CBOT March 2021 corn with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: CBOT corn touches 7-1/2-year high

Chicago wheat, soybeans down on profit-taking

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose 1.4 per cent on Wednesday, hitting a 7-1/2-year high with the market focused on prospects for tight global supplies after the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut production estimates for the U.S., Brazil and Argentina. “The number on corn was a game changer yesterday,” said Dan Smith, senior […] Read more

CME February 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 30- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog, live cattle futures mixed on feed cost concerns

Bargain buying lifts March feeders

Chicago | Reuters — Nearby U.S. hog and live cattle futures weakened on Wednesday, weighed down by prospects for rising feed costs due to higher prices for corn, soybeans and wheat. But the livestock futures market was strong for many deferred contracts as traders expressed concerns about supplies tightening by the end of the year. […] Read more


CBOT March 2021 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Futures surge to highest since 2014 as USDA cuts supply outlook

Wheat futures at six-year high; corn, soy at 6-1/2 year highs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn, soybean and wheat futures surged to fresh multi-year highs on Tuesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said 2020 U.S. corn and soy harvests were smaller than expected and stocks of key crops were thinner that previously thought. Corn jumped by as much as five per cent, while […] Read more

CME February 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures rise as corn surge seen squeezing supply

Cash prices pressure nearby live cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures firmed Tuesday on higher cash hog prices and improving pork packer margins and as soaring feed costs stoked concerns about tighter hog supplies. Corn futures prices surged more than five per cent on Tuesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) slashed its 2020 harvest estimate, with […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Higher feed grain prices continue to pressure feeders

Compared to mid-December, western Canadian yearlings traded $3-$5 lower; mid-weight calves are down $4-$6 while calves under 550 lbs. remained firm. Buyers exhibited a defensive tone on heavier yearlings and discounts were more severe on fleshier cattle last week. There is absolutely no risk appetite for 850-plus-lb. cattle at this time of year. Demand for […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Futures slip on South American rains

USDA report seen cutting U.S. soy, corn supply estimates

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures slipped from 6-1/2-year highs on Monday on crop-boosting rains in South America and as investors squared positions ahead of eagerly awaited U.S. government crop forecast data due on Tuesday. Corn and wheat futures also pulled back from multi-year peaks posted last week as the U.S. dollar firmed and […] Read more


CME February 2021 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle sink on profit-taking, technical selling

Lean hogs, feeder cattle mixed

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures fell on Monday in a profit-taking and technical-selling setback amid concerns about weaker demand for cattle and beef, traders said. Position rolling by funds, as they closed out long positions in the spot month and bought deferred contracts on the second day of the five-session “Goldman roll” period, […] Read more

CME February 2021 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures drift lower on technical selling

Back months in hogs, cattle draw speculators' interest

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures closed lower on Friday on light technical selling, with the spot February contract pressured as speculators rolled long positions into forward months, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) February live cattle futures settled down 0.5 cent at 114.475 cents/lb. (all figures US$). Friday was the first day of […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Soybeans to 6-1/2-year top on expectations of tightening stocks

Corn futures up, wheat retreats

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures resumed their rally on Friday after a light setback a day earlier, climbing to 6-1/2-year highs on signs of fresh export demand and expectations that key U.S. crop reports next week will indicate tightening global supplies. Corn futures also rose, hovering near multi-year highs set this week above […] Read more

CME March 2021 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle end mixed, feeders firm

Cattle take cues from pause in corn rally

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures closed narrowly mixed on Thursday with the spot February contract drifting lower in rangebound trade, awaiting direction from cash markets, while back months firmed on optimism about the U.S. economy, traders said. Feeder cattle futures rose as prices for corn, the main feed grain for cattle, retreated from […] Read more