Strong fundamentals and increasing open interest helped lift Cattle futures Tuesday.

Toward the close, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.95 higher. Live Cattle futures were an average of 74¢ higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $196-$197/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $200 in Nebraska and the western Corn. Dressed delivered prices were $315.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.31 lower Tuesday afternoon at $325.79/cwt. Select was $2.10 higher at $305.43.

Grain and Soybean futures closed mixed Tuesday with traders keeping in mind the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates and Grain Stocks report due out this Friday.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were mainly unchanged. Kansas City Wheat futures were 2¢ to 3¢ higher. Soybean futures were mostly fractionally lower to 2¢ lower.

Cattle futures closed higher Monday on bullish fundamentals, following the previous session’s profit taking.

Toward the close, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.82 higher. Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.48 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. 

Last week, FOB live prices were $4 higher in the Southern Plains at $197/cwt., $3-$4 higher in Nebraska at $200 and $3-$5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $200. Dressed delivered prices were $8 higher at $315.

Last week’s five-area direct weighted average FOB live steer price was $4.12 higher at $198.93. The weighted averaged dressed delivered steer price was $7.91 higher at $314.96.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.86 higher Monday afternoon at $327.10/cwt. Select was $6.61 higher at $303.33.

Grain and Soybean futures were higher Monday, buoyed by South American weather expectations.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 4¢ to 6¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 13¢ to 14¢ higher. Soybean futures were 1¢ to 8¢ higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was active to moderate on very good demand in the North through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Trade in the Southern Plains was light on good demand.

For the week, FOB live prices were $4-$5 higher in the Southern Plains at mainly $197/cwt., $3-$4 higher in Nebraska at $200 and $3-$5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $200. Dressed delivered prices were $8 higher at $315.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.76 higher Friday afternoon at $325.24/cwt. Select was $2.49 higher at $296.72.

Based on the last full week of December, estimated total cattle slaughter in 2024 was about 1.2 million head less (-3.7%) year over year, while estimated beef production was 169.1 million pounds less (-0.6%).

Cattle futures closed lower Friday with likely profit taking.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.32 lower.  Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.02 lower, except for 45¢ higher in spot Feb.

Week to week on Friday, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.32 higher (32¢ to $3.62 higher) except for 70¢ lower in the back contract. Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.57 higher through the front three contracts and then an average of 37¢ higher.

Grain and Soybean futures closed lower Friday.

Corn futures closed 7¢ to 9¢ lower through old-crop contracts and then mostly 5¢ lower with some likely producer selling.  

Kansas City Wheat futures closed 12¢ to 13¢ lower through Jly ’26, pressured by poor exports and positive domestic production conditions. Net U.S. weekly export sales for the week ending Dec. 26 were down 77% from the previous week — a marketing year lower — and 68% less than the prior four-week period.

Soybean futures closed mostly 16¢ to 21¢ lower, also pressured by anemic export sales — down 51% from the prior week and down 67% from the previous four-week average.

Cattle futures rose Thursday, led by cash.

Toward the close, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.41 higher. Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.35 higher, except for $1.22 lower in newly minted away Jun. 

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light to moderate on good demand in Kansas through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were $3-$4 higher at $196/cwt.

Elsewhere, trade was limited on good demand with too few transactions to trend.

FOB live prices last week were $192-$193/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $196-$197 in Nebraska and $195-$197 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $307.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 24¢ lower Thursday afternoon at $323.48/cwt. Select was 29¢ lower at $294.23.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed on Thursday.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Soybean futures were 1¢ to 3¢ higher. Corn futures were 1¢ to 3¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 6¢ to 8¢ lower.

Cattle futures gained Tuesday, helped along by expectations of steady to higher cash fed cattle prices this week.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.78 higher. Live Cattle futures were an average of 72¢ higher, except for 22¢ lower in expiring Dec. 

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on very light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

FOB live prices last week were $192-$193/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $196-$197 in Nebraska and $195-$197 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $307.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.15 lower Tuesday afternoon at $324.22/cwt. Select was 24¢ lower at $294.52.

Grain and Soybean futures closed higher Tuesday with traders apparently adding South American weather risk premium as they squared year-end positions.

Soybean futures closed 14¢ to 19¢ higher. Corn futures were mostly 4¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were mostly 2¢ higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on very light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

FOB live prices last week were $1-$2 higher at $192-$193/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $196-$197 in Nebraska and $195-$197 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $2 higher at $307.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.99 higher Monday afternoon at $325.37/cwt., supported by slower packer production. Select was $3.63 higher at $294.76.

Cattle futures mostly edged higher Monday.

Toward the close, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 37¢ higher, except for an average of 28¢ lower in the back two contracts. Live Cattle futures were an average of 25¢ higher, except for an average of 28¢ lower in two contracts. 

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed on Monday.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Soybean futures were 2¢ to 4¢ higher. Corn futures were 1¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 1¢ higher.

Cattle futures extended gains Friday, supported by another day of stronger wholesale beef values and higher cash fed cattle prices.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 97¢ higher. Live Cattle futures were an average of 69¢ higher. Week to week on Friday, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $4.23 higher. Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.96 higher ($2.12 to $3.97 higher).

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from light to moderate on moderate demand in the Southern Plains to light on light demand in the North through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

FOB live prices were $1-$2 higher in the Southern Plains at $192-$193/cwt.

There were some early live FOB trades in the western Corn Belt at $196 and a few dressed delivered trades in Nebraska at $307, but too few to trend.

The previous week, FOB live prices were $195-$195.50 in Nebraska and $195-$196 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $305.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.99 higher Friday afternoon at $322.38/cwt. Select was $2.36 higher at $291.13. Week to week on Friday, Choice was $6.53 higher and Select was $5.22 higher.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 434,000 head was 67,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 31 million head was 1.2 million head less (-3.7%) than the same time a year earlier. Year-to-date estimated beef production of 26.4 billion pounds was 169.1 million pounds less (-0.6%).

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Friday.

Corn futures closed mixed, from fractionally higher to 1¢ higher in old-crop contracts and then fractionally lower to 1¢ lower. They were an average of 6’3¢ higher through the front six contracts week to week, supported by demand. Net weekly U.S. export sales of corn were 46% more than the previous week and 39% more than the prior four-week average.

Kansas City Wheat futures were 3¢ higher helped along by stronger recent demand. Net weekly U.S. export sales were 34% more than the previous week and 64% more than the prior four-week average.

Soybean futures closed mostly 4¢ to 8¢ lower, giving back some of the previous session’s South American weather premium and pressured by a reminder of lagging demand. Weekly net U.S. export sales were 31% less than the previous week — a marketing year low — and 47% less than the prior four-week average.

Cattle futures were sharply higher Thursday, buoyed by stronger wholesale beef values and the prospects of steady to higher cash fed cattle trade again this week.

Toward the close, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.79 higher. Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.47 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand in the Southern Plains to a standstill in North through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $191/cwt., in the Southern Plains on a light test, $195-$195.50 in Nebraska and $195-$196 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $305.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $4.41 higher Thursday afternoon at $320.39/cwt. Select was $2.02 higher at $288.77.

Grain and Soybean futures bounced higher Thursday, perhaps with short covering and perceived value buying.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 4¢ to 6¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 8¢ higher. Soybean futures were 12¢ to 16¢ higher.  

Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed Monday with traders appearing to view Friday’s Cattle on Feed report as neutral.

Toward the close, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 31¢ higher. Live Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 42¢ lower to an average of 11¢ higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was at a standstill in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $191/cwt., in the Southern Plains on a light test, $195-$195.50 in Nebraska and $195-$196 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $305.

The weekly weighted average five-area direct FOB live steer price was 42¢ higher at $194.73. The weighted averaged dressed delivered steer price was $2.20 higher at 305.64.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 13¢ higher Monday afternoon at $315.98/cwt. Select was 84¢ higher at $286.75.

The grain complex was mixed Monday.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Soybean futures were mostly 3¢ to 5¢ lower. Corn futures were unchanged to 2¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 6¢ higher.

Cattle futures closed higher Friday, helped along by rebounding outside markets and steady to higher cash fed cattle prices.  .

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.26 higher. Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.14 higher (62¢ higher at the back to $1.85 higher toward the front).   

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.00 lower ($1.00 to $3.62 lower). Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.63 lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand in the Southern Plains to slow on light to moderate demand elsewhere, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices were steady in Kansas at $191/cwt., unevenly steady in Nebraska at $195-$195.50 and steady to $2 higher in the western Corn Belt at $195-$196. Dressed delivered prices were $305, which was steady to $5 higher in Nebraska and steady to $3 higher in the western Corn Belt. FOB live prices in the Texas Panhandle the previous week were $191-$192 in a light test.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $4.84 lower Friday afternoon at $315.85/cwt. Select was $1.80 higher at $285.91.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 617,000 head was 8,000 head more than the previous week but 4,000 head less than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 30.6 million head was 1.1 million head less (-3.6%) year over year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 26 billion pounds was 121.3 million pounds less (-0.5%).

Soybean futures were 10¢ to 13¢ higher through Aug ’26 and then mostly 7¢ to 8¢ higher, supported by short covering. Corn futures closed mostly 3¢ to 5¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures closed mostly fractionally higher to 1¢ higher.