Cattle futures rebounded Friday, fueled by the higher cash fed cattle prices in the North.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.76 higher ($1.55 higher at the back to $4.00 higher at the front).

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $3.76 higher.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $5.46 higher ($3.42 higher at the back to $7.70 higher toward the front). During the same period, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $5.85 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on very light demand in the Southern Plains through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Trade was active on good demand in Nebraska but light with moderate demand in the western Corn Belt.

For the week, FOB live prices were steady in the Southern Plains at $197/cwt., but $2-$4 higher in the North at $200-$202. Dressed delivered prices were $2-$4 higher in Nebraska at $315-$317. The dressed delivered price in the western Corn Belt was $313.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.78 higher Friday afternoon at $314.90/cwt. Select was $2.29 higher at $305.80. Week to week on Friday, Choice was $3.07 higher and Select was $3.75 higher.

Total estimated cattle slaughter last week of 578,000 head was 12,000 head more than the previous week but 6,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 5.5 million head was 410,000 head fewer (-6.9%) than the same period last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 4.8 billion pounds was 129.6 million less (-2.6%).

Turning to the grain complex, futures were mixed Friday.

Corn futures closed 4¢ to 5¢ higher through old-crop contracts and then mostly 2¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures closed mostly 3¢ to 4¢ lower. Soybean futures closed mostly 4¢ to 5¢ higher, except for fractionally lower to 3¢ lower through the front three contracts.

Cattle futures softened Thursday as outside markets turned more bearish and the week’s cash fed cattle trade remained unestablished.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 46¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 94¢ lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on light demand in Kansas to mostly inactive on very light demand elsewhere through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $197 in the Southern Plains and $198 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $313.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 42¢ lower Thursday afternoon at $313.12/cwt. Select was 98¢ higher at $303.51.

Grain and Soybean futures rose Thursday, supported by stronger demand and reports of delayed U.S. tariffs on Mexico and Canada.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 4¢ to 9¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures unchanged to 7¢ higher. Soybean futures were 12¢ to 17¢ higher.

Cattle futures gained Wednesday and continued to retrench, supported by higher outside markets.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.08 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.39 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $197 in the Southern Plains and $198 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $313.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.33 lower Wednesday afternoon at $313.54/cwt. Select was $1.49 lower at $302.53.

Grain and Soybean futures were higher Wednesday, taking a breather from recent tariff pressure.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were mostly fractionally higher to 5¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 7¢ to 9¢ higher. Soybean futures were 7¢ to 14¢ higher.

Cattle futures steadied Tuesday after initial pressure tied to new U.S. tariffs and worries about how trading partners will respond.

Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation says, “We are reviewing the retaliatory measures announced by Canada and China and are watching for details on the response from Mexico.

He explains, “These three markets accounted for $8.4 billion in U.S. red meat exports last year, including nearly $4 billion to Mexico. While the United States is the primary supplier of pork and beef to Mexico, Halstrom says, U.S. red meat has already been facing heightened competition in this critical market.”

Last year U.S. beef exports equated to more than $415 per fed steer or heifer slaughtered and pork exports equated to more than $66 per head slaughtered. These exports, a large share of which are underutilized cuts and variety meat, help producers maximize the value of every animal produced and allow U.S. consumers to enjoy more of the cuts they prefer.   

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.28 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 43¢ higher, except for an average of 23¢ lower at either end of the board.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on light demand in Kansas through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although too few to trend, there were some early live FOB trades t $195/cwt.

Elsewhere, trade was at a standstill.

Last week, FOB live prices were $197 in the Southern Plains and $198 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $313.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 92¢ higher Tuesday afternoon at $314.85/cwt. Select was $1.61 higher at $304.02.

Grain and Soybean futures were lower again Tuesday, but off session lows, in defense against U.S. tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 3¢ to 4¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 9¢ to 12¢ lower. Soybean futures were 9¢ to 13¢ lower.

Cattle futures extended losses from the previous session on Monday, and for the same reasons: long-position liquidation by funds tied to growing uncertainty tied to looming U.S. tariffs and concerns about domestic economic growth.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 71¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 74¢lower.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $2 lower in the Southern Plains at $197/cwt., $1-$2 lower in Nebraska at $198 and $1-$3 lower in the western Corn Belt at $198. Dressed delivered prices were $2 lower at $313.

The five-area direct weighted average FOB live steer price last week was $1.99 lower at $197.65. The weighted averaged dressed delivered steer price was $2.20 lower at $312.92.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.10 higher Monday afternoon at $313.93/cwt. Select was 36¢ higher at $302.41.

Grain and Soybean futures continued to unwind Monday with the looming threat of U.S. tariffs.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 5¢ to 13¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 9¢ to 11¢ lower. Soybean futures were 12¢ to 15¢ lower.

Cattle futures closed lower Friday with the week’s lower cash fed cattle trade, sluggish wholesale beef prices, position squaring and wariness over the impact of U.S. tariffs set to begin this week.

Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.58 lower.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.45 lower.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 80¢ lower (10¢ to $1.55 lower), except for an average of 19¢ higher in the back three contracts. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 5.10 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on light to moderate demand in the Southern Plains through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were $2 lower at $197/cwt.

Elsewhere, trade was light on light to moderate demand. Although too few to trend, there were some FOB live trades in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt at $198. The previous week, prices were $199-$200 in Nebraska and $199 to $201 in the western Corn Belt.

Dressed delivered prices were $2 lower in Nebraska at $313. The previous week, prices were $315 in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 65¢ higher Friday afternoon at $311.83/cwt. Select was 8¢ lower at $302.05.

Grain futures sank Friday with apparent risk-of fund selling tied to looming U.S. tariffs and more bearish economic growth expectations, in tandem with week-end and month-end position squaring.

Corn futures closed 9¢ to 11¢ lower through old-crop contracts and then mostly 4¢ to 6¢ lower. Week to week on Friday, they were an average of 28¢ lower in the front six contracts.

Kansas City Wheat futures closed 7¢ to 13¢ lower on Friday. Soybean futures closed 8¢ to 12¢ lower.

Cattle futures gained Thursday with support from lower feed futures and the likelihood of fewer Mexican cattle imports when new tariffs begin.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 67¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.06 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from a standstill in the Southern Plains to limited on very light demand in the North through Thursday afternoon with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $199/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $199-$200 in Nebraska and $199-$201 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $315.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.72 lower Thursday afternoon at $311.18/cwt. Select was $1.11 lower at $302.13.

Grain futures were lower again Thursday with likely liquidation prior to the first notice day on Friday, looming U.S. tariffs and initial domestic grain production estimates (see below).

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 8¢ to 14¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 12¢ to 15¢ lower. Soybean futures were mostly 3¢ lower.

Cattle futures softened Wednesday with the lack of weekly cash direction in the fed cattle market.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 74¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 71¢ lower, except for 20¢ higher in spot Mar.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $199/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $199-$200 in Nebraska and $199-$201 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $315.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.42 lower Wednesday afternoon at $312.90/cwt. Select was 89¢ lower at $303.24.

Grain and Soybean futures were softer again Wednesday with pressure including positive crop progress and planting in South America and USDA’s first planting projections, albeit unofficial, expected during this week’s Agricultural Outlook Forum.  

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures unchanged to 3¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 6¢ to 7¢ lower. Soybean futures were 5¢ to 7¢ lower.

Cattle futures were higher Tuesday, helped along by stronger wholesale beef values, another day of lower Corn futures and follow-through support tied to the recent Cattle on Feed report.

Toward the close on Tuesday, Live Cattle futures were an average of 82¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.98 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $199/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $199-$200 in Nebraska and $199-$201 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $315.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 59¢ higher Tuesday afternoon at $314.32/cwt. Select was 16¢ higher at $304.13.

Grain and Soybean futures eased lower again Tuesday with likely month-end position squaring and wariness about any initial acreage projections USDA shares during this week’s Agricultural Outlook Forum.  

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 1¢ to 2¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 2¢ to 3¢ lower. Soybean futures were 1¢ lower to 2¢ higher.

Cattle futures closed higher Monday, buoyed by the recent Cattle on Feed report and a sharp decline in Grain futures.

Toward the close on Monday, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.31 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.10 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $4 lower in the Southern Plains at $199/cwt., $3-$4 lower in Nebraska at $199-$200 and $2-$4 lower in the western Corn Belt at $199-$201. Dressed delivered prices were $5-$6 lower at $315.

The five-area direct weighted average FOB live steer price last week was $3.27 lower at $199.64/cwt. The weighted average dressed delivered steer price was $5.40 lower at $315.12.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.96 higher Monday afternoon at $313.73/cwt. Select was $1.41 higher at $303.97.

Grain and Soybean futures were lower Monday with pressure including tariff concerns, early month-end position squaring and perhaps wariness about any initial acreage projections USDA shares during this week’s Agricultural Outlook Forum.  

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 5¢ to 8¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 10¢ to 11¢ lower. Soybean futures were 8¢ to 10¢ lower.