Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle nearby contracts on Wednesday were weakened by funds that sold, or “rolled,” June positions into back months ahead of similar moves early next week, said traders. Nearby market losses trumped futures’ bullish discount to cash prices, strong wholesale beef values and triple-digit beef packer profits. June […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle sag despite fundamentals

Germany plans to toughen conditions for insecticide use
Berlin | Reuters — Germany plans to make it more difficult for farmers to use crop insecticides in a bid to preserve biodiversity, an environment ministry document showed. “Insect biomass has fallen by more than 75 per cent in the last 27 years in Germany,” according to the paper seen by Reuters on Wednesday, saying […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Supply growth worries extend CME live cattle losses
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle finished lower for a second consecutive day on Tuesday amid concerns about increased supplies ahead, said traders. “Everybody keeps talking about this wall of cattle coming. But, feedyards moved a lot of cattle ahead of schedule to avoid lower prices later, which may ultimately create a […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Profit-taking upends CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed lower on Monday, pressured by profit-taking after three consecutive days of market advances, said traders. Worries about burdensome supplies in the coming weeks further weighed on live cattle futures, they said. “We’ve got a lot of cattle coming, but the market seems to be absorbing […] Read more

World wine output falls to 60-year low
Paris | Reuters — Global wine output fell to its lowest level in 60 years in 2017 due to poor weather conditions in the European Union that slashed production in the bloc, international wine organization OIV said. Wine production totalled 250 million hectolitres last year, down 8.6 per cent from 2016, data from the Paris-based […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle rise on strong cash markets
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose on Friday, with nearby contracts supported by firm cash markets and strong wholesale beef values, traders said. Deferred offerings rose as traders covered short positions ahead of the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly Cattle on Feed report. The report, released after the close of the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures drop
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures dropped on Thursday on profit-taking and fund liquidation ahead of the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly Cattle on Feed report. Feeder cattle followed live cattle futures lower. Hog futures were mixed on bull spreading, with the front month contract rising in thin trading while deferreds weakened. […] Read more

Supreme Court finds for provinces in ‘Free the beer’ case
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s top court on Thursday ruled against a New Brunswick man who had argued he had the constitutional right to buy beer more cheaply in a neighbouring province, saying that the law does not impose absolute free trade across the country. Dubbed the “free the beer” case in Canadian media, it […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose on Wednesday, supported by steady-to-higher early-week cash prices, traders said. Hogs drew support from higher cash and wholesale pork prices. Futures were further supported by lower week-over-week hog weights. It’s a “good sign that these weights are coming down,” said Dan Norcini, an independent […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle rise on strong packer margins
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures firmed on Tuesday, bouncing back from Monday’s declines. Traders said good profit margins at packers supported the gains. April live cattle closed 0.9 cent/lb. higher at 118.05 cents (all figures US$). The contract hit its highest since March 21. June ended up 0.725 cent, to […] Read more