It always amazes me how two weeks can make such a difference in the outlook for an industry. Two weeks ago Anne and I talked about the nervousness of the cattle market based on a high dollar, high feed and price plateau. Now the dollar is lower and the US fat prices spiked $5 last… Read More
With the fall run about to begin many feeders are in a very nervous place. It can be very difficult to make good business decisions when the market is nervous. If the list below continues to unfold through the fall it will really separate the good managers from the great managers. Or the lucky from… Read More
The Calgary Stampede is back again this year and it is definitely the biggest party in Canada every year. The Stampede has transitioned from a agriculture centric event to one also about the fair, thrill rides and concerts. All things considered the Calgary Stampede still holds its roots in agriculture. With the rodeo, chuck wagon… Read More
Not only does wet weather impact the grain and oilseed markets but it also has an impact on the livestock markets. Feedyards and ranches are in the elements which means with cattle in the elements the impact of dry or wet weather is definitely a factor in the profitability of the producer. Anne Dunford and… Read More
In this weeks episode, Anne Dunford discusses the impact that external forces are having on the North American Cattle market. It is becoming very clear that the markets like to respond to any news it can causing unnecessary prices moves which results in uncontrollable risk. Many times these external forces are reality but sometimes they… Read More
The one thing that stays consistent is that if you are in the cattle feeding business your really need to be able to stomach volatility and adverse affects that are outside of your realm of control as a producer. The snow storm has had a real impact on the cattle in the yards along with… Read More
Sometimes you just know that a market feels toppy but you maybe are a little scared to pull the trigger and start locking in some profits. Then without notice the market violently trades against you in a short period of time. How would that make you feel? Well if you are unsure ask your neighboring… Read More
Its nice to actually experience some profits in the feeding business. The question is whether this will continue through the spring or fade away and leave us wondering what happened. With April producing short supplies and barbeque season a month away, the result has been some badly needed profits for the sector. For the Canadian… Read More
It is about time that we saw some black ink in the feeding sector. Whether the rise in live cattle prices is due to hedge fund buying, increasing box beef demand or the terrible weather in the US, we will take the profits anyway that we can get them. The next question is whether this… Read More
With the weather issues in the US, a rise in fed cattle prices has followed. Cattle feeders are very interested in the potential profits that can finally be squeaked out of the market. Will this continue? Can we expect 2010 to maybe be the turn around year that we thought was maybe possible back at… Read More
By most accounts the 2010 NCBA convention in San Antonio was a huge success. This was my first NCBA meeting so it is fitting that we talked to Anne Dunford a wily veteran of the NCBA festivities. Anne wrapped up the week and talked about what she thought were the major things to be pulled… Read More
Now that we have flipped the calendar into 2010 we can leave 2009 behind us and look forward to a year of prosperity for ranchers and cattle feeders right? I’m not sure if it is that easy but it seems that the flip to the new decade has brought some fresh optimism and willingness to give it… Read More
Last week was a brutal week in terms of cattle pricing and the question is starting to loom, what will 2010 bring the business. The feeding and ranching industry needs some relief from the financial pressure that has been experienced over the last twelve months. Had it not been for the currency trade gains in 2008,… Read More
This fall is proving to test the real intestinal fortitude of the cattleman in the United States and Canada. With feeding losses mounting and demand not recovering in the early winter months, the outlook looks extremely strained. Traditionally cattleman have been internal optimists but this turn of feeding has challenged all of that and more…. Read More
Anne Dunford of the Gateway Livestock Exchange breaks down the recent bounce off the bottom for the cattle market and whether or not she can see this market continuing upward into December and the spring. See Past Beef Market Updates