Is there any action in feed grain?
With the feeding sector growing in both beef and lamb industries, along with the traditional large consumers, chicken and pork, there has never been as much grain consumed domestically. As such we have never had such interest in what feed prices are going to do. Australian domestic grain consumption is reported somewhere on the ABARES […]
Beef outlook positive but weather shifts into focus
The Chinese beef import quotas announced on New Year’s Eve were the talk of the industry early in January. Quota remain a hot topic around the saleyards, this that, and El Nino predictions the black clouds on an otherwise rosy outlook for beef and cattle prices. The Beef Producers Intentions Survey conducted in November had […]
Export demand driving lamb prices
It’s no secret that export demand for lamb has been the driver of the record pricing of the last six months. Globally, red meat is in short supply, and lamb is part of that complex. This article looks at exports in 2025, and how we’ve opened 2026. Despite the extremely tight lamb supply through the […]
Aussie dollar jump and impact on grain
The Australian dollar relative to the US dollar has lifted to levels not seen since early 2023, and not sustained since early 2022. We all know a rising Aussie dollar is negative for grain prices, making our grain more expensive relative to US grain in export markets. Here, we put some context around the impact […]
Record yields in WA
The final harvest reports are in, with further updates likely to offer minimal changes. Western Australia has received the promised bumper crop, while receivals on the east coast appear to be significantly lower than last year. Figure 1 shows receivals in WA dwarfing other states, with over 24mmt of grain delivered into CBH. SA was […]
Beef outlook strong, cattle another question
A quick review of data coming out of the US comes with the conclusion that extreme global beef demand isn’t going anywhere for some time. Locally, there are some restrictions on growers taking advantage of the boom. On Meat and Livestock Australia’s (MLA) website, you can find the Steiner weekly imported beef market report. The […]
Lamb slaughter starts on a high
Lamb slaughter has opened the year stronger than it finished, while mutton has started weaker. Markets are being disrupted by heatwaves and a public holiday, making it difficult to get a read on exactly where supply and demand sit. January used to bring peaks in lamb slaughter. We think it had a bit to do […]
Tariff reduction boosts canola markets
The global canola trade had another significant shift last week with China reducing tariffs on Canadian canola. The response in the Canadian markets was strongly positive, as expected, so it is a good time to have a look at how global supply and prices are shaping up. The latest update to the United States Department […]
Stock feeding proving cheaper
You would think that with disasters at the top and the bottom of the east coast wiping out feed, and again instigating hay drives, the hay market would find some strength. Last week we saw the opposite, and values are now back at last year’s levels. There is plenty of hay being delivered into flooded […]
Weaners a little weaker but sellers can’t complain
The southern weaner sales are almost over, and despite opening a little weaker than December, the results have positive compared to last year and compared to the market in general. The southern weaner sales are almost over, and despite opening a little weaker than December, the results have been positive compared to last year and […]
Little joy in terms of price for sellers
The Ashes are over, the Poms are heading home, the traders are back at their desks, and the headers are pulling up. The first grain article of the New Year is a good time to look at what happened with prices and harvest over the break. The public holidays might have slowed down the traders, […]
Lamb a little weaker, mutton a little stronger
It has been a pretty devastating weekend in many Victorian sheep-growing areas, with fires raging through some prime sheep and cattle country. The consequences will no doubt create some short-term local market issues. With flock rebuild and potentially better rainfall year in the south, we take an initial look ahead for the year. Lamb markets […]