(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Lower beef production supports cash feeder market

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged; calf prices traded $2 on either side of week-ago levels. December and February live cattle futures have dropped $8-$10 off the highs while feed grain values have remained firm. Buyers were on the defensive this past week, given the softer outlook for fed cattle […] Read more

CBOT December 2021 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans climb

Wheat up on global supply concerns

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures climbed on Wednesday, supported by strength in the crude oil market and firming wheat futures. Wheat climbed as Russia joined France and Canada this week in reducing its production forecast for wheat at a time of strong global demand. Soybeans firmed, though gains were limited as canceled exports […] Read more


CME December 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs hit six-month lows

Chicago cattle futures rebound

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures dropped to their lowest prices in more than six months on Tuesday, while cattle futures recovered a day after hitting June lows on concerns about a fire at a major Nebraska beef plant. The hog market extended recent losses under pressure from concerns about the […] Read more

CBOT December 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat firms on global supply cuts

Corn inches higher as U.S. crop ratings decline

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures firmed two per cent on Tuesday, strengthened by global supply concerns amid strong demand, while a weaker U.S. dollar supported U.S. trade. Corn inched higher after a weekly decline in U.S crop conditions reported by the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA). Soybeans traded both sides of even before easing […] Read more


CME December 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle drop as fire closes JBS plant

Lean hogs extend slump

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures fell to their lowest prices since June on Monday on concerns that U.S. ranchers could temporarily lose a place to deliver their livestock for slaughter after a fire damaged a JBS USA beef plant. JBS, owned by Brazilian firm JBS SA, halted production at the plant […] Read more

CBOT November 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans ease as large crops loom

Wheat drops on easing supply worries

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybeans ended lower on Monday, pressured as farmers begin harvesting what is expected to be a near-record crop, though stronger-than-expected weekly export sales mitigated losses. Corn also saw harvest pressure, while wheat dropped on easing concerns about global supplies. Chicago Board of Trade most-active soybeans lost 1-3/4 cents to end […] Read more


CBOT November 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans firm, fail to erase earlier losses

Wheat around seven-week low as world supply concerns ease

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures firmed on Friday, following the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly supply and demand report showing a drop in harvested U.S. acres, though much of the reports findings had been anticipated by earlier trading. Corn traded near even, while wheat edged lower after touching a new seven-week low, pressured by […] Read more

CME October 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and CME lean hog cash index (blue line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures fall as pork demand softens

CME cattle down despite firmer cash trade

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures fell for the sixth consecutive day on Friday, pressured by lower pork demand coinciding with larger hog supplies, analysts said. The hog market also felt the effects of investment funds liquidating long positions, traders said. “We saw a fair amount of weakness. This market has been […] Read more


CME October 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs hit lowest in more than six months

Cash market bearish on cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures fell for the fifth day in a row on Thursday, with the front-month contract hitting its lowest since March 2 on a continuous basis. The hog market was under pressure from long liquidation by investment funds, traders said. Cattle futures were mixed, with live cattle edging […] Read more

CBOT December 2021 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybean, wheat fall ahead of USDA report

StatsCan stocks report dragged on wheat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell to their lowest in 7-1/2 months on Thursday, under pressure from expectations that the U.S. government will raise its domestic production forecast, traders said. Wheat futures sank 2.4 per cent to their lowest in more than a month on follow-through technical selling after a Canadian report on […] Read more