Author: ploewen

Date: February 19th, 2019 Cash feedlot trade held only steady last week at $125 live and $199 to $200 on a dressed basis in the North. Cattle futures were weaker last week with fats pressing the higher trend line and feeders still holding a lower trend so far this year. Lean hog futures finished higher for the week with the February contract expiring, April still holding a lower trend but June gapping higher and holding above the $76 level. NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 02/15/2019 RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total Last Week 223,800 78,200 3,600 305,600 This Week 259,700 56,100 22,300 338,100 Last Year 238,000 62,900 2,200 303,100 Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold 2.00 lower to 2.00 higher…

Date: February 6th, 2019 Feeders and hogs had an inside trading day yesterday after the triple digit gains Monday while live cattle futures look the healthiest building on small gains after finding support last week just below $125 and continuing the higher trend. Only a few hundred head of fat cattle have traded thus far this week in IA at $197 to $198 dressed. The Fed Cattle Exchange online auction later this morning only has 294 head consigned after the last couple weeks of decent numbers but little to no movement. It wouldn’t surprise me to see higher cash feedlot trade this week with a jump in beef prices, increased volume in exports, smaller show lists and an expectation for slaughter volume to move higher…

Date: February 4th, 2019 The only cash feedlot trade to confirm by the close on Friday was at $198 to $199 dressed in the North which was $1 to $2 higher than the previous week. All bids at $122 live in KS and TX were passed which worked out for feedlots with packers paying $123 to $124 live in both late on Friday. Packers continue to slow down the chains with only 593K head killed last week compared to 610K head the week prior. NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 02/01/2019 RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total This Week 210,700 53,900 3,500 268,100 Last Week 186,800 35,500 32,100 254,400 Last Year 282,200 43,700 1,000 326,900 Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold…

Date: January 30th, 2019 Fairly tight daily ranges yesterday for livestock futures with a mixed finish. The recent snowstorms and extreme cold temps along with firm beef prices continue to be supportive. There just wasn’t a lot of buyer interest to sustain a decent rally yesterday for live cattle. Feeders continue to trend lower and lean hogs continue to collapse sharply lower into yet again new recent lows yesterday. Oklahoma National Stockyards - Oklahoma City, OK Livestock Weighted Average Report for 1/28/2019 Receipts Last Reported Year Ago 10,629 4,489 7,501 Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold 2.00-6.00 higher. Feeder heifers 2.00-4.00 higher. Steer and heifer calves sold mostly 5.00-6.00 higher. Demand good to very good. Quality average to attractive with an abundance of uniform,…

1.29.19 Loewen morning ag markets

Date: January 28th, 2019 Cash feedlot trade last week at $122-$123 live, $197 dressed NE, steady with a week ago, $122-$123 live in KS and mostly $123 live in TX, steady to $2 lower than the week previous. Chainspeeds reduced again, down another 10K head compared to last week and some 30K+ head lower than a month ago yet beef prices still firm and $2 to $3 higher than the week previous. NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 01/25/2019 RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total This Week 186,800 35,500 32,100 254,400 Last Week 267,700 63,600 3,800 334,800 Last Year 283,400 83,800 20,200 387,400 Compared to last week, steers and heifers were uneven; with early week sales quoted steady to 5.00 lower and mid…

1.24.19 Loewen morning ag markets

Date: January 23rd, 2019 Strong pressure and sharp losses in cattle futures yesterday as hogs were mixed. Beef prices were still higher yesterday but there are concerns building about long term summer and fall beef demand. There was also a 1,000 head sale yesterday in KS at $122 live, $2 lower than last week that sent a shockwave through the cattle markets. There was also some light movement in NE at $123 live and $196 dressed, $1 to $2 lower. Showlists do appear to be larger this week as cash trade volume was light a week ago. Oklahoma National Stockyards - Oklahoma City, OK Livestock Weighted Average Report for 1/21/2019 Receipts Week Ago Year Ago 4,489 9,166 9,868 Compared to last week: Feeder steers and…

Date: January 16th, 2019 New highs for nearby fat cattle futures while feeders and hogs continue to tread water with small gains yesterday after Monday’s sharply lower moves. Showlists appear to be larger this week but packers still need inventory or will have to slow down the chains. Winter weather is taking a toll on big chunk of the feeders in the South and could provide enough pressure this week on cattle owners to push inventory out sooner rather than holding in hopes for higher money again later in the week. Chinese Ag Ministry data for December shows the country's pig herd off -4.8% from the year ago month, while the sow herd was down -8.3% in December 2018 versus Dec 2017. For three consecutive…

Date: January 14th, 2019 Light cash feedlot trade during the week led to another standoff for Friday. This time feeders were the beneficiary with futures steady to higher and packers paying $1 higher at $124 live and $2 higher at $197 on a dressed basis. Lean hog futures finished lower to end the week but both cattle and hog futures were higher compared to a week ago. NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 01/11/2019 RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total This Week 366,900 65,000 154,400 586,300 Last Week 79,300 23,200 7,400 109,900 Last Year 372,300 39,800 118,200 530,300 Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold uneven, from 4.00 lower to 1.00 higher. This week's total receipts on this report is the largest…