Grains Cool Down as Livestock Markets Ignite: A Sizzling Agricultural Shift!

Farm Journal logo


Blue Line Futures is a futures and commodities brokerage firm providing actionable proprietary research and a trade desk to speak with as much or as little as you want.

 

 

Corn

March corn futures finished the day 1/2 a cent lower to settle at 451 3/4, snapping the 5-day win streak.  Throughout the week we’ve out outlined 450-452 as a pivot pocket and inflection point for the market.  This pocket represents previous support as well as the breakdown point from the most recent WASDE report.  The Bulls want to see a close above this pocket to spur additional technical short covering, a failure to do so keeps the Bear’s in the driver’s seat. 

This morning’s weekly export sales report came in at 954,800 MT (37,588,805 bushels) for 2023/2024 were down 24%from the previous week, but up 14% from the prior 4-week average. 

The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange releases weekly report showing an increase 2023-24 corn production; raised to 56.5m tons from 55m tons last week.  Planting area at 7.2m ha vs 7.1m ha.

 

Soybean

March soybeans fell flat today after failing against resistance over the last 24 hours.  At the close March futures were 17 1/4 cents lower to settle at 1223.  New crop November beans finished the day 11 3/4 cents lower to 1196 1/4. The stall out at resistance and ultimate failure today does not look good from a technical perspective. 

This morning’s weekly export sales report came in at 560,900 MT (20,609,541 bushels) for 2023/2024 were down 28% from the previous week, but up 6% from the prior 4-week average. 

The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange releases weekly report showed an increase in soybean production for 2023-24 crop, raised to 52.5m tons vs 50m tons.

 

Wheat 

March Chicago wheat futures continue to be the strongest of the three grains, marking another positive close.  March futures settled at 612 1/4, that was up 1 1/2 cents on the day. 

This morning’s weekly export sales report came in at 451,400 MT (16,586,106 bushels) for 2023/2024 were down 36% from the previous week, but up 45% from the prior 4-week average.

 

Cattle

Cattle futures (live and feeders) got shot out of a cannon mid-day as a strong cash trade started to develop with talk of 175 trading in TX and rumors of 177 in the North.  At the close April live cattle futures were 2.35 higher to settle at 180.70, the highest close since November 8th.

March feeder cattle finished the day a whopping 4.40 higher to settle at 238.17, that was good enough for the highest settlement since November 3rd!  The RSI (relative strength index) is officially in overbought territory with a reading of 72, the highest reading since we were trading near contract highs. 

This morning’s weekly export sales report was strong with net sales of beef 22,400 MT for 2024. 

Cattle slaughter est. 126k vs 121k a week ago.

 

Lean Hogs

Lean hogs staged a sharp rally in the last two sessions and were able to tack on a little more in today’s trade.  At the close April futures were 52 cents higher to settle at 82.55.  That puts prices right back near the top end of the range from October/November.  The RSI is approaching overbought territory with a reading of 67, the highest level since June. 

This morning’s weekly export sales report was pretty good, coming in at 4,100 MT for 2024.

 

 

Sign up below for a FREE trial of our daily commentary!

https://bluelinefutures.com/2023-signup/?utm_source=Barchart

 

📉Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Trading advice is based on information taken from trade and statistical services and other sources Blue Line Futures, LLC believes are reliable. We do not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects our good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice we give will result in profitable trades. All trading decisions will be made by the account holder. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

 

📈Blue Line Futures is a member of NFA and is subject to NFA’s regulatory oversight and examinations. However, you should be aware that the NFA does not have regulatory oversight authority over underlying or spot virtual currency products or transactions or virtual currency exchanges, custodians or markets. Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you considering your financial condition.

With Cyber-attacks on the rise, attacking firms in the healthcare, financial, energy and other state and global sectors, Blue Line Futures wants you to be safe! Blue Line Futures will never contact you via a third party application. Blue Line Futures employees use only firm authorized email addresses and phone numbers. If you are contacted by any person and want to confirm identity please reach out to us at info@bluelinefutures.com or call us at 312- 278-0500

 

Tags

 

Latest News

AgDay Markets Now:  Darren Frye Says Grain Markets Post Higher Week but Will Need These Factors to Keep Rallying
AgDay Markets Now: Darren Frye Says Grain Markets Post Higher Week but Will Need These Factors to Keep Rallying

Darren Frye, Water Street Solutions, says the wheat rally came on weather and technical buying, which also helped corn and soybeans post a higher week. He's not sure it can continue without a bigger weather issue.

Why Did Jerry Gulke Make Some Last-Minute Planting Changes on His Farm?
Why Did Jerry Gulke Make Some Last-Minute Planting Changes on His Farm?

Gulke Group president Jerry Gulke explains why he made the last-minute decision to switch 200 acres of corn to soybeans.

Wheat Outlook 5-30-90 Days (4.26.24))
Wheat Outlook 5-30-90 Days (4.26.24))

Recap of the week's price action, advice and outlook broken down into the next 5, 30 and 90 day segments.

Grains Close Higher for the Week:  Does the Market Need to Rally and Add More Risk Premium or Not?
Grains Close Higher for the Week: Does the Market Need to Rally and Add More Risk Premium or Not?

Grains end mixed Friday but higher for the week led by wheat.  Cattle make new highs for the move helped by stronger cash.  Can the markets continue to move higher?  Darren Frye, Water Street Solutions, has the answers.

APHIS To Require Electronic Animal ID for Certain Cattle and Bison
APHIS To Require Electronic Animal ID for Certain Cattle and Bison

APHIS issued its final rule on animal ID that has been in place since 2013, switching from solely visual tags to tags that are both electronically and visually readable for certain classes of cattle moving interstate.

A Margin Squeeze is Setting in Across Row-Crop Farms, and 80% of Ag Economists Are Now Concerned It'll Accelerate Consolidation
A Margin Squeeze is Setting in Across Row-Crop Farms, and 80% of Ag Economists Are Now Concerned It'll Accelerate Consolidation

There's an immense amount of pressure riding on this year’s crop production picture, and with a margin squeeze setting in across farms, economists think it could accelerate consolidation in the row-crop industry.