WLI

Cattle futures softened Monday amid likely profit taking and month-end positioning. Although some would say they started the week in oversold territory in need of technical correction, the fundamental pathway continues clear.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 91¢ lower, from $1.42 lower at the front to 22¢ lower at the back.

The CME Feeder Cattle Index was $3.34 higher at $161.29/cwt.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.25 lower, from 55¢ lower toward the back to $1.90 lower near the front of the board.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on very light demand through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, live prices were $7 higher in the Southern Plains at $140/cwt., $3-$6 higher in Nebraska at $136-$140, $5-$8 higher in Colorado at $140 and $3-$6 higher in the western Corn Belt at $135-$140. Dressed trade was $7 higher in Nebraska at $217 and $3-$7 higher in the western Corn Belt at $213-$217.

Recent trade volume and delivery patterns suggest cash prices this week have the potential to gain more.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.43 lower Monday afternoon at $277.58/cwt. Select was 26¢ lower at $262.02/cwt.

Corn futures closed mostly 5¢ to 9¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 9¢ to 11¢ lower.

******************************

Major U.S. financial indices pared sharp losses from the previous session on Monday  as traders and everyone else tried to sort out the potential impact of the new COVID variant announced last week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 236 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 60 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 291 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures on the CME rebounded $1.80 to $1.89 through the front six contracts.

******************************

“As 2021 winds to a close, cattle markets seem to finally be able to move out from under the specter of the pandemic impacts that began 18 months ago…The recent breakout of fed cattle markets, after struggling under the weight of beef packer capacity constraints, clears the way for cattle markets to move forward with the optimism that has been building in the industry in recent months,” says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his weekly market comments.

Peel adds that plenty of challenges remain, including COVID uncertainty and economic ripple effects, higher input costs and drought. But, he explains, market fundamentals continue to improve.

“The beef cow herd has been declining since 2019 and declined even faster in 2021. It will decline again in 2022 and likely in 2023,” Peel says. “However, strong domestic beef demand bolstered by even stronger demand and potential in international markets suggests that cyclical expansion could resume in the not-to-distant future. Exactly what the future path will be remains to be determined but producers should consider strategic and tactical plans for industry outcomes.”

With that in mind, Peel suggests winter is an appropriate time for producers to consider both animal and forage production and management plans for the coming year. 

“Once calf marketing is complete and herd culling decisions are implemented, a relative down-time is ideal for a bit of review of the past year and planning for next year with a series of questions,” Peel says. “What are the conditions of pastures and rangeland going into the next growing season; should grazing plans or stocking rates be adjusted? Were production and reproductive rates and weaning weights as expected?  What is the current body condition of the cows?  What is the herd health status?  Are upcoming herd nutritional needs evaluated and matched with feed and supplement resources? Planning now can help manage costs and production next year.”

Bottom line, Peel says relative market stability offers producers the opportunity to play offense rather than defense for the first time in a long while, if they’re prepared to do so.

Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed Friday amid holiday-shortened trade.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 15¢ lower, except for an average of 26¢ higher in the front two contracts.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 10¢ higher, except for unchanged to an average of 5¢ lower in three contracts.

Corn futures closed mostly 4¢ to 5¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 11¢ to 14¢ lower through the front six contracts and then mostly 4¢ to 7¢ lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on light demand to a standstill through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, live prices were $7 higher in the Southern Plains at $140/cwt., $5-$6 higher in Nebraska at $138-$140, $5-$8 higher in Colorado at $140 and $6 higher in the western Corn Belt at $138-$140. Dressed trade was $7 higher in Nebraska at $217.

Total estimated cattle slaughter last week of 566,000 head was 111,000 head fewer than the previous week. Total year-to-date estimated cattle slaughter of 30.16 million head was 863,000 head more (+2.9%) than a year earlier. Total year-to-date estimated beef production of 24.95 billion lbs. was 601.5 million lbs. more (+2.5%) than a year earlier.

The average dressed steer weight the week ending Nov. 13 was 924 lbs., according to USDA’s Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. That was 5 lbs. heavier than the previous week but 6 lbs. lighter than a year earlier. The average dressed heifer weight of 844 lbs. was 2 lbs. heavier than the previous week but 2 lbs. lighter than the previous year.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 90¢ higher Friday afternoon at $280.01/cwt. Select was $1.19 lower at $262.28/cwt.

******************************

Major U.S. financial indices closed sharply lower Friday, in response to reports from the World Health Organization about a new COVID variant (Omicron) discovered in South Africa, where COVID infections increased in recent weeks.  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 905 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 106 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 353 points.

******************************

Last year, there were 19.7 million full-time and part-time jobs related to the agricultural and food sectors — 10.3% of total U.S. employment — according to USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS).

“Direct on-farm employment accounted for about 2.6 million of these jobs, or 1.4% of U.S. employment,” according to ERS analysts. “Employment in agriculture-related and food-related industries supported another 17.1 million jobs. Of these, food service, eating and drinking places accounted for the largest share at 10.5 million jobs. Food and beverage stores supported 3.3 million jobs.”

For recent perspective, 772,000 workers were hired directly by operators of the nation’s farms and ranches the week of Oct. 10-16, 2021, according to the most recent Farm Labor report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). That was 2% more than the reference week in October 2020.

Farm and ranch operators paid their hired workers an average gross wage of $16.59 per hour during the October 2021 reference week. That was 5% more than the previous year. Field workers received an average of $16.08 per hour, up 5%. Livestock workers earned $15.45 per hour, up 6%. The field and livestock worker combined gross wage rate of $15.92 per hour was 5% more than the 2020 reference week.

Negotiated cash fed cattle prices are soaring. So far this week, live prices in the Southern Plains are $7 higher at $140/cwt., $4-$6 higher in Nebraska at $138-$139 and $4 higher in the western Corn Belt at $136-$138. Trade through Wednesday afternoon was moderate with good demand in the Southern Plains and Nebraska, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Live prices in Colorado last week were at $132-$135. Dressed prices last week were at $210.

Cash bullishness added fuel to the rally in Cattle futures.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.60 higher ($1.07 higher at the back to $2.55 higher in spot Jan).

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.09 higher, (37¢ higher toward the back to $2.50 higher in spot Dec).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 47¢ higher Wednesday afternoon at $279.11/cwt. Select was 80¢ higher at $263.47/cwt.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 2¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 6¢ to 7¢ lower through the front five contracts and then mostly 2¢ to 3¢ higher.

******************************

Major U.S. financial indices closed narrowly mixed Wednesday.

Initial unemployment insurance claims for the week ending Nov. 20 were 199,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That was 71,000 fewer than the previous week and the fewest since Nov. 15 in 1969.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 9 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 10 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 70 points.

******************************

Historically large exports of U.S. beef to China continue to help buoy this year’s record pace of exports overall.

“Through the first three quarters of the year, the U.S. has shipped 394.5 million pounds to China, a more than 9-fold increase from the same period last year,” according to analysts with the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC), in the latest Livestock Monitor. “Since March of this year, China has ranked as the number three destination for U.S. beef exports each month. In September, China accounted for 18.1% of total exports for the month behind South Korea (22.4%) and Japan (24.0%).”

Based on weekly exports and net sales data, LMIC analysts say beef exports to China are expected to remain elevated through the end of the year.

“The last two weeks, USDA FAS reported new sales of 8,230 and 13,751 metric tons (or 18.1 and 30.3 million lbs.) to China,” say LMIC analysts. “Net sales are new export sales which were purchased for delivery to the destination. Two consecutive weeks of large new sales of beef to China is an indication that they are likely sourcing beef supplies for the Chinese New Year (February 1, 2022) and 2022 Winter Olympics (February 4-20, 2022).”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from slow on light demand in the Southern Plains to limited on light demand in other regions through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although there were too few transactions to trend, early live sales were $3 higher in the Southern Plains at $136/cwt.

Prices last week were at $133 in the Southern Plains, $133-$134 in Nebraska, $132-$135 in Colorado and $132-$134 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed trade was at $210.

Cattle futures continued to gain ground Tuesday with recent cash strength and the likelihood of another step forward this week.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.46 higher.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 68¢ higher, from 37¢ to $1.22 higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 61¢ lower Tuesday afternoon at $278.64/cwt. Select was $1.06 lower at $262.67/cwt.

******************************

Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed again Tuesday as bond yields continued to hamper tech stocks.  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 194 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 7 points higher. The NASDAQ was down 79 points.

******************************

U.S. beef and veal exports are projected at $9.1 billion next year, which would be $428 million more than this year, according to the latest quarterly Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The increase is based mostly on expected higher unit values.

Livestock, poultry, and dairy exports are forecast to increase by $1.9 billion to $38.7 billion, with gains across all major commodities except pork.

Total U.S. agricultural exports for 2022 are projected at $175.5 billion, down $2.0 billion from the August forecast, driven by forecast reductions in oilseed and oilseed product exports. If realized, however, the total would be record large.

“The global economic recovery continues to make progress, but with continued disruptions posed by both price pressures and supply issues. Continued supply-chain backlogs and coronavirus (COVID-19) variants have slowed the economic recovery,” say ERS-FAS analysts. “Despite these continued challenges, global employment statistics continue to gain strength, pointing to momentum in the economic recovery through the end of the calendar year. World real gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to increase by 5.9% in 2021, and subsequently increase by 4.9% in 2022.”

ERS-FAS projects U.S. real GDP at 6.0% this year and 5.2% next year.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Live prices last week were $1 higher in the Southern Plains at $133/cwt., $1-$2 higher in Nebraska at $133-$134, steady to $2 higher in the western Corn Belt at $132-$134 and steady to $3 higher in Colorado at $132-$135. Dressed trade was $3 higher at $210.

Cattle futures gained some traction Monday with support from last week’s stronger cash prices and the neutral Cattle on Feed report.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 62¢ higher, except for unchanged in the back contract, amid light trade.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 68¢ higher, from 32¢ higher at the back to $1.27 higher toward the front. 

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 84¢ higher Monday afternoon at $279.25/cwt. Select was 10¢ lower at $263.73/cwt.

Corn futures closed mostly 4¢ to 7¢ higher, riding wheat’s coattails.

Soybean futures closed 7¢ to 11¢ higher through the front six contracts, and then mostly 4¢ to 5¢ higher.

******************************

Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed Monday as bond yield rates and the Dollar index increased.  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 17 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 15 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 202 points.

******************************

“Market-ready supplies of fed cattle have tightened and packers are actively chasing cattle for the first time in many months,” says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his weekly market comments. He notes the upper end of last week’s negotiated cash fed cattle price range was $9-$10 higher than the last week of October.

At the same time, Peel explains Oklahoma auction prices for feeder steers (800-850 lbs., Medium and Large #1) increased nearly 6% since September and are about 21% higher than when the year began.

“This increase in feeder prices reflects generally tighter feeder cattle supplies and fed market optimism as reflected in Live Cattle futures prices in 2022,” Peel explains. “This is despite sharply higher feedlot cost of gain — up 33% from January to September in Kansas feedlot surveys.”

Stocker steer and calf prices are up sharply from early October lows. Oklahoma auction prices for Medium and Large #1 steers weighing 450-500 lbs. rose 13% over the last seen weeks and are nearly 8% more than the beginning of the year, according to Peel.

“In general, cattle prices are higher now compared to last year and are expected to continue improving in 2022. Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle futures have priced in considerable optimism for 2022,” Peel says. “However, plenty of challenges remain for cattle producers with continued drought, higher input prices, supply chain disruptions and considerable short-term macroeconomic uncertainty. It will still be a bumpy ride, but producers can focus more on managing costs with cattle prices generally moving higher.”