Friday June 3rd through Friday June 10th,…