The Verkhovna Rada building, home to Ukraine’s parliament, in Kiev. (Cia.gov)

Ukraine lifts barriers to exports of some farm goods

Export licenses were in place to maintain domestic supplies

Kyiv | Reuters — Ukraine has removed barriers to the export of some agricultural commodities, imposed last year to prevent food shortages, in a bid to boost foreign currency income, its government said on Tuesday. The country introduced export licences in 2022 to protect food supplies after agricultural production was hit by Russia’s invasion. While […] Read more

CME June 2023 lean hogs with 20- and 50-day moving averages and CME cash lean hog index (blue line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs pressured by cheap cash prices, softer pork prices

Nearby live cattle higher, feeder cattle down

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures declined on Wednesday, snapping a three-session advance, pressured by a discounted cash hog market and declining wholesale pork prices, traders said. CME June lean hog futures settled down 2.325 cents at 84.875 cents/lb. and the July contract fell 2.575 cents to end at 85.55 cents […] Read more


CME August 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle inch lower, nearby hogs end higher

'Cutouts slowly start to lose ground here'

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange slipped on Tuesday, pressured by softening wholesale beef prices and a lack of bullish news, traders said. Cash cattle trade was quiet, leaving some traders to focus on beef prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) priced choice cuts of beef on Tuesday […] Read more

CME July 2023 lean hogs with 20-day moving average (pink line, right column) and CME cash lean hog index (blue line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs up two per cent on firm cash markets, short-covering

June live cattle down, later months up

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange rose more than two per cent on Monday on signs of firming cash hog values, rising wholesale pork prices and short-covering. CME June lean hog futures settled up 2.05 cents at 86.15 cents/lb., with the July contract up 2.175 cents at 87.5 cents […] Read more


CME August 2023 feeder cattle with 10-, 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise on falling corn prices

Chicago lean hogs also firm

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group cattle futures contracts rallied on Friday as a government forecast for a record-large U.S. corn harvest raised expectations that feeding costs will weaken as the supply base rises. Hog futures ended firm on signs of improving values in the cash market, traders said. Most actively traded June lean hog […] Read more

Grocery store spending is up from last year but the rally in retail beef prices has come to a halt.

Fed cattle market sets new record high

Market Update: Good moisture should get pastures growing this spring, while calf prices are expected to trend higher until fall

During the third week of April, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis in the range of $222-$225/cwt delivered, which was a record high. Tighter market-ready supplies on both sides of the border along with a sharp year-over-year increase in demand have resulted a higher price structure. During March, U.S. restaurant sales […] Read more


CME June 2023 lean hogs with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures fall on weak export data

CME cattle futures mixed

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group hog futures fell on Thursday on poor export demand for pork, traders said. Cattle futures were mixed, with live cattle easing on weakening trades in the cash market. Feeder cattle contracts were supported by falling corn prices. The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday morning that beef export sales […] Read more

CME June 2023 lean hogs with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog, cattle futures fall on poor fundamental outlook

Corn prices expected to remain weak

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures fell on Wednesday, as poor demand for pork smothered any bargain-buying attempts to pull prices away from contract lows hit earlier this week. Cattle contracts also were lower, but the declines were kept in check by expectations that corn prices will remain weak and keep feeding […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Feeder market remains firm on fed cattle strength

Alberta's disastrous wildfires may disrupt calf marketings

Compared to last week, western Canadian prices for yearlings over 800 lbs. were quoted steady to $4 higher; feeders between 600-800 lbs. were relatively unchanged while calves under 600 lbs. were $5-$10 higher. The market for calves under 600 lbs. was hard to define due to limited volumes. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on […] Read more

CBOT June 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rebound on technical bounce

Chicago cattle futures firm

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures recovered from contract lows on a round of technical buying on Tuesday, traders said. Traders also noted the recent declines may spark interest in the export market. “U.S. pork has become some of the cheapest in the world and it would appear we’re indeed starting […] Read more