Author: ploewen

Date: December 2nd, 2020 Cattle futures were able to hold small gains yesterday as hogs were mixed. Cash feedlot trade is still undeveloped so far this week, only some light clean up trade in the North has been reported at $110 live and $172 dressed. Asking prices are again starting at $112 this week as some very light trade did peak at $112 to end last week but most was done at $111. Feeders have broken through for new recent highs as corn has been under pressure. Joplin Regional Stockyards Feeder Cattle - Carthage, MO Livestock Weighted Average Report for 11/30/2020 Total Receipts: 9,399 Last Week: 10,922 Last Year: 6,154 Compared to last week, steer calves under 650 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 higher, steers over…

When you couple a major holiday week with the end of a month, things are bound to get a little erratic and then jumping on top of the dog pile was a full moon happening at the same time. It created an interesting day in the grain and oilseed trade yesterday that included a LOT of pressure. Meats didn’t really do much. We had less than $1 range from high to low in the front month live cattle and a close that was mildly lower in everything. Feeders finished on the plus side of unchanged and had a broader range, no doubt aided by the sinking corn market. We’re kind of sitting at a crossroads in the cattle. The transition from fall to winter meant…

Date: November 30th, 2020 Livestock futures backed off a bit on Friday but still finished strong week over week. Cash feedlot trade in the Southern Plains, compared to last week, mostly reported live purchases traded $1 higher at $111. In Nebraska, when compared to last week, live purchases traded steady to $1 higher from $110 to $111 and dressed purchases traded $2 higher at $174. Beef weekly export sales were a net reduction due to cancellations from South Korea, Mexico, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Pork sales were friendly and actual shipments were bullish. NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER SUMMARY - WEEK ENDING 11/27/2020 RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total This Week: 112,300 35,300 1,600 149,200 This Week: 321,900 45,400 9,800 377,100 Year Ago: 58,600 25,900 100 84,600…

Date: November 27th, 2020 Cattle futures still in a rally mode ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday break while lean hogs were also higher on Wednesday trying to break out of the recent range bound trading pattern. Cash feedlot trade did pick up on Wednesday with steady to higher trade compared to a week ago. Sothern Plains trading took place at $111 live which is $1 higher than last week. Trade in Nebraska was still light at mostly $110 live, steady with a week ago, but dressed trade up to $174 which is $2 higher than a week ago. Winter Livestock - La Junta, CO Livestock Weighted Average Report for 11/24/2020 Total Receipts: 1,719 Last Week: 1,909 Last Year: 1,063 Compared with last week: Steer and…

Date: November 23rd, 2020 Livestock futures finished last week mixed. Cash feedlot trade last week steady at mostly $110 live and $172 on a dressed basis. Beef prices continue to rally, up nearly $30 so far this month and exports are improving. Last week’s sales were a new marketing year high. All is tremendously supportive yet futures are flat and it is hard to bullish nearby cattle with supplies available and COVID surging. USDA Cattle on Feed after the close on Friday reported 12.0 million head on feed as of November 1st which is 101% vs. last year but slightly under the average trade estimates. Placements in October were friendly at 2.19 million head, 11 percent below 2019. Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled…

Date: November 18th, 2020 Livestock futures traded higher yesterday, most contracts triple digits higher as fall crops were also higher and wheat lower. Outside markets were mixed with equities lower but the US$ lower as well. Beef prices continue to rally which is supportive, yet yesterday’s move higher does not impact the technical picture at all as cattle and hog futures remain choppy. Cash feedlot trade so far this week reported on light volume at $110 live which is steady with last week. Later this morning, the Fed Cattle Exchange online auction will be held with only 930 head consigned. Joplin Regional Stockyards Feeder Cattle - Carthage, MO Livestock Weighted Average Report for 11/16/2020 Total Receipts: 9,010 Last Week: 5,437 Last Year: 7,812 Compared to…

Date: November 16th, 2020 Livestock futures finished last week mostly triple digits lower. Cattle futures shot higher on Monday, trading sideways the rest of the week and even with beef prices and cash feedlot trade higher, futures could not sustain the rally. Cash feedlot trade last week done mostly at $110 live, $3 higher than the week previous with dressed trade at $172, $5 higher. Pork prices have been trending lower recently while export sales and shipments remain strong. NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER SUMMARY - WEEK ENDING 11/13/2020 RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total This Week: 305,300 75,100 10,400 390,800 Last Week: 222,900 26,800 18,800 268,500 Year Ago: 299,000 51,200 4,000 354,200 Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher, with instances…

Date: November 9th, 2020 Cattle futures held small gains to end the week as lean hog futures were triple digits lower. Weekly export sales were again friendly for both beef and pork last week. Cash feedlot trade moved higher than the week previous with futures and beef prices higher. Trade in the South reported at mostly $107 live which is $1 higher than the week previous. Nebraska trade was reported at $107 live which was $2 to $4 higher and dressed trade at $167, $4 to $9 higher. NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER SUMMARY - WEEK ENDING 11/06/2020 RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total This Week: 222,900 26,800 18,800 268,500 Last Week: 187,500 11,100 2,100 200,700 Year Ago: 360,400 49,600 23,900 433,900 Compared to last week, steer…

Date: November 4th, 2020 Outside markets were friendly yesterday, equities higher, energies higher and US$ lower but it still was not enough to keep livestock futures in the green. Cash feedlot has not started yet this week as feedlots may hold a little firmer with packers short bought heading into this week with such light volume purchased a week ago. The election results, when known, will be the main influence on all markets as not only the Presidency but control in Congress is up for grabs this cycle. Neither has been called as many states are still counting votes from mail in ballots and some even allowing those to arrive and be counted. Joplin Regional Stockyards Feeder Cattle - Carthage, MO Livestock Weighted Average Report…