Cattle futures regained the previous session’s losses and more on Friday as traders retrenched for the beginning of a new month.

Live cattle futures were an average of $2.70 higher and Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.89 higher.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.61 higher and Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $3.23 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from moderate on moderate demand in Nebraska to mostly inactive on moderate demand elsewhere through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices were $2 higher in the Southern Plains at $242.00/cwt. and steady in the North at $245. Dressed delivered prices were steady at mainly $385.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.00 higher Friday afternoon at $415.41. Select was $4.16 higher at $390.00. Week to week on Friday, Choice boxed beef cutout value was $7.50 higher and Select was $6.34 higher.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 565,000 head was 14,000 head more than the previous week but 52,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Estimated total year-to-date cattle slaughter of 19.5 million head was 1.4 million head fewer (-6.9%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 16.9 billion pounds was 707 million pounds less (-4.0%).

Cattle futures closed lower Thursday with likely profit taking ahead of the long weekend.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $2.03 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.87 lower, except for 55¢ higher in expiring Aug.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on moderate demand in Kansas through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were $2 higher at $242/cwt.

Elsewhere, trade was mostly inactive on moderate demand. Last week, FOB live prices were $240 in the Texas Panhandle and $245 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $385-$392 in Nebraska and $385-$390 in the western Corn Belt on a light test.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.57 higher Thursday afternoon at $414.41. Select was $1.87 lower at $385.84.

Weekly net U.S. beef sales for 2025 the week ending Aug. 21 of 13,600 metric tons were 34% more than the previous week and 40% more than the prior four-week average. Increases were primarily for Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Mexico and Taiwan.

Grain and Soybean futures strengthened Thursday on likely month-end short covering. 

Toward the close and through away Jly contracts, Corn futures were 4¢ to 5¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 2¢ to 3¢ higher. Soybean futures fractionally mixed to 2¢ higher.

Cattle futures continued to push higher Wednesday. As the week wears on there is likely to be some profit taking ahead of the long weekend.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of 70¢ higher, except for 17¢ lower in waning spot Aug.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 96¢ higher.

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

Although too few to trend, there were some early live FOB trades in Kansas at $242/cwt.

Last week, FOB live prices were $240 in the Southern Plains and $245 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $385-$392 in Nebraska and $385-$390 in the western Corn Belt on a light test.

Wholesale beef prices softened a touch. Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.33 lower Wednesday afternoon at $411.84. Select was $3.05 lower at $387.71.

Grain and Soybean futures settled lower Wednesday. 

Toward the close and through away Jly contracts, Corn futures were 3¢ to 4¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 2¢ to 6¢ lower. Soybean futures 1¢ to 2¢ lower.

Cattle futures rebounded and gained on bullish fundamentals Tuesday, following the previous session’s volatility tied to news of New World screwworm confirmed in a U.S. resident, who was infected while traveling in South America.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $1.57 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.81 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $240/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $245 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $385-$392 in Nebraska and $385-$390 in the western Corn Belt on a light test.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $4.68 higher Tuesday afternoon at $413.17. Select was $5.38 higher at $390.76.

Turning to the grain complex, Grain and Soybean futures were mixed again Tuesday.  

Toward the close and through Jly contracts,

Corn futures were 2¢ to 3¢ lower, pressured by chart resistance.

Kansas City Wheat futures were 2¢ to 4¢ lower with weight including harvest pressure and global supplies.

Soybean futures were fractionally higher to 3¢ higher.

Cattle futures gapped lower on the open Monday, pressured by Friday’s Cattle on Feed report and Headlines about a human case of New World screwworm being confirmed in the U.S. (see below). However, Cattle futures recovered much of the lost ground by the end of the session.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 63¢ lower in four contracts to an average of 61¢ higher.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 79¢ lower, except for $1.05 higher in spot Aug.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were mostly $5 higher in the Southern Plains at $240/cwt., steady to $2 higher in Nebraska at $245 and steady to $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $245. Dressed delivered prices were $5-$7 higher in Nebraska at $385-$392 and $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $385-$390 in a light test.

The weighted average five-area direct FOB live fed steer price last week was $2.24 higher at $244.25. The weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was $3.39 higher at $386.17.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 58¢ higher Monday afternoon at $408.49. Select was $1.72 higher at $385.38.

Turning to the grain complex, Grain Corn and Soybean futures were mixed on Monday.

Toward the close and through Jly contracts,

Corn futures were 1¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were fractionally lower to 2¢ higher. Soybean futures were mostly 3¢ to 11¢ lower with some likely profit taking.

Cattle futures surged higher Friday, supported by strong fundamentals and perhaps receiving a boost from stronger outside markets.

Live cattle futures were an average of $1.73 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.18 higher. Week to week on Friday, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $16.86 higher and Live Cattle were an average of $7.01 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from inactive on moderate demand in the North to moderate on moderate to good demand in the Texas Panhandle through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices were mostly $5 higher in the Southern Plains at $240/cwt., steady to $2 higher in Nebraska at $245 and steady to $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $245. Dressed delivered prices in Nebraska were $5-$7 higher at $385-$392.

Dressed delivered prices the previous week were $380-$385 in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 5¢ higher Friday afternoon at $407.91. Select was 6¢ higher at $383.66. Week to week on Friday, Choice boxed beef cutout value was $7.34 higher and Select was $12.90.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 547,000 head was 17,000 head more than the previous week but 62,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Estimated total year-to-date cattle slaughter of 18.9 million head was 1.4 million head fewer (-6.9%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 16.4 billion pounds was 679.9 million pounds less (-4.0%).

Cattle futures traded both sides of steady through Thursday but were mainly higher toward the close.

Live cattle futures were an average of 58¢ higher, except for unchanged and 7¢ lower in the front two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 87¢ higher.

Keep in mind that USDA will release the monthly Cattle on Feed report Friday afternoon. Depending on who you follow, average analyst estimates peg July feedlot placements at almost 9% less year over year, July marketings at about 6% less and cattle on feed Aug. 1 at 2% less.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from inactive on light to moderate demand in the Texas Panhandle to light to moderate on moderate to good demand in the western Corn Belt through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

So far this week, FOB live prices are steady to $2 higher in Nebraska at $245/cwt. and steady to $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $245. Dressed delivered prices in Nebraska are $5-$7 higher at $385-$392.

Last week, FOB live prices were $235 in Kansas, and dressed delivered prices were $380-$385 in the western Corn Belt. The previous week, FOB live prices were $235 in the Texas Panhandle.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.01 higher Thursday afternoon at $407.86. Select was 44¢ higher at $383.60.

Weekly net U.S. beef export sales of 10,100 metric tons for 2025 were also supportive. They were up noticeably from the previous week, but down 11% from the prior four-week average, according to USDA’s weekly export report for the week ending Aug. 14. Increases were primarily for Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Mexico.

Grain and Soybean futures strengthened Thursday.

Toward the close and through Jly contracts, Corn futures were 7¢ to 8¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 3¢ to 4¢ higher. And, Soybean futures were 12¢ to 19¢ higher, supported by a rebound in bean oil prices.

Stronger cash fed cattle prices and the recent surge in wholesale beef value helped drive Cattle futures higher on Wednesday.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $2.92 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.97 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on moderate demand in Nebraska through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were steady to $2 higher at $245/cwt. Dressed delivered prices were $5-$7 higher at $385-$392.

Trade in the western Corn Belt was light on moderate to good demand. FOB live prices were steady to $5 higher at $245. Dressed delivered prices there last week were $380-$385.

In the Southern Plains, trade was mostly inactive on moderate demand. FOB live prices in Kansas last week were $235, the same as in the Texas Panhandle the previous week.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.35 lower Wednesday afternoon at $405.85. Select was $3.40 higher at $383.16.

Grain and Soybean futures were narrowly mixed Wednesday.

Toward the close and through Jly contracts, Corn futures were fractionally higher to 1¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were mostly fractionally mixed. Soybean futures were 1¢ higher.

Cattle futures continued mostly higher Tuesday with continued power from fundamental strength.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of 73¢ higher (5¢ to $1.55 higher), except for 42¢ lower in spot Aug. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.49 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $235/cwt. in Kansas, $243-$245 in Nebraska and $240-$245 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $380-$385. The previous week, FOB live prices in the Texas Panhandle were $235.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.96 higher Tuesday afternoon at $407.20. Select was $2.62 higher at $379.76.

Grain and Soybean futures were lower Tuesday, pressured by yields estimated in early crop tours and favorable crop progress.

Toward the close and through Jly contracts, Corn futures were 3¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 3¢ to 7¢ lower. Soybean futures were 6¢ to 8¢ lower.

Cattle futures closed higher again Monday with follow-through support from the previous session and surging wholesale beef values.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $1.31 higher (15¢ to $1.82 higher). Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.97 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were steady in Kansas at $235/cwt., steady to $2 lower in Nebraska at $243-$245/cwt. and steady in the western Corn Belt at $240-$245. Dressed delivered prices were steady to $2 higher in at $380-$385. The previous week, FOB live prices were $235 in the Texas Panhandle.

Wholesale beef prices continued to press higher Monday, helped along by packers restricted production. Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.67 higher Monday afternoon at $404.24. Select was $6.38 higher at $377.14.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Monday. Toward the close and through Jly contracts, Corn futures were mostly 1¢ to 2¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were fractionally lower to 2¢ lower. Soybean futures were 1¢ to 2¢ lower.