U.S. consumer purchasing has slowed, which means slower movement of cattle to beef processors. This will likely mean declining prices, says Jerry Klassen, market analyst.
Tag Archives beef prices
Beef cattle prices start to reduce demand
The Markets: Watch U.S. consumer buying trends for signs of the cattle market’s future
Cattle market volatility increases as tariff uncertainty continues
Resumption of U.S./Mexico cattle trade will temper market upside
At the time of writing this article, the implementations of U.S. tariffs and Canadian retaliatory measures were delayed for 30 days. However, the threat remains. This is the wild card moving forward.
Tariffs not on U.S. rancher radar
Cattle groups take their advocacy directly to U.S. livestock producers
Glacier FarmMedia — The Canadian Cattle Association says the threatened 25 per cent tariffs would cut Canadian wholesale beef prices by 13 per cent, but effects would be tempered slightly by a low Canadian dollar. “Obviously a huge blow to the benchmark beef price,” CCA vice-president Tyler Fulton says. “I think many of us would […] Read more
FCC’s charts to consider in 2025
On a per-acre basis, equipment costs have risen faster than farm revenue
Editor’s Note: Following are excerpts from a Jan. 15 blog post by the Economics branch of Farm Credit Canada. “As we start the new year amid new challenges, including slowing population growth and potential trade barriers, here are our top charts to help make sense of the economic environment for the agriculture and agri-food sector, […] Read more
How tariffs could influence cattle prices
The Markets: A 10 per cent tariff on Canadian cattle could be absorbed by U.S. consumer prices
During the first couple weeks of January, auction markets in Western Canada experienced a surge in sales as cow-calf producers increased selling prior to the Trump inauguration. Feeder cattle markets have been trading at record highs, which may have contributed to the feeder cattle liquidation; however, most cattle producers were selling in anticipation of U.S. […] Read more
Beef demand made seasonal highs in July
The Markets: Cattle markets have started to grind lower, but the feeder market has held
The beef market appears to have made a seasonal high during the first week of July. Wholesale choice beef prices reached up to US$329/cwt during the week ending July 6 before fading to US$319/cwt during the third week of July. Weaker wholesale values have resulted in lower U.S. fed cattle values. During the first week […] Read more
Maritime beef producers get price protection
Two-year pilot gives Maritime producers an equivalent program to the rest of the country
Producers in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and soon Nova Scotia, will have access to a program that will allow them to purchase insurance on price protection for their beef cattle in case of an unforeseen market disruption.
Lower feedlot placements support cattle market
Cow-calf producers should think about selling calves in late summer versus fall
During the last week of April, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis in the range of $256-$258 per hundredweight delivered, up $18/cwt from three weeks earlier. Alberta fed cattle basis levels have strengthened as market-ready supplies tighten. In Kansas and Texas, live sales, f.o.b. feedlot, were reported at US$182/cwt, down US$3/cwt […] Read more
Expect stronger cattle markets for third quarter
A surprise reduction in beef production could mean higher prices
During the second week of March, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $378-$380 per hundredweight (cwt) delivered. Prices f.o.b. (free on board) the feedlot in southern Alberta were quoted from $225 to $226/cwt. The market has been consolidating over the past month, as market-ready fed cattle supplies […] Read more
How consumer spending drives fed cattle prices
Here's why a small change in spending affects the beef market
Cattle producers are bombarded with charts and data from cattle inventory reports and cattle on feed surveys. During the fall of 2023, live cattle futures and were trending lower. Every analyst I was reading was focused on how low supplies were from a historical perspective; however, fed cattle prices were on a downward spiral. It’s […] Read more
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