This week, we turn to the nuts and bolts of marketing: what options do you have? How do they work? And most importantly, how do they fit into an overall strategy that maximizes opportunity while managing risk?
Tag Archives futures markets
How to use the tools to build a sound grain marketing plan
Organize your marketing strategies to balance maximizing revenue, ensuring cash flow and limiting risk
Speculators bail out of canola long positions
Tariff uncertainty tied to liquidation
Fund traders were busy liquidating long positions and putting on new bearish bets in canola as tariff uncertainty from both China and the United States weighed on the futures in early March.
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.
Using technical analysis for feeder cattle marketing
The Markets: Looking at charts from the past few months shows the market could range higher
Looking at charts from the past few months shows live cattle futures could range higher.
ICE Weekly: No news means no canola price movement
A lack of significant news has prevented canola prices at the Intercontinental Exchange to break out of its recent trading range to start 2025.
Why have cocoa futures hit record highs this year?
Futures markets have seen a record-breaking run in cocoa prices in 2024, a surge exacerbated by the hedge funds that provide much of their liquidity heading for the exit.
Fed market reflects beginning signs of herd expansion
The Markets: Beef cow numbers are still expected to decline in 2024 and 2025
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices have been trading near historical highs throughout the summer and early fall period. At the time of writing this article, larger-frame Angus steers off grass averaging 950 lbs. were trading around $320/cwt in central Alberta. Steers averaging 500 lbs. were quoted between $450/cwt and $500/cwt, depending on weaning stage and […] Read more
Markets continue to push lower
Risk premiums created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine have evaporated
Market sentiment remains bearish for most agricultural commodities, including the major crops grown in Western Canada. Prices have been declining in most markets since the recent highs were set at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Markets have gradually adjusted to the news coming from the conflict and has effectively removed […] Read more
Understanding the Commitments of Traders report
The U.S. report, released every Friday, is an important indicator of cattle market movement
Who is long? Who is short? How much of each? This is the most important market information when studying the futures markets. The Commitments of Traders (CoT) report is released every Friday afternoon by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and shows the trading positions of market participants as of Tuesday’s close. Whether you […] Read more
What moves grain futures and cash markets?
Fundamentals and futures are the underlying structure. Then add on speculators
In the next few columns, I’ll review what makes futures and cash grain markets move. I’ll touch on fundamentals, futures markets, technical and speculation. Then I’ll throw in some tariff and trade issues and add a little political mayhem, in hopes of trying to make sense of how markets act and react. Market action starts […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
