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U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise as traders cover short positions

Chicago | Reuters – CME Group hog futures firmed on Friday as traders covered short positions after prices fell 5.6 percent over the last two sessions, though demand concerns capped gains. A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report showed that pork export sales in the week ended June 16 totalled 27,600 tonnes, unchanged from a week earlier. […] Read more



U.S. livestock: Hog futures retreat from two-month high; cattle also fall

Chicago | Reuters – CME Group cattle futures fell on Wednesday, as surprise deliveries in Texas showed that cash market supplies were higher than expected, traders said. Hog futures were lower, snapping a streak of four straight higher closes as traders locked in profits from the market’s move to a two-month high. CME July lean […] Read more

CME July 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20- and 50-day moving averages (pink and brown lines) and CME cash lean hog index (purple line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise to two-month high

CME cattle futures mixed

Chicago | Reuters — CME hog futures rose to their highest in two months on Tuesday as slowdowns on processing lines raised concerns about tightening supplies. Cattle futures were mixed, with feeder cattle contracts firming as falling corn prices improved prospects of cheaper feed and strong profit margins for packers. Live cattle contracts ended slightly […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Barley price forecasts enhance feeder cattle demand

Recent rains nearly guarantee at least average yields

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged. Heifer and steer calves were quoted steady to $3 lower on average but the market was harder to define due to limited numbers. Small packages of calves of various quality resulted in the wide-ranging price structure. Buying interest for grassers appears to have subsided. […] Read more

Beef producers know to expect the unexpected when cattle are involved.

Choosing safe days to graze

Using the VBP+ Record of Herbicide or Pesticide Use on Pasture or Harvested Feed to maintain food safety

Pesticides are important tools available to control undesirable species on pasture and cropland. Herbicides, fungicides and insecticides can boost forage or crop yields and reduce toxic or unpalatable weeds in a stand. However, producers must pay attention to pesticide labels to avoid risks to food safety and animal health and performance. (see pesticide record sample […] Read more


Traditional extension services have declined significantly.

Knowledge and Technology Transfer more useful, more relevant

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

When the Beef Cattle Research Council formed nearly 25 years ago, we simply funded research projects and relied on researchers and provincial extension services to help producers learn about and adopt relevant results on their operations. We deliberately didn’t do much extension because we didn’t want to give governments an excuse to reduce their extension […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (pink line) and October 2022 live cattle (dark red line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up on rising cash prices

Lean hogs up in pre-long weekend trade

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed stronger on Friday on rising cash prices, while lean hog futures hit two-week highs, analysts said. Feeder cattle futures also ended firmer. The markets advanced as U.S. stocks bounced back from a sharp selloff in the prior session. Losses in equities and concerns about […] Read more


Significant and persistent market access barriers continue to negatively affect the Canadian beef industry and the broader agricultural sector.

CCA reports: CCA pushing forward on global trade

From the June 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

A six-year streak of hitting record export values for Canadian beef is an impressive feat with total beef exports reaching $4.5 billion in 2021! We are proud to be a world leader in producing high-quality, sustainable beef, with over 50 per cent of our production being exported to over 58 countries. Trade adds significant value […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (pink line) and June 2022 live cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle mixed on uncertain consumer demand

Export strength supports lean hogs

Indianapolis | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were mixed on Thursday, with nearby contracts firming, while the most-active cattle futures eased pressured by inflationary concerns, though markets remain underpinned by tight cattle supplies across much of the U.S. Plains, analysts said. “The weakness comes from the uncertainty of the economy – how […] Read more