grain

Grain and Livestock Futures Weaker

Grain and livestock futures remain weaker, though we think they’ll be more stable as we move toward Friday. A disappointing February soybean crush number only adds to uncertainty in the soybean complex, President Trump hinting that that March 31st meeting in Beijing could be delayed if China doesn’t help with security in the Strait of Hormuz. A delay in that meeting only delays a …

beef production

Labor Issues at Beef Plant in Colorado Impacting Markets

Labor issues at that JBS beef plant in Colorado plowed an otherwise positive beef trade in our review. Beef packer margins improving here last week. By the way, happy St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish and friends of Irish, heavy consumers of beef and various beverages as well. But spring coming up here at the end of the week, and that consumer demand we …

market

Market Fears Continue To Ease

Market fears continue to ease, a far cry from where we started the week. Monday this week, that VIX or fear index on Wall Street was soared past 35, the highest since COVID days in 2020. Today, that index dropping back toward 20, indicating a lot more calm on Wall Street, though 1516 is an accepted number. Likewise, crude oil near $120 a barrel …

commodities

Spike of Crude Oil Coming Down Slowly

Bottom Line analysts say the initial spike in crude oil has run its course for the most part in their view, but it will have a long tail, as they say. Prices stabilizing near $100, with a very slow decline. Countries and governments making alternative plans. Grains have followed higher from a distance. Really no news on their own to warrant such an increase, …

peanut stocks

More Details From the January Peanut Stocks Report

Looking at more details on the peanut stocks and processing published by USDA, they said for January, peanut butter demand creeped up just a little bit, and it’s looking a little bit better, was everything else was still down. January 25th or January 24th compared, peanut candy was down 6.07%. Peanut snacks also down 9.97%. Peanut butter was up just a little, 0.94%, less …

peanut stocks

January Peanut Stocks Report Released

USDA’s stocks and processing for peanuts shows that for the month of January, that’s the sixth month of the marketing year, peanut stocks and commercial storage total 5.55 billion pounds, and that compares to last year’s 4.14, and that is up 34 percent. The market’s almost flooded. They said even farmer stock peanuts are up 33 percent in volume. Shell peanuts showed that they …

live

Big Sell Off of Live Cattle

Weather coming in like a lion in many areas around the country, but so is the cattle trade, keeping an eye on live cattle and feeder cattle. Big sell-off late last week, many suggesting month-end selling. Strike potentially at Greeley, Colorado plant, and we understand that grievance is not all about money there. And when you add the Tyson plants, set-downs and slow-downs at …

crop

Crop Production Forecasts Presented at USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture presented the crop forecasts for the upcoming season during the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum. USDA economist Bryn Swearingen provided the forecast for corn, soybeans and wheat. Swearingen said, “While corn acres are forecasted down to 94 million, this is still the third highest on record, and soybeans are forecasted to have a recovery to 85 million …

Markets

Uncertainty Impacting the Markets

Markets don’t perform well, dealing with uncertainty, and there’s plenty of it at midweek. Wall Street CME Group in Chicago facing uncertainty from multiple fronts. Usually it’s maybe one major world event or perhaps a domestic issue here, but as we head to March, markets dealing with tariff uncertainty, ongoing and escalating tensions with Iran, weather in the Northeast, and a never-ending AI fears. That VIX or fear index, …

Lean hog futures

Lean Hog Futures Rebound as Smithfield Plans $1.3B South Dakota Plant

Lean hog futures faced sustained pressure last week, closing lower every trading day in a holiday-shortened stretch. This week has delivered a recovery, but market signals suggest the rebound is not yet fully convincing. Here’s a complete breakdown of the latest hog market activity, fund positioning, cash index strength, and major pork industry expansion news shaping the outlook. Lean Hog …