Beef profitability improving | Producers are seeing positive margins, but aren’t making moves to expand operations
High profitability is not persuading beef producers to add cows to their herds. Brian Perillat of Canfax says it is probably the result of low long-term profits and the fact that there are more profitable ways to use an acre of prairie land than grazing or growing hay. “They have seen some positive margins, but […] Read moreMarkets — page 934
Despite profits, cattle herd isn’t expanding
Access to China advantageous for western Canadian soybeans
Established relationship Vancouver’s shorter distance to China’s growing market is an advantage as acreage grows
Western Canadian farmers who decide to grow soybeans this year shouldn’t have a problem selling them. “The size of the marketing opportunity is actually quite unique and very, very exciting,” said Marlene Boersch, a partner in Mercantile Consulting Venture. “Soybeans are probably the biggest single marketing opportunity that you will find on any of the […] Read moreLingering effects of BSE continue to limit American beef exports to Asia
DENVER, Colo. — The United States posted record beef exports in recent years, but sales might have been better if not for BSE. While 2012 was a record export year and 2013 is shaping up to be even better at $6 billion worth of sales, the curse of BSE still taints market opportunities, said Phil […] Read more
The worst is yet to come for oats, wheat prices: analyst
BRANDON — Farmers who are blue about today’s futures prices for oats and spring wheat should get ready to be bluer, says technical analyst David Drozd. He said oat futures will probably drop to $2.15 per bushel and spring wheat to $5.35. “Oats values could be worse,” Drozd told the Manitoba Oats Growers Association’s annual […] Read more
Canfax report
This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca. Signs of rally exhaustion U.S. cash fed prices in the south hit a record $147 US per […] Read more
WP Livestock Report
Hog prices creep up U.S. hog prices edged higher with rising pork values, but trade could fall off temporarily this week because of cold weather in the U.S. Midwest. In futures markets, traders bought summer hog futures in the belief that the spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus could limit hog supplies in that time […] Read more
Live cattle futures end firm, hogs slip
By Meredith Davis CHICAGO, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled firm on Thursday as investors adjusted positions ahead of the government’s annual cattle inventory report that will be released on Friday, traders said. Analysts expect Friday’s data to show the U.S. cattle herd likely fell for a seventh straight year, […] Read more
Beef weakens but live cattle futures end mostly firm, hogs higher
By Theopolis Waters CHICAGO, Jan 29 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled mostly firm on Wednesday after investors sold the February contract and bought back months as wholesale beef prices declined, traders said. The afternoon’s wholesale choice beef price, or cutout, was $232.49 per hundredweight (cwt), $3.99 lower than on Tuesday, and […] Read more
Good South American weather pressures grain prices lower
Canola futures fell about a half a percentage point Wednesday along with other sagging crop futures. Only oats posted gains. That market reflects the tight supply situation at the contract’s delivery point in the U.S., not the wider supply and demand situation. Crop markets were pressured down by generally favourable weather in South America’s soy […] Read more
Veg oil weakness an issue for crushers
(The author is a Reuters market analyst. The opinions expressed are his own.) By Gavin Maguire CHICAGO, Jan 29 – U.S. soybean oil prices may already be languishing at 3.5-year lows, but additional weakness may still unfold over the coming weeks as the record-large South American soy crop gets harvested to add to soy product […] Read more
