Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Ranchers placed 11 per cent more cattle in feedlots in April than a year earlier, the most for the month in 14 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday, beating average forecasts. Higher cattle prices paid by packers last month enhanced profits for feedlots, allowing them to buy more […] Read more
U.S. April feedlot cattle placements jump to 14-year high
JBS shares soar as speculation mounts over crisis fallout
Reading Time: 2 minutes Cuiaba, Brazil | Reuters — Shares in JBS SA , the world’s largest meatpacker, spiked on Thursday as speculation mounted over its strategy for weathering the fallout from a corruption scandal centered on its owners. The stock closed 23 per cent higher, approaching levels last seen before the graft scandal rattled Brazil a week ago […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences mixed tone
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were rather subdued this past week; average prices were unchanged from seven days earlier. However, the bloom has come off the rose as the extreme highs from earlier in May have evaporated. Late in the week, shorter-keep cattle appeared to trade $3-$5 higher, especially on higher-quality larger groups. Major feedlot […] Read more
U.S., China accelerate beef talks
Reading Time: 3 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Talks on restarting U.S. beef exports to China are moving fast and final details should be in place by early June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday, allowing U.S. farmers to vie for business that has been lost by rival Brazil. As part of a trade deal, U.S. ranchers […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market remains firm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 above week-ago levels although lighter weight categories experienced week-over-week gains of $8 to as much as $12. The fed cattle market went through a correction, with live sales quoted from $181 to $186, down from the last week average trade of $195. This weaker live cattle trade appeared […] Read more
U.S., China agree to first trade steps under 100-day plan
Reading Time: 4 minutes Washington | Reuters –– The U.S. and China have agreed to take action by mid-July to increase access for U.S. financial firms and expand trade in beef and chicken among other steps as part of Washington’s drive to cut its trade deficit with Beijing. The deals are the first results of 100 days of trade […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle markets erupt
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $10-$13 above week-ago levels and in some cases as high as $20. Buying interest exploded early in the week as adverse weather wreaked havoc across the U.S. southern Plains. Demand for replacements continued to intensify as the fed cattle prices surged. Alberta packers experienced strong competition from buyers south […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices surge
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices once again traded $3-$5 above week-ago levels, with shorter-keep quality cattle as much as $8 higher. Historically strong feeding margins, along with triple-digit gains in the futures market from Wednesday through Friday, set the positive tone. Feedlots that were holding back on purchases finally stepped forward, pushing the market to […] Read more
Cargill to exit U.S. cattle feeding business
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Cargill said on Wednesday it will exit the business of feeding cattle to direct capital toward other investments, the latest transformation for the global commodity trader. Minnesota-based Cargill struck a deal to sell its last two feed yards to ethanol producer Green Plains for US$36.7 million, after selling other feedyards to […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs surge on stocks data, strong pork demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures climbed for a second day on Tuesday, with some contracts surging more than 3 percent, on bullish pork stocks data and seasonal buying, traders said. Prices climbed from the opening bell as the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported tighter-than-anticipated U.S. stocks of frozen pork and the tightest […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
