Author: ploewen

Date: August 27th, 2019 President Trump met with other world leaders over the weekend at the G7. The U.S. and Japan have agreed in principle to the core elements of a trade deal that does not require congressional approval like the USMCA deal that is on hold in the U.S. House. Japan has promised to purchase more beef and corn. The market mover though to start the week was the administration stating that the Chinese called and asked to get back to the table and stating they are willing to resolve the trade dispute. This turned the limit lower hogs from Friday to hit the expanded limit higher yesterday. Cattle futures held triple digit gains throughout the day with additional support from a friendly Cattle…

Date: August 26th, 2019 The additional round of tariffs announced by China and possibly a cancellation of the upcoming September meeting pressured all the markets to end the week. Lean hogs and soybeans of course under the most pressure. Cash feedlot trade in the South was reported at $106 live, $1 higher than the week previous. Dressed trade in the North was mostly $3 higher at $175, some deferred delivery up to $178 and live trade at $108 to $110, steady to $2 higher. After the close a friendly Cattle on Feed report compared to pre report estimates with Aug 1 on feed at 11.1 million head, 100.2% vs. a year ago, still the largest ever on feed for August 1st. July placements totaled 1.71…

Date: August 21st, 2019 Livestock trade was sharply higher again Tuesday, but yesterday’s triple digit gains held for live cattle, feeders still slipped back from $2+ higher to finish with small gains. Lean hogs held decent gains but still holding a lower trend. Salebarn activity is picking back up after the market collapsed last week but still slow with triple digit heat this week. Cash feedlot trade at a standstill so far this week with larger showlists reported available. The Fed Cattle Exchange online auction will be held later this morning with 426 head consigned. OKC West Livestock Auction - El Reno, OK Livestock Weighted Average Report for 8/20/2019 – Final report including feeder cattle will be released later today Calf Receipts: 700 Last Week…

Date: August 20th, 2019 Livestock trade was steady to higher to start this week. Cattle futures opened higher, fats ran $1+ higher and feeders $2+ higher in the morning hours but both faded as the day progressed. Lean hog futures opened higher and proceeded to add value throughout the trading session. Beef packer margins continue to climb and provide incentive to ramp up the chainspeeds along with another active weekend schedule. Joplin Regional Stockyards Feeder Cattle - Carthage, MO Livestock Weighted Average Report for 8/19/2019 Total Receipts: 1,749 Last Week: 2,533 Last Year: 5,170 Compared to last week, steer and heifer calves steady on a limited test, yearling steers 1.00 to 2.00 higher, yearling heifers steady. Demand moderate to good, supply light. Oklahoma National Stockyards…

Date: August 19th, 2019 All the damage was done early last week in both livestock and grain futures. The Tyson cattle slaughter plant fire in Holcomb cut 6,000 head per day capacity. This was seen a major blow early but has since been reported the plant will only be down a few weeks vs. months. Cattle futures crashed lower as beef prices shot higher pushing already positive packer margins higher. Cash feedlot trade in the South was reported $5 lower than the week previous at $105 live. Dressed trade in the North was $10 lower at $172 and $105 to $106 live trade, down $6 to $7. NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 08/16/2019 RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total This Week 104,800…

Date: August 9th, 2019 Export sales and shipments this past week were friendly for beef while pork sales were light, yet China still made a small purchase. Livestock futures were mixed staying in the green for most of the trading session supported by higher equities but not allowed to rally too much with corn showing some strength the past couple days. Light volume cash feedlot trade continued mostly in the North at $114 live and $180 to $185 dressed, still holding steady compared to a week ago. OKC West Livestock Auction - El Reno, OK Livestock Weighted Average Report for 8/7/2019 Total Receipts: 6,759 Last Week: 8,051 Last Year: 1,400 Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold mostly steady. Feeder heifers traded 2.00-3.00 higher. Demand…

Date: August 7th, 2019 Meat complex trade that had some incredibly large high to low ranges on Monday didn’t disappoint yesterday either, although the ranges weren’t quite as dramatic. October hogs traded $4.30 from high to low and finished close to $3 lower, along with triple digit lower closes in most of the rest of the hog contracts as well. Live and feeder cattle traded both sides of unchanged after starting the day moderately higher. Fats ended up close to $1 lower and feeder were mixed. Regarding the China news and meat exports, obviously pork stands to lose the most business and the futures action reflected that over the last two sessions. Cattle got good news from US and EU beef export channels being opened…

It’s not like anyone needed to throw any more gasoline on the volatility fire that erupted last week in the lean hog futures market, but that’s exactly what happened on Monday. August hogs had a fairly wild ride, trading in a $4 range from high to low and closed triple digits higher, along with the October contact up triples as well. The next three months out were close to or a little over triple digits lower. October hogs actually had an $8.40 range yesterday from high to low and that’s a monster. Not to be too far outdone, September feeder cattle had a $6.90 range from high to low, yet only one contract was triples in any direction on the net changes at the finish…

Date: July 31st, 2019 Livestock futures were under pressure most of yesterday led again by triple digit lower hogs. Lean hog futures topped out mid last week and since have lost over $5 on the nearby August contract and $8 on the heaviest volume October contract. Feeders were able to hold small gains with corn lower while fats were off a bit as fresh buying has stalled here the past few trading sessions. Cash feedlot trade in Nebraska and Western Corn Belt reported so far this week at $183 to $185 dressed, steady with last week. The Fed Cattle Exchange online auction will be held later this morning with 475 head consigned compared to 378 head last week of which none sold. Oklahoma National Stockyards…

Triple digit lower closes create another crazy day of trade for the hog market once again. In the last two weeks, pork cutouts are up more than $12 and cash hogs are $16 higher in the same timeframe. In the midst of that rally there have been some steep drops, particularly in some of the deferred futures months and Monday’s action fit the profile once again. Multiple hog months were down over $2 and the October contract finished down the limit of $3. Live and feeder cattle spent time on both sides of unchanged, but finished in the red across all but one unchanged month and that was the spot August live cattle contract. There was some confusion in that action as well given the…