Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: August 2, 2023 Cattle futures finished triple digits higher yesterday, although it wasn’t right out of the gates and still seems to be a bit of a delayed response with corn sharply lower the past few trading sessions. Beef prices were sharply higher in the morning report which looked to be the catalyst for the strength in futures which continued into the close. Still only light volume negotiated cash fed cattle trade so far this week in the North at $294 dressed which is steady with last week’s trade. Lean hogs settled with minor losses yet still scored new recent highs and look to test resistance levels from earlier this spring. Oklahoma National Stockyards Feeder Cattle - Oklahoma City, OK Livestock Weighted Average Report…

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Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: July 31, 2023 Cattle futures finished last week with small gains but held losses week over week as lean hogs were triple digits higher on Friday which secured weekly gains. The spot August lean hog contract was the leader higher, gapping higher on Friday, and hitting a new 4-month high. Supporting the rally has been very good weekly export sales, stronger cash prices and overall stronger pork prices. The only negotiated cash fed cattle to report from last week was some very light volume in the WCB at $186 live and $295 dressed which is $2-$3 lower than the week previous. KS and TX feedlots held firm asking $180 to $182 live into Friday afternoon as packers also held firm only bidding $176 to…

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Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: July 26, 2023 Tuesday was a mixed day for all the Ag futures. Grains started higher but finished the overnight lower which allowed cattle to take a crack at triple digits higher. Those gains did not hold though as grains crept back up, corn finishing with only minor losses, and feeders steady to lower nearby but holding small gains from March forward. Beef prices have stabilized yet there’s still some caution in testing last week’s contract highs for fats without seeing higher cash trade again this week. So far this week, only very light volume has been reported in IA at $188 to $190 live which is steady to $2 higher. Kingsville Livestock Auction - Kingsville, MO Livestock Weighted Average Report for 7/25/2023 -…

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Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: July 25, 2023 Livestock futures all lower yesterday with corn sharply higher and spillover pressure from the bearish June placements reported after the close last Friday. Markets should settle down, if grains calm some this week. Live cattle still supported by higher cash trade last week, mostly $180 live in the South and $295 dressed in the North. Top end trade though reached up to $187 live and $300 dressed. Some very light trade already reported this week in Iowa at $188 to $190 live, steady to $2 higher than last week. Over these next couple weeks and heading in Labor Day, packers will be balancing slaughter levels with the smaller fed cattle supply to try and stabilize boxed beef prices. NATIONAL FEEDER &;…

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Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: July 19, 2023 Livestock futures were mixed yesterday with live cattle and only the front month lean hog contract holding triple digits gains while feeders posted triple digit losses. Equites were sharply higher supporting live cattle as was corn which pressured the feeders. No cash fed cattle yet this week. Friday will bring a couple fundamentally significant reports as USDA will release its monthly Cattle on Feed and semi-annual Cattle inventory. The average trade estimates looking for July 1 on feed and June placements at 98% vs. a year ago and June marketings at 95%. Joplin Regional Stockyards Feeder Cattle - Carthage, MO Livestock Weighted Average Report for 7/17/2023 - Final This Week: 6,278 Last Week: 12,676 Last Year: 9,551 Compared to last week…

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Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: July 17, 2023 Cattle futures ended last week sharply higher locking in week over week gains while lean hogs closed with small losses and still held weekly gains. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade last week was very light as of Friday afternoon. Trade in the South steady to $2 higher at $180 live and steady to $1 higher in North at $186 live and $291 dressed. Weekly closes for livestock futures and meats…August Live Cattle +$3.17, October +$3.25, August Feeders +$1.22, September +$.62, July Lean Hogs +$2.97, August +$1.05. Choice Boxed Beef -$10.96 at $305.94 and Pork Carcass Cutout +$7.61 at $115.55. Oklahoma Weekly Cattle Auction Summary Livestock Weighted Average Report for 7/9/2023 – 7/15/2023 Receipts: Current Week 26,564 Last Week 23,291 Last Year…

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Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: July 5, 2023 Cattle futures on Monday were mixed while lean hogs shot triple digits higher supported by higher cash and pork prices. Live cattle still hesitant to retest the contract highs from a month ago without higher cash trade. Packers should be a little short bought this week as trade and totals last week were spotty at best. Feeders traded both sides of unchanged on Monday flip flopping with corn doing the same. The National Feeder & Stocker Summary for last week reported steers and heifers trading $3 lower to $2 higher compared to the week previous, although most of the lower numbers were early week reports. Due to light receipts and many barns closed this week, there will not be another national…

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Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: July 3, 2023 Livestock futures were higher almost every day last week as corn crashed hard all week. Feeders the leader higher on Friday and for the week. The nearby or spot August contract finally able to take out the contract high from earlier this month and also set a new all-time spot high at $248.07. The previous all-time spot feeder high was hit in October 2014 at $245.20. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade last week held steady to $2 lower. In the South, majority of the trade reported at $178 to $179 live and in the North from $182 to $183 live and $290 dressed. Weekly closes for livestock futures and meats…June Live Cattle +$4, August +$6.40, August Feeders +$13.62, September +$13.12, July…

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Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: June 28, 2023 Cattle futures were sharply higher on Tuesday, led by feeders with grains sharply lower. The back and forth or cat and mouse game between corn futures and feeders certainly continues to remain volatile. August feeders gapped higher at the open yesterday, the second such move in the past week and the fourth gap move over this past month. Fundamentally for cattle this week, cash fed cattle has already started trading with some light volume in KS & TX at $178 to $179 live, $1 to $2 lower than last week. Beef prices hitting their seasonal turn lower as buyers have fully booked and stocked for the 4th of July. Lean hogs continued cautiously higher yesterday and await some additional fundamental news…

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Morning Ag Markets – Matt Hines

Date: June 26, 2023 Livestock futures mixed to end last week but all still locked in week over week losses. Feeders led the way higher, triple digits higher actually with corn sharply lower. This could be short lived though due to the bearish Cattle on Feed report from USDA after the close. Cattle on feed totaled 11.6 million head on June 1st, down 3% from a year ago and in line with expectations. May marketings totaled 1.95 million head, 2% above last year and also in line with expectations. May placements though at 1.96 million head were 5% above a year ago and 3% above the average trade estimates. $2 to $4 lower negotiated cash fed cattle trade again last week. In the South, majority…

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