Robin Schmahl

Cattle have been unable to stem the selling tide. Some pressure is coming from continued higher grain prices with some being technical in nature. Funds have been unloading long futures positions as support levels continued to be...

Cattle appear to be in trouble technically, but fundamentally, there is good reason to believe the recent weakness of futures will be temporary. Strong demand should provide support. Hogs have had a much-needed price retracement...

Lower cattle futures were not a surprise Monday, but the decline of hog futures was. Overall fundamentals in both markets remain bullish, but prices cannot go up forever without a correction. As long as support holds, the trend...

Cattle futures should not have fallen as they did Friday, but traders became a bit nervous and decided to take some profits with hedgers locking in good prices. Cash in both cattle and hogs is expected to increase as demand is...

New contract highs were made in most livestock futures Thursday. There is a strong chance that will continue Friday, but it is Friday and sometimes profits may be taken, putting some pressure on futures. Most of the attention...

A good market just cannot be kept down. Any dip in livestock futures has been a buying opportunity. There seems to be no end in sight for increasing demand for both beef and pork.

Livestock futures continue to show solid support as consumer demand ramps up. Packers are paying more for beef and pork, but consumers continue to spend money to get it.

Feeder cattle led the charge Monday with live cattle not far behind. Strong boxed beef and the anticipation of higher cash turned traders into more aggressive buyers. Hogs settled back, but the price action did not change the...

Live cattle and hog futures held well despite the bullish surprise of the Prospective Plantings report. Higher cash prices may offset higher feed prices, leaving the market focusing on strong demand.

Cattle futures did not continue to the upside, but neither did they fall apart. There is strong support from increasing boxed beef and the prospect of higher cash. New highs in some hog contracts keeps the uptrend alive and...

Cattle led the way Monday posting new contract highs. The spring rally seems to be in full swing with cash expected higher again this week supported by strong cutouts. Hogs futures did an about face but held well considering the...

The momentum of last week is expected to carry over Monday. Feedlots believe they will be able to get higher prices this week as spring demand ramps up. Support under hogs is strong, giving traders' confidence to hold and...

The livestock complex continues to exhibit strength. Strong demand and continued higher cash is keeping the path of least resistance up. The bullish Hogs and Pigs report should continue to support the strong uptrend of futures.

The livestock complex was positive Wednesday and should be able to maintain that momentum Thursday. Cattle will need more aggressive buying action for traders to regain the losses of last week. Hog futures may coast much of...

What better way to celebrate National Ag Day than with higher livestock futures. Strong demand and stimulus checks may keep consumers appetite for meat active no matter what the price. Follow-through trading is possible as the...

Cattle have begun a very important week. Cash needs to trade higher or it will be difficult for futures to regain what was lost last week. Hogs are looking at another strong week as there has been no real change in demand and...

The Cattle on Feed report was considered neutral overall with a little lean toward bullishness. Cattle futures may have been overdone to the downside, but it may be difficult to regain all that was lost last week. Hogs may be at a...

The livestock complex posted triple-digit losses in nearly all contracts Thursday. Outside pressure from the economy battered crude oil, which spilled over into many commodities. The selling may be complete and livestock markets...

June and later cattle futures and regained the losses in February and then some. Traders have been willing to step back into the market on the long side in anticipation of increasing demand and tightening supplies. Hogs have been...

Cattle futures were able to hold gains Tuesday while hog futures blew though the previous day's highs with ease. The livestock complex are the beneficiaries of increasing restaurant demand and continued strong international...

The strength of cattle futures with later contract pushing to new highs yesterday indicates optimism remains plentiful. Funds stepped in to buy the break turning the trend back up. Just when one thinks the hog market may seem...

There is hope the strength on Friday will carry through Monday as more traders might want to get on the long side of the market. The winter storm may support futures for a few days of higher trade as traders react to market...

Positive closes in live cattle and hog futures would suggest follow-through buying Friday. However, it is Friday with a strong possibility that profits may be taken, which could pressure futures. Hog slaughter and cash will be...

Cattle futures just do not seem to have enough gas in order to turn the trend solidly higher. A second week of cash trading at midweek indicates feedlots need to move cattle and higher prices are not part of the equation. Hog...

Livestock futures have some good support under them. Demand has been strong, which may continue now that stimulus checks will be coming soon. That does not mean it will all be used to buy beef or pork, but a portion of it will be...

The strength of livestock futures shows the resiliency of the market. However, cash cattle may have a difficult time seeing higher prices unless boxed beef prices perform better than they have recently. Hogs continue to show...

It is a new week and feedlots may be a bit nervous over the potential of packers to reduce bids based on the outcome of last week. We can be assured neither side will tip their hand early until there is a better indication of...

Cattle just could not get it going Thursday as the market seems to be in more of a bearish grip. Traders have not yet felt confident to buy the break as underlying cash does not support it. Hogs futures are holding well, but...

Live cattle futures were able to hold well despite steady cash trade developing in the South and less money in the North. This is somewhat disappointing, but not completely unexpected. With weakness in futures and boxed beef, it...

Feedlots continue to hold out hope for higher cash, but that hope might be waning as boxed beef plummeted Tuesday and futures could only muster a minor recovery. Some initial offers are for $2.00 higher, but that may be a tall...

Cattle futures have been, and continue to be, in trouble as funds liquidate. Feedlots may have held out too long anticipating higher prices and may have to settle for no better than steady money after spending more money on...

Steady cash cattle trading last week was not what traders wanted to see. This triggered aggressive selling. There is some question whether higher cash can be achieved as a lot of cattle were processed last week. Hogs finally...

Both cattle and hog futures did not perform Thursday as well as hoped given the strong close on Wednesday. The market might be getting tired, leaving the potential for a significant technical price correction. However, cash...

Strong futures buying permeated throughout the whole livestock complex Wednesday, but it is unlikely this will continue Thursday. Cattle may be unable to hold gains. Hogs are a different story and packers show no sign of stepping...

Cattle futures took a beating Tuesday with April hit the hardest over the past week. April may have already played its seasonal strength card and now will need to move closer to cash. Hogs may be in a similar situation coupled...

Cattle futures showed little reaction to the higher placements on the Cattle on Feed report. Strong demand continues to override any bearish fundamentals. Hogs are resilient and continue the trend higher. Higher prices have yet...

The Cattle on Feed report was mostly neutral with the exception of placements. This is not expected to have much influence on closer contracts but may have an impact on later contracts. Packers are expected to need beef to...

The Cattle on Feed report looms on the horizon, being released at 2 p.m. CT on Friday. Although that has not garnered much attention this week due to the extreme weather news, it will have an impact on trading Monday. Plants...

The weather disruptions are being dealt with and may now be factored in the market. Packers will need to be aggressive to make up for lost tonnage, but this may not mean higher futures prices. Weights for both cattle and hogs...

Weather is the main focus of the market and the focus of farmers trying to get the chores done. Sellers are anticipating higher prices, but that may not be the focus this week. Despite higher prices and adverse weather, demand...

The strength in both cattle and hogs Friday might carry over Tuesday. There certainly does not appear to be any slowing of demand or concern by traders of an overbought market. Demand remains strong even at current higher...

Cash cattle trade is coming down to the wire again, which is becoming nearly a weekly event. Cash cattle are expected to trade $1.00 higher unless packers finally say, "Enough is enough." However, that is not likely as strong beef...

The weakness of live cattle futures was not shared by feeder cattle or hogs. Cattle prices are not expected to decline this week, but packers may not be willing to bid higher, leaving prices steady with last week. Hogs continue to...

Both cattle and hog futures remained supported Tuesday but showed signs of faltering. It may not mean the uptrend is finished, but it may indicate continued higher prices may be difficult to achieve. Demand has been good with...

There is anticipation the strength of cash in both beef and pork last week will carry over this week. The concern is that boxed beef and pork cutout gains may be running out of steam. The job of the market is to find a balance...

The standoff between packers and feedlots is going to come down to the wire, and it is highly unlikely feedlots will lose. They have held out this long, being confident bids will increase. Hogs have been showing impressive resilience...

Cattle futures tried to push higher, but just could not capitalize on the strength of hogs. Cash cattle have not yet traded, leaving traders a little on edge even though most anticipate higher prices. Strong cash for hogs...

Cattle and hogs did a nice reversal Tuesday, which should follow through Wednesday as traders have renewed interest now that the overbought technical situation has been relieved. Traders on the wrong side of the market may...

Livestock futures did not perform as well as was hoped. However, underlying fundamentals do not suggest a complete change in trend. Strong boxed beef and increasing pork cutouts should keep the market supported. However, there...

Higher cash cattle on Friday bodes well for this week. Somewhat light activity last week could result in cash business being done earlier than usual. Strong pork cutouts should keep packers bidding no worse than steady to begin...

Cash cattle trade has been limited so far this week. That is expected to change Friday as packers will need to either open up their checkbooks and pay higher prices or go home without. The latter is not acceptable, and feedlots...