High boxed beef prices in 2021 were the result of several factors.

Dittmer: Experts analyze American fed cattle marketing

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

Texas A&M University’s Agricultural and Food Policy Center co-ordinated and has published a 201-page study authored by 17 agricultural economists and market analysts from 10 different universities, plus support from the USDA chief economist. Entitled U.S. Beef Supply Chain: Issues and Challenges, the study was commissioned in August of 2020 by the U.S. House Agriculture […] Read more



CBOT January 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, dark green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn sag before USDA report

Traders await department's crop and inventory forecasts

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean and corn futures slumped on Monday as traders adjusted positions before the release of key U.S. Department of Agriculture crop and inventory forecasts on Tuesday.   Big U.S. harvests, near-perfect weather for planting in Brazil and signs of slowing purchases by top buyer China are bolstering […] Read more

The Canadian calf crop has been relatively flat in the past three years and we’re not likely going to see much of a change for 2021.

Where are we in the cattle cycle?

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

I’ve received many calls from cow-calf producers inquiring about the U.S. and cattle cycle. The recent droughts in the U.S. and Western Canada have resulted in a year-over-year increase in the cow slaughter. Many producers in Canada and the U.S. have liquidated a portion of their herds due to limited feed supply. At the same […] Read more


Detail on the Chicago Board of Trade building. (Kevinstack22/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: Soy, corn strength impressive for time of year

MarketsFarm — Soybean and corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade have posted solid gains over the week ended Wednesday, recovering after bearish yield and stocks data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture sparked a selloff a week earlier. Terry Reilly of Futures International in Chicago used “pretty impressive” to describe the latest strength […] 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 climbs on export data, acreage worries

CBOT soy, wheat also firm

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures ended higher on Monday, rallying from early declines, as traders focused on stronger-than-expected weekly U.S. export inspections data and fears that rising fertilizer prices could limit corn plantings in the coming year. Soybean futures also rose, buoyed by strength in soyoil and global vegetable oil markets. Wheat futures […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Corn, soy bounce on technical buying, potential export demand

CBOT wheat turns higher on Paris rally

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn and soybean futures prices rose on Friday, supported by technical buying and renewed hopes of export demand, while wheat prices were boosted by a rally in the European market, traders said. Prices of corn and soybeans have recovered since falling sharply following higher-than-expected supply forecasts from the U.S. Department […] 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: Futures see ‘dead cat bounce’

Traders watching potential for increase grain export demand

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn and soybean futures prices crept up on Thursday, finding chart support after sharp losses over the past two sessions on higher-than-expected U.S. grain supply forecasts. It has been a rocky week for the corn and soybean markets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Tuesday released estimates of both […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Corn, soy futures fall on big grain stocks, export pace

CBOT wheat falls on profit-taking

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures dipped to a four-week low on Wednesday as the grain markets continued to feel pressure from higher than expected forecasts of U.S. supplies, traders said. Soybean futures fell further, a day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projected U.S. soybean and corn ending stocks were above the […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. considers faster hog slaughter paces based on staffing

Faster speeds seen as increasing injuries

Chicago | Reuters — The Biden administration is considering a proposal that could allow some pork plants to slaughter pigs more quickly if they boost staffing, a union official said, after a U.S. court struck down a Trump-era rule that removed line speed limits. The proposal put forward by Quality Pork Processors, operator of a […] Read more