Reuters – American farmers are raising the fewest beef cows since at least 1971, according to U.S. government data released July 21. Drought conditions in North America have whittled herds, likely boosting costs for meatpackers. There were 29.4 million beef cows in the U.S. as of July 1, down 2.6 per cent from a year
U.S. beef cow herd falls to 52-year low
U.S. livestock: CME lean hog futures reach one-week high
For beef processors, margins are worsening
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures rose on Friday, with the hog market reaching its highest price in a week as profit margins improved for pork processors. The hog market has turned higher after dropping to a one-week low on Wednesday. Most-active October lean hog futures LHV3 ended up 1.775 cents to
U.S. grains: grain, soy futures drop on milder US weather, with eyes on Black Sea
Markets have retreated since touching multi-week highs on Monday
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Board of Trade grain and soybean futures fell to their lowest prices in more than a week on Friday on hopes that U.S. crop weather will improve and Russia will ease its attacks on Ukraine’s grain facilities, analysts said. Technical selling added pressure to prices. Heading into August, the key
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firm; remain near recent highs
A lack of fresh fundamental inputs limited the gains
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle edged higher on Wednesday, with tight U.S. supplies keeping prices near contract highs. A lack of fresh fundamental inputs limited the gains. August live cattle futures LCQ3 settled up 0.05 cent at 181.325 cents per pound, ending just below the contract high of 181.875 cents it set
US Livestock: live cattle rise on limited US supply, strong cash prices
Analysts suggest high prices, tight supply may drive meatpackers to cut hours
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures extended gains on Tuesday on worries over limited U.S. supplies. Recent strength in cash prices for cattle helped to support futures, analysts said, after ranchers shrank their herds due to drought and high feed costs. Analysts said there is chatter in the market that high
US Grains: wheat futures end firmer amid Black Sea supply worries
Ukrainian officials said Russian air strikes damaged the port of Odesa
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures finished stronger on Tuesday after Ukrainian officials said Russian air strikes damaged infrastructure at the port of Odesa, a day after Moscow quit the Black Sea grain export deal. The strikes diminished some expectations that Russia may still renew the export deal, analysts said. Markets
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn fall as Black Sea grain deal expires
Grain traders hope pact may still be renewed
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain futures fell on Monday as Russia’s exit from the Black Sea export deal failed to shock traders. Wheat and corn futures slumped after earlier rising to two-week highs when Russia announced it was leaving the agreement that lets Ukraine export grain through the Black Sea. Russia had long threatened
U.S. livestock: CME August live cattle touch new high
Hogs lower as China books higher pork output
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures set a new high in the front-month contract on Monday on technical buying and concerns over tightening U.S. supplies, analysts said. August live cattle reached its life-of-contract high of 181.6 cents/lb. before retreating to settle 0.05 cent lower at 180.125 cents/lb. (all figures US$). October
Tyson Foods announces layoffs
Reuters – Tyson Foods, which is seeking to cut costs, will lay off 228 corporate employees in Illinois who declined to relocate to the meatpacker’s Arkansas headquarters, the company confirmed June 13. The company said it will eliminate 177 positions from an office in downtown Chicago and 51 positions in Downers Grove, a suburb of
U.S. grains: Soybeans up as soyoil touches one-month high
Traders watch U.S. crop weather forecasts
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures exceeded a three-week high on Friday as demand from end-users helped push soybean oil above a one-month peak, traders said. Spillover support from soyoil’s rally lifted soybeans while corn futures slumped, traders said. Soyoil has advanced more than 22 per cent since dropping on May
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