Acreage Reporting    There is always a first and always a last.  As a reminder we need all acres reported and signed no later than July 15th this coming Monday!    We are also fast approaching the cash discount date of August 15th for hail insurance.  Cash Hail Discounts  The office must have ample time to…

Cattle & Ranch Report June 26, 2024   Live Cattle: August and October fats pushed to a new high today.  While only by a fraction, it will be more than interesting to see if there is follow through, or a last ditch effort to resume a bull trend.  Open interest has been increasing slightly.  I…

Cattle & Ranch Report June 20, 2024   Live Cattle: The spread today between front end and back leads me to believe the industry is wrapping up the end of the holiday seasons for the summer and preparing for the doldrums.  Grocer and restaurant buying for the July 4th weekend is believed wrapping up as next…

Cattle & Ranch Report June 12, 2024 Live Cattle: Stagflation is painfully slow in declining, but it is. Nothing new today that I can see.  Boxes continue to rise, opening further margin to packers and rationing beef to the consumer.  I continue to see nothing to do in the live cattle market, as fewer do…

Cattle & Ranch Report June 5, 2024 Live Cattle: A slow start for a market with so much optimism.  Futures traders appear apprehensive to push premium, or even narrow the positive basis to a width that may have some benefit.  I think vertical integration has already taken a large step forward.  Consumers continue to battle…

Cattle & Ranch Report May 30th, 2024 Live Cattle: Many are blaming yesterday’s selloff on the mid-session news drop that China detected traces of ractopamine in beef samples from JBS Greeley.  Ractopamine is a banned substance in China, who announced overnight that they would become more lax with restrictions on beef imports from Australia.   China…

One for the records book; we experienced a Tornado warning in SE North Dakota, Snowstorm in Western ND, Torrential rain in Central ND, and sunshine in other parts of ND! Like the old timers say wait an hour and the weather will change! Prevent Plant: We are fast approaching the final plant date for corn…

Cattle & Ranch Report May 22, 2024 Live Cattle: No breaks this morning starting off for the cattle feeder.  Futures traders continue make it tough on cattle feeders.  The positive basis in fats, and negative in feeders, is backwards of what would be of benefit to the cattle feeder.  Nonetheless, it is what we have…

Cattle & Ranch Report May 16, 2024 Live Cattle: Further consolidation continues to keep prices of cattle within a narrow range.  A break out to the upside would lead me to anticipate a test of the down trendline.  If materializes, a move of June to $182.00 would be anticipated.  A dollar or two lower in cash,…