Beef quality assurance programs have always had challenges getting funds to all producers in value chains. New programs aim to improve this.

Cargill issues cattle ear tag reports

Companies and organizations continue to work to make quality assurance programs make sense for farmers

A certified sustainable beef supply chain continues to have support from The Beef Farmers of Ontario. “The Ontario Beef Quality Assurance rebate incentive program continues to provide BFO checkoff paying members with a 100 per cent rebate on their first time on a Verified Beef Production Plus audit, for members who become certified through the […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down off highs on profit-taking

Hogs continue mixed on U.S. farrowing intentions

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures slumped on Monday as profit-taking dragged prices down after the market set new contract highs, traders said. CME June live cattle ended down 0.9 cent at 161.225 cents/lb., after reaching a high of 162.525 cents/lb. (all figures US$). That exceeded Friday’s high of 162.175 cents/lb. […] Read more

CME July 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs up in deferred months

USDA report fuels supply uncertainty; cattle up on cash strength

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rose in deferred contracts on Friday on U.S. producers’ plans for fewer sows to farrow, analysts said. Producers intend to have 2.93 million sows farrow, or give birth, from March to May, down one per cent from actual farrowings a year earlier, the U.S. Department […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle set contract high as cash prices jump

USDA sees hog farrowing intentions down on year

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures strengthened on Thursday, with the front-month contract setting a new high, as cash prices climbed. Cash cattle trades of around $170-$171/cwt in western Nebraska and around $172/cwt in northwest Iowa ignited the rally in futures, analysts said (all figures US$). Cash prices were up about […] Read more

CME April 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle hit three-week peak on tightening U.S. supply

Weak cash prices drag on hog futures

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures marched to a three-week high on Wednesday on expectations for tighter U.S. supplies, analysts said. Feeder cattle futures also advanced, while lean hogs softened. Technical buying helped support live cattle, analysts said, after a drop near eight-week lows last week was seen as overdone. The […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures top two-week highs

Chicago lean hog futures ease

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures topped another two-week high on Tuesday before finishing slightly firmer, while lean hog futures ended lower. Technical buying helped support gains in cattle, as the market has rebounded after nearing a two-month low last week, brokers said. A smaller U.S. cattle herd is also supportive […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle exceed two-week highs in rebound

Lean hogs up off last week's lows

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed stronger and touched their highest prices in more than two weeks on Monday as livestock markets recovered from recent losses, analysts said. The Dow and S+P 500 also ended higher, after turmoil in the banking sector recently weighed on equity and commodity markets. Cattle […] Read more

CME April 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs slide to new contract lows, finish mixed

April live cattle down, feeders up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures crumbled to new life-of-contract lows on Thursday, before finishing mixed, on concerns about poor demand for U.S. pork, analysts said. The market has tanked since last week, with additional pressure stemming from weak cash prices and larger-than-expected supplies of hogs. The front-month contract is down […] Read more


CME June 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs fall to contract lows on demand worries

April cattle also down on day

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures tumbled to contract lows again on Wednesday on concerns about lower demand, analysts said. Worries about the risk for a recession to reduce consumers’ meat purchases hung over livestock markets, particularly for expensive cuts, said Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist for broker StoneX. Wheat and […] Read more

Tom Aikins explains how his operation works during the Beef Farmers of Ontario annual dinner Feb. 22 in Toronto.

Rotational grazing system earns BFO pasture award

Young farmer followed his dream, started beef operation on rented land

Tom Aikins is humble about receiving the 2023 Beef Farmers of Ontario Mapleseed Pasture Award. “They decided they wanted to give me this,” said the first-generation farmer from Ravenna, Grey County, during the BFO dinner following its annual meeting last month. “I don’t really know why. I’m not reinventing the wheel, but we’re raising cattle […] Read more