Robin Schmahl

There seems to be no stopping cattle futures from making new contract highs. Boxed beef prices posted large gains again Tuesday as slower slaughter has only increased prices. Hogs fell back in contracts through October as the...

Cattle futures continue to reach new contract highs. The large increase in boxed beef should provide further support, as demand is not wavering. Hogs struggled to maintain Friday's gains on Monday, but accomplished the task.

Live cattle futures closed last week mixed, as most cash cattle trade was pushed until after the futures markets closed. Cash traded higher, which should influence trading Monday. Hog futures...

Cattle futures drifted during the day but closed moderately higher in all but the June live cattle contract. Very light cash activity was noted in Kansas, but not sufficient to establish...

New contract highs were established in April through August, with the April contract gapping higher. Traders are bullish on the market, expecting higher cash trade to develop. Hogs held up well on strong packer demand and despite...

The livestock complex showed impressive gains on Tuesday with a new contract high in the soon-to-expire April live cattle contract. Hog futures pushed through technical resistance, triggering renewed buying interest.

Feeder cattle showed more pressure than live cattle Monday as traders reacted to the higher Cattle on Feed report placements. However, the selling lacked commitment as the report had been...

Traders had an extra day to assess the Cattle on Feed report with Friday's holiday. The report could be considered somewhat neutral and may not have much influence on the market Monday. Hogs held onto higher prices on...

The livestock complex had a strong day Wednesday. There was optimism that cash cattle would trade steady to higher this week and that demand will remain strong. Hogs were higher as futures regained the losses from the tariff...

Cattle have had three consecutive days of gains as traders have turned their attention to potential demand. The impact of tariffs has been assessed, and traders have concluded it may not have a significant impact on...

The optimism in the cattle market continued on Monday with a second day of gains. The upcoming Cattle on Feed report may limit continued gains, along with the potential for lower cash prices. Hog contracts extended gains as...

Cattle futures prices increased Friday with feeder cattle leading the strength. This seemed to be in response to better equity markets, as cattle futures are following the outside markets. Hog...

The cattle market followed the direction of the stock market Thursday, suffering significant losses. Futures reversed some of the gains from Wednesday as traders remained uncertain about cash prices. Hogs showed surprising...

Livestock futures struggled Wednesday under the weight of added tariffs on China and its reciprocal tariffs. However, the 90-day pause of tariffs on countries that do not have retaliatory tariffs turned the markets higher...

Cattle futures opened higher Tuesday and held gains for a while before the idea of a rebound fizzled. Too much uncertainty remains over export tariffs to generate renewed interest in buying. Hog futures followed suit with a...

The bleeding did not stop Monday, but thankfully, the market did not need to use the expanded limits that were triggered by limit losses on Friday. The outside markets are showing strength, which should translate over into higher...

It is difficult to describe the carnage in the livestock markets Friday as widespread selling pushed live cattle, feeder cattle, and hog futures limit down in some contracts. This has not been experienced for quite some time...

Cattle futures made a quick turn on Thursday, influenced by the huge decline in the equity markets. The fears of a recession ran rampant, and what that would mean for beef demand. Hog futures declined, but not to the extent of...

Cattle had another exceptional day on Wednesday with new highs in numerous contracts. This should provide support for steady to higher cash trade this week. Hog futures were mixed. Contracts rebounded significantly from their...

Cattle futures posted strong gains Tuesday as traders have decided the tariffs may not have much impact on beef prices. Demand remains strong as boxed beef soared. Hogs found buying interest Tuesday, moving futures back into...

The only livestock contract that closed higher Monday was April hogs, as it is adjusting to the underlying cash. Livestock futures did not find buying interest due to the uncertainty of the impact of tariffs on the economy and...

Cattle futures tried to extend their gains early Friday, but the market pulled back as cash did not perform as well as hoped. Hogs opened substantially higher Friday in reaction to the bullish Hogs & Pigs report, but that was...

Live cattle traders gained renewed confidence and bought aggressively into cattle futures Thursday. The April and June contracts closed at new highs, anticipating higher cash. Hogs closed lower but near the day's highs after...

On Thursday, cattle futures may regain recent losses that surrounded the Cattle on Feed report. Boxed beef is supportive and may result in higher cash cattle trade this week. Hog futures diverged with strength in nearby...

Cattle futures were under significant pressure during the day Tuesday as follow-through selling took place. However, the selling subsided, resulting in the trimming of earlier losses. Hogs found minor support, but the highs earlier in...

Cattle futures opened higher Monday, reacting to the bullish Cattle on Feed report, but follow-through buying did not materialize resulting in the futures falling back. Hog futures were disappointing as the gains on Friday did not...

Cattle futures moved to new highs early Friday only to succumb to selling pressure resulting in significant losses. Selling surfaced as traders took profits ahead of the Cattle on Feed report...

Cattle futures struggled for a while Thursday; but eventually buyers became more aggressive, pushing futures to triple-digit gains. Traders remain bullish ahead of the Cattle on Feed report Friday. Hog futures struggled Thursday...

Cattle futures moved to new contract highs Wednesday, keeping the uptrend intact and prices soaring. Mixed boxed beef prices had no impact on trader optimism. Hogs came under pressure with the April contract falling over $2.00...

Cattle futures took a breather Tuesday as traders pondered the strength of cash and the upcoming Cattle on Feed report. Hog futures fell back as the recent pattern of daily chopiness continued.

There seems to be no top in the cattle market with new highs nearly daily. Packers seem to be short-bought, which may result in higher cash. Hogs opened higher Monday and never looked back. Traders anticipate stronger demand...

Packers could not hold out any longer and paid the asking prices for cattle Friday, resulting in a significant increase in cash prices. This should keep the uptrend intact. Hog futures showed some spread unwinding, supporting the...

Nearby live cattle contracts were the only ones showing a positive close Thursday. The rest of the livestock complex closed lower with hog futures showing substantial losses. Losses in the equity markets seems to have played a...

There is no stopping feeder cattle as futures continued to march higher Wednesday. Live cattle could not help but follow, anticipating that cash may be higher. Hog futures could not find any solid support as cutouts remain volatile.

Live cattle tried to work higher, but could not hold the gains, closing lower Tuesday. The pressure of the financial markets and talk of a recession affected the outlook. Feeders moved to new highs again. Hogs showed substantial...

The livestock complex was higher across the board on Monday following the strength on Friday. The cattle market is stronger as demand seems to be improving. Hogs continue to regain their losses, reaching a 50% price retracement...

Livestock futures were higher across the board with most of the strength in the cattle complex Friday. Traders quickly bought into cattle futures as cash began trading higher. Hog futures were higher as cutouts showed...

Hog futures were the beneficiaries of President Trump's decision to delay tariffs on goods covered under the USMCA trade agreement Thursday. Strong gains were seen in nearby contracts. Cattle struggled as traders were...

Livestock futures were higher in all categories on Wednesday. It seems the market has factored in the tariff situation and is correcting. There remains the possibility that some adjustment could be made to tariffs, which could...

Cattle futures seemed to have the uncertainty of the market factored in. This provided some short covering and a bounce in futures. Higher boxed beef prices provided support. Hog futures could not find support as tariffs...

Cattle futures bounced off the lows on Monday but closed lower. Further liquidation was likely due to the tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and additional tariffs on China that went into effect Tuesday. Hogs likely had this factored in...

The entire livestock complex fell substantially Friday as traders liquidated due to demand uncertainty and the potential impact of tariffs on exports. Feedlots sold cattle $2.00 lower as the hope for steady money faded. Hog...

The cattle complex found support Thursday with futures higher. Feeder cattle were stronger, dragging live cattle higher. Some light cattle trade indicates cash might be lower. Hog futures fell substantially Thursday, impacted mostly...

Cattle futures took a breather Wednesday after pushing higher since the Cattle on Feed report. Traders may wait to see cash trade before being confident in a price direction. Hogs rebounded nicely once the liquidation subsided...

The strength of feeder cattle supported live cattle futures Tuesday. The trend may be turning up after a substantial price retracement. Cash may be stabilizing. Hogs could not find support as the weakness of cutouts returned...

Cattle futures were supported Monday by the Cattle on Feed report with feeder cattle leading the way with gains of over $4.00. Hogs opened higher but buyer interest did not continue. Packers were not aggressive as they...

The cattle market did not want to do much ahead of the Cattle on Feed report Friday and futures had little reason to move higher based on cash cattle trade. Hog futures diverged as traders were concerned over near-term...

Live cattle futures eliminated the gains of Wednesday and then some on Thursday. Lower cash trade came to fruition as feared. Feedlots are anxious to move cattle. Hogs continued the liquidation with further weakness of cutouts...

Cattle futures held their own and did not uncover aggressive buying interest Wednesday. Feeder cattle showed minor losses in most contracts with traders looking ahead to cash and the Cattle on Feed report. Hog futures took a...

Live cattle futures struggled with nearby contracts slipping lower Tuesday. Feeder cattle found solid buying interest with March rebounding over $3.00. Hog futures closed higher across the board with gains limited to double-digits...

Cattle futures were under pressure Friday due to the weakness of cash. Feedlots decided to hold out and carry cattle over to the next week. Hog futures slipped lower as February went off the board and ahead of the extended...

Cattle futures found footing Thursday, but that may not be enough to change the trend unless cash trades higher. Boxed beef may limit the gains. Hogs tried to minimize the losses for a while but succumbed to pressure with April...

Cattle futures chopped around much of Wednesday with live cattle closing mixed and feeder slightly higher as traders waited for cash direction. Hog futures were solidly higher with new highs across the complex.

Cattle futures were unable to break out of the recent downtrend with selling pressure resuming on Tuesday. Hog futures pushed higher as traders felt confident of stronger pork prices and demand.

Cattle futures rebounded Monday because contracts were oversold relative to cash. Liquidation can move the market more than it should and the price needs to correct. Hogs showed pressure during the day, but were able to close...

Cattle had a tough week last week. Traders will be cautious about stepping into the market aggressively and there is concern that further cash weakness will develop this week. Hog futures held well during the week with the July...

Cattle futures plummeted Thursday as a top is in for now. Traders are liquidating and the record-long futures position is exaggerating the weakness. Lower cash trade adds to the pressure. Hogs showed their resilience with early...

The liquidation of the past week ran its course with traders willing to step back into the cattle market. The selling was a bit overdone relative to the cash market, but cash looks weaker this week. Hog futures were higher...

Cattle futures extended losses Tuesday. Even though tariffs with Mexico and Canada have been put on hold, traders remain nervous. Hog futures moved sharply higher Tuesday, regaining the losses of Monday.

The livestock complex was hit hard Monday, caused by the resumption of the imports of feeder cattle from Mexico and the imposing of tariffs on both Canada and Mexico. The uncertainty provided a lot of pressure on that market...

Cattle futures were able to hold into the close Friday. The cash market was up strong during the week, which provided support into the weekend. Hogs struggled, moving through the close of the week. There is some question over...

Cattle futures came under pressure as liquidation continued for the second day. That may come to an end as cash cattle traded higher on Thursday. Hog futures held their own, even though cash and cutouts did not provide support.