Robin Schmahl

Feeder cattle futures fell out of bed Tuesday with some contracts exceeding losses of $5.00. Live cattle took a beating also, but not quite as dramatic. Hogs were mixed with about as many contracts closing positive as those...

Cattle struggled most of Monday with some contracts closing slightly higher at the end. The Cattle on Feed report did not provide enough support to push futures higher, but it did provide support. Hog futures spent time on both...

Cattle futures had a strong Friday, moving higher ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. Cash cattle prices remained steady for the week. The Cattle on Feed report was neutral to slightly negative. Hogs could not find support as...

The livestock complex was under substantial pressure Thursday with triple-digit losses in nearly all contracts. Cattle likely were under pressure from steady cash. Hogs were likely under pressure from profit-taking due to the large...

Traders were impatient Wednesday and did not want to wait around for cash sales to buy into the market. Buying pushed futures higher in the anticipation of at least $1.00 higher cash. Hog futures broke through price resistance...

Cattle futures coasted along without any cash activity Tuesday. Traders may be focusing on the upcoming Cattle on Feed report. Hog futures posted nice gains as traders reacted to Monday's stronger cash and cutouts.

Live cattle futures took a breather while feeder cattle fell on profit-taking Monday. The weakness of grain had no impact on cattle trade. Hog futures posted a fourth day of losses in all but the October contract, which barely...

There is nothing slowing cattle futures down with higher cash trade unfolding to end last week. New contract highs are a common occurrence. Hogs struggled again with traders finding little solid support under the market.

Cattle futures soared to new heights Thursday with very strong gains as traders anticipated higher cash and tighter supplies. Hogs moved in the opposite direction with futures under pressure as cash struggles.

Cattle futures set back Wednesday as traders found little to trade on, which resulted in some profit-taking. Hogs did their usual flip with pressure on October after two days of gain, leaving later contracts mixed.

New contract highs were seen in feeder cattle and later live cattle contracts before futures slipped back from the highs into the close Tuesday. Hog futures finally broke out above the recent sideways trading range as stronger...

It was an interesting Monday as most cattle contracts pushed to new highs. Traders are not waiting to see any indication of cash before buying aggressively. Hog futures showed strength in response to stronger cutouts, keeping...

Cattle futures did not see the exuberance of the previous two days, but most contracts closed slightly higher Friday. Steady-to-higher cash paid for cattle was factored in. Hogs took it on the chin again as the market continues...

The livestock complex posted green across the screen Thursday with feeder cattle moving to new contract highs again. Limited cash trade in cattle and higher cash for hogs provided support.

Traders turned optimistic Wednesday in the cattle complex with anticipation of higher cash as packers are purchasing for a full slaughter week next week. Hog futures could not find solid support with October taking the brunt of...

Traders were uncertain as far as the direction for cattle this week, leaving futures mixed. Hog futures were similarly mixed with no cash price released but strong cutouts providing support.

The trade reflected the direction of cash for the week, settling lower as positioning ahead of the extended weekend was accomplished. Hogs closed higher on the week, supported by the gain in cutouts good demand through the end...

Even though cash cattle traded steady to lower Thursday, traders moved futures higher. Traders were cautious over cash and now that it is known, the market adjusted. Hogs could not hold the gains of Thursday as packers did...

Cattle found little support Wednesday from cash, boxed beef, or lower corn prices. Hog futures defied lower cash and cutouts on Tuesday with impressive gains on Wednesday.

Cattle were evenly mixed Tuesday with traders waiting for some indication of cash trade. No bids or offers surfaced, leaving traders scalping the market for a small profit if possible. Hogs diverged with nearby contracts under...

Feeder cattle led the charge higher Monday for the cattle complex as traders believed continued strength in the country dictated higher prices. Live cattle came along, even though traders remained cautious. Hogs pushed higher...

Cattle futures closed higher, adjusting to cash to close out the week. Cash cattle did not trade higher but did not weaken as much as feared. Hogs ended last week mixed but might struggle to begin this week.

The livestock complex had a fire lit under it yesterday with gains posted in all contracts. The increase in cattle was a bit of a surprise as it appears lower cash will again be evident. Hogs were not supported by cash, but cutouts...

The livestock complex shCattle futures found some support yesterday which resulted in mixed trade for lives and limited losses for feeders. Traders continue to wait for cash. Hogs could not find support as both cash and cutouts...

The livestock complex showed most contracts posting triple-digit losses. There is little outside influence to support prices and limited expectations for cash this week.

Cattle closed higher yesterday, finding support from a friendly Cattle on Feed report. Hogs struggled throughout the day with futures under pressure through the July 2024 contract.

It was a strong end to the week with hog futures leading the way. Live cattle closed higher with limited gains as the lower cash for the week had already been factored in. Feeder cattle posted triple digit gains even though corn...

Cattle futures have shown weakness over the past five trading days, which may signal a change in the market. Cash was lower in the country. Hogs found some buying interest likely as traders were positioning ahead of the weekend.

One had to look out quite a distance to find any positive price in the livestock complex. It was not found until the August 2024 contract in live cattle. Hogs could not find enough buying interest to stabilize the recent decline.

The livestock complex could not find any support Tuesday with red ink in all categories and contracts. Traders may wait to see direction from cash, which may take until the end of the week again. Hog futures found no support...

Both the cattle and hog complex were under pressure with live cattle holding up better than feeders and hogs. Packers were able to purchase some cattle ahead for deferred delivery. Hogs traded the weakness of cutouts on...

Cash cattle ended the week steady to firm and not quite what feedlots had hoped for. However, business was accomplished that needed to be done for the week. Hog futures found some support as traders positioned themselves...

Cattle and hog futures diverged Thursday. Cattle were supported by feedlots holding out another day, pushing most cash trade to Friday. Hogs fell as cash was weaker.

Cattle futures closed higher Wednesday while hogs suffered significant losses. Traders were looking for something to support cattle and they found it in weaker corn and the potential for cash. Hogs could not hold as weaker...

Trade was mixed throughout Tuesday in the livestock complex. Traders seemed uncertain over price direction. Without direction from cash, the cattle complex may drift. Hogs were divided as cash was stronger while cutouts failed.

Cattle traders did not want to speculate early in the week on whether cash was going to trade higher. Feeder cattle could not garner any strength, even though corn was neutral. Hogs found strength in the hopes of demand...

Cattle futures moved higher Friday because of cash trading higher after another standoff. Hog futures increased as traders positioned ahead of the weekend after two days of significant losses.

Traders did not know what to do with the cattle complex Thursday moving futures within the range of the previous day. Grain prices under pressure provided something to trade as cash trade had not taken place. Hogs fell on...

The livestock complex could not find any support Wednesday with outside market pressure having some impact on the negativity. Cash trade has yet to take place. Hog futures came under pressure as cash and cutouts pointed lower.

The cattle complex had a strong Tuesday with futures higher. The sideways-to-lower trend may be changing, but that will depend on cash cattle trade this week. Hogs opened higher Tuesday due to cash and cutout strength Monday...

The livestock complex struggled much of the day with the end posting slight gains in some feeder cattle and lean hog contracts. Traders were content to close out the month without fanfare, finding little support from lower corn...

Cash cattle trading activity was very limited last week. Some cattle sold Friday $1.00 lower than the previous week. Feedlots were not anxious to sell and packers were not forced to buy. Hogs had a strong Friday as traders...

There was little to get excited about in both cattle and hogs Thursday. Cash cattle only saw some light trade develop in Iowa at $292, but that was not enough to indicate any definite prices for the week. Hogs struggled under...

There was not much to move live cattle futures Wednesday as cash trade was not expected and no business was done. Feeder cattle traded in the range of the previous day. Hogs closed under minor pressure, rebounding from sharp...

Cattle futures traded lower while hog futures traded higher Tuesday. Cattle could not find traction as traders remained cautious over the cash potential for the week. Higher cash supported the hogs.

Pressure came from two fronts in the cattle market Monday. The placement number on the Cattle of Feed report and strong corn futures. Overnight corn futures are lower, likely increasing buying interest. Hogs could not hold up...

Higher cash cattle trade last week was not enough to overcome the uncertainty of the Cattle on Feed report -- and rightly so. Placements in June were 3% above a year ago, which was also above the highest trade expectations...

The entire livestock complex was higher early yesterday posting new contract highs for live cattle, but traders liquidated pushing the cattle complex into negative territory as the day progressed. Hogs showed very strong buying...

Live cattle futures were able to eke out a new high again yesterday and anticipation grows over cash trade. Feedlots and packers remain at a standoff. Differed hog futures just cannot find support as late-year demand is...

Live and feeder cattle futures diverged with growing optimism over cash cattle trade and pressure on feeders due to sharply higher corn prices. Hogs were mixed on spread trading and the uncertainty of cash.

Live cattle floated along Monday uncertain of what cash will do this week. Feedlots dug in last week, but will they remain unified another week? Hogs could not push higher with uncertainty over cash.

It certainly was an interesting week with live cattle futures ending with new contract high closes. Limited cash cattle trade took place during the week with this week potentially being explosive. Hogs flipped back and forth with...

Live cattle held well in the face of sharply higher corn prices Thursday. Feeder cattle reacted with triple-digit losses. Cash trade remained very light. Hogs did well by pushing higher as both cash and cutouts gained.

Wednesday was a day with similar price movement as June 6 with strong early trade and new contract highs, only to fall apart resulting in about a $4.00 price swing in live cattle. Hogs followed a similar pattern, but not quite as...

The cattle complex defied the strength of corn Monday, pushing higher as there is optimism cash will be no less than steady this week. Feedlots can afford to hold out at current prices. Hogs just could not keep their head above...

Cattle futures had a strong Friday as corn was under pressure and cash cattle held steady to $1.00 lower into the end of the week, maintaining what took place on Thursday. Hogs showed mixed trade with some spread unwinding and...

Feeder cattle lost ground because of higher corn prices. Live cattle showed slight pressure as the prospect of higher cash dimmed. Hogs began yesterday incredibly strong in the nearby months only to falter and close lower as...

Traders were uncertain what to do with the cattle market as the price swing of corn and no indication of potential cash trade left them less willing to support the market. Hogs showed incredible strength in nearby contracts on...

Live cattle futures may trade mixed to begin Wednesday as traders may wait until there is a better idea as to the direction of cash. Further weakness of corn may support feeder cattle futures again. Hogs continued to see...

The cattle complex was again the beneficiary of weak corn prices. Live cattle showed moderate gains while feeder cattle exploded higher. Hogs closed mixed with traders remaining friendly to nearby months as they had been much of...

Cattle extended gains on weaker corn prices. Cash activity so far has been light and lower than last week, which may limit further upside potential. Spread trading continued in hog futures with July and August reaching back near...