by ago_admin | Nov 26, 2025 | Uncategorized
TL;DR The USDA Cattle on Feed (COF) report drives cattle futures because it reveals real supply: placements, marketings, and on-feed inventory. What matters isn’t the number itself—but how it compares to pre-report estimates. Heavy placements → bearish. Light...
by ago_admin | Nov 25, 2025 | Uncategorized
Futures Cattle Spreads TL;DR A cattle spread is the price difference between two futures months; some feeders trade this difference, not the outright price. Spreads move because of real cattle fundamentals — carcass weights, placements, seasonal flows, packer demand,...
by ago_admin | Nov 24, 2025 | Uncategorized
TL;DR High cattle prices bring both opportunity and regret for many ranchers. Common regrets include not layering hedging, assuming prices will stay high, and waiting too long to act on market signals. Hedging with futures and options can protect profits and manage...
by ago_admin | Nov 20, 2025 | Uncategorized
This is the opinion of Ag Optimus. Option volatility — often called VOL — is one of the most misunderstood forces in the cattle markets. Most feeders know the basics of futureOption volatility — often called VOL — is one of the most misunderstood forces in the cattle...
by ago_admin | Nov 19, 2025 | Uncategorized
Introduction: Why Cattle Feeders Must Understand Basis For cattle feeders, basis is not just a math formula — it’s one of the most important profitability signals in the entire feeding business. While futures prices set broad market expectations, basis reveals the...