Cattle futures gained on Tuesday, led once again by Feeder Cattle.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average $1.73 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.88 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $229/cwt. in Kansas, $230 in Nebraska and $228-$230 in the western Corn Belt.

Dressed delivered prices were mostly $356 in Nebraska and $356-$358 in the western Corn. 

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.13 lower Tuesday afternoon at $348.20/cwt. Select was $2.46 lower at $343.16.

Grain and Soybean futures continued lower on Tuesday with the positive outlook for a bumper crop in Brazil and year-end positioning.

Toward the close, through near Jly contracts, Corn futures were 1¢ to 2¢ lower. KC HRW Wheat futures were 6¢ lower. Soybean futures were 2¢ to 5¢ lower.

Cattle futures were mainly higher Monday, led by Feeder Cattle.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average 47¢ higher, except for an average of 43¢ lower in the front three contracts.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.07 higher (47¢ higher at the back to $1.55 higher near the front).

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

Last week, FOB live prices were steady to $1 higher in Kansas at $229, $2 higher in Nebraska at $230 and steady to $2 higher in the western Corn Belt at $228-$230.

Dressed delivered prices were mostly steady to $2 lower in Nebraska at mainly $356 and steady to $2 higher in the western Corn Belt at $356-$360 on a light test.  

The weekly weighted average five-area direct FOB live fed steer price was $1.36 higher at $229.33/cwt. The weekly weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was 59¢ lower at $356.53.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.88 lower Monday afternoon at $349.33/cwt. Select was $1.82 higher at $345.62.

Grain and Soybean futures were lower on Monday with little news, other than reportedly positive progress in resolving the Ukraine-Russia fighting and South America’s looming harvest.

Toward the close, through near Jly contracts, Corn futures were 7¢ lower. KC HRW Wheat futures were 5¢ to 6¢ lower. Soybean futures were mostly 7¢ to 9¢ lower.

Cattle futures closed mainly higher Friday, supported by firm negotiated cash fed cattle prices.

Live Cattle futures  closed an average of $1.06 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed, from an average of $1.54 higher.

Week to week on Friday, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.95 higher. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 64¢ higher, except for an average of 67¢ lower in the front three contracts.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on moderate demand through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices are steady to $1 higher in Kansas at $229/cwt., $2 higher in Nebraska at $230, and $1 higher in the western Corn Belt at $229.

Dressed delivered prices were steady to $2 lower in Nebraska at $356. Dressed delivered prices in the western Corn Belt the previous week were $356-$358.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.41 lower Friday afternoon at $351.21/cwt. Select was $1.95 lower at $343.80.

Estimated total cattle slaughter for the holiday-shortened week of 429,000 head was 158,000 head fewer than the previous week and 4,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 28.9 million head was 2.1. million head fewer (-6.8%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 25.3 billion pounds was 1.1 billion pounds less (-4.0%).

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed on Friday.

Corn futures closed fractionally lower to 1¢ lower in the front three contracts and then mostly fractionally higher.

KC HRW Wheat futures closedmostly unchanged to fractionally higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 2¢ to 4¢ lower.

Cattle futures sputtered during Wednesday’s holiday-shortened session.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 75¢ lower.

Feeder Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 26¢ lower in five contracts to an average of 32¢ higher.

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

So far this week, FOB live prices are steady to $1 higher in Kansas at $229 and $2 higher in Nebraska at $230, where dressed delivered prices are steady at $356-$358.

Last week, FOB live prices in the western Corn Belt were $228 and dressed delivered prices were $356-$358.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.15 lower Wednesday afternoon at $354.62/cwt. Select was $3.84 lower at $345.75.

Grain and Soybean futures were higher Wednesday with likely technical buying.

Toward the close, through near Jly contracts, Corn futures were 2¢ to 3¢ higher. KC HRW Wheat futures were 6¢ higher. Soybean futures were 11¢ to 12¢ higher.

Cattle futures were lower Tuesday with profit taking and floundering wholesale beef values.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.03 lower (7¢ lower toward the back to $2.22 lower at the front), except for 10¢ higher in the back contract.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.48 lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light on moderate to good demand in Kansas through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were steady to $1 higher at $229/cwt.

Trade was limited on light to moderate demand in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Although too few to trend, there were some dressed delivered trades in Nebraska at $356 and some FOB live trades in the western Corn Belt at $229. Last week, FOB live prices were $228-$229 in both regions. Dressed delivered prices were $356-$358.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $7.10 lower Tuesday afternoon at $355.77/cwt. Select was $1.10 lower at $349.59. The Choice-Select spread of $6.18 was the lowest since May of 2024.

Grain futures were higher Tuesday.

Toward the close, through near Jly, KC HRW Wheat futures were 5¢ to 7¢ higher with some likely risk premium added for the Ukraine-Russia war.

Corn futures were fractionally higher.

Soybean futures were 1¢ to 2¢ lower.

Cattle futures extended gains Monday, supported by Friday’s friendly Cattle on Feed report.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 91¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.13 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $1-$2 lower in Kansas at $228-$229/cwt. and unevenly steady in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt at $228. Dressed delivered prices were $356-$358, which was $3-$6 higher in the western Corn Belt and mainly $3 higher in Nebraska.

The five-area direct weighted average FOB live fed steer price last week was 22¢ lower at $227.97. The five-area-direct weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was $3.50 higher at $357.12.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.24 higher Monday afternoon at $362.87/cwt. Select was $4.67 higher at $350.69.

Grain and soybean futures were higher Monday in what appeared to be a relief rally.

Toward the close, through near Jly  Corn futures were 2¢ to 3¢ higher. KC HRW Wheat futures were 5¢ higher. Soybean futures were 3¢ to 4¢ higher.

Cattle futures closed higher Friday and for the week, helped by holding recent gains in cash fed cattle prices and higher wholesale beef values on the day. The monthly Cattle on Feed report (see below) should help optimism.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.83 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $4.39 higher.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average $1.03 higher and Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $4.20 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from light on moderate demand in the western Corn Belt to limited on moderate demand in Nebraska through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. For the week, FOB live prices were unevenly steady in both regions at $228/cwt. Dressed delivered prices were $356-$358, which was $3-$6 higher in the western Corn Belt and mainly $3 higher in Nebraska.

Trade was inactive on moderate demand in Kansas. FOB live prices there last week were $230/cwt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $4.35 higher Friday afternoon at $361.63/cwt. Select was $2.05 higher at $346.02. Week to week on Friday, Choice was $4.19 higher and Select was $1.80 higher.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 587,000 head was 9,000 head fewer than the previous week and 29,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter of 28.5 million head was 2.1 million head fewer (-6.9%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 24.9 billion pounds was 1.1 billion pounds less (-4.1%) than the same period a year ago.

Grain and soybean futures closed lower Friday.

Corn futures closed fractionally lower. KC HRW Wheat futures closed fractionally lower to 1¢ lower. Soybean futures closed mostly 3¢ lower through May ‘28.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on moderate demand in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

FOB live prices were unevenly steady in both regions at $228/cwt. Dressed delivered prices in Nebraska were $3 higher at mostly $358. Although too few to trend, there were some dressed delivered trades at $355-$358 in the western Corn Belt, where prices last week were $350-$355.

Last week, FOB live prices were $230/cwt. in Kansas.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.19 higher Thursday afternoon at $357.28/cwt. Select was $2.46 lower at $343.97.

Cattle futures continued lower Thursday with still-overbought conditions.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 75¢ lower (25¢ lower at the back to $1.72 lower in spot Dec).

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.87 lower.

Grain futures were higher again on Thursday, while Soybean futures continued to flounder.

Toward the close, through near Jly, Corn futures were 3¢ to 4¢ higher, supported by strong ethanol production and demand.

KC HRW Wheat futures were 8¢ to 9¢ higher, likely buoyed by short covering.  

Soybean futures were 6¢ to 8¢ lower.

Cattle futures were lower Wednesday with overbought conditions and some likely profit taking.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 79¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 92¢ lower.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $230/cwt. in Kansas and $225-$230 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were mostly $355 in Nebraska and $350-$355 in the western Corn Belt on a light test. There was no reported established trade in the Texas Panhandle.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.79 lower Wednesday afternoon at $356.09/cwt. Select was $2.67 lower at $346.43.

Grain futures were higher on Wednesday, while Soybean futures continued looking for a bottom.

Toward the close, through near Jly, Corn futures were 3¢ to 4¢ higher. KC HRW Wheat futures were 2¢ higher. Soybean futures were 2¢ to 4¢ lower.

Feeder Cattle futures led Live Cattle higher on Tuesday.

Toward the close, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.15 higher. Live Cattle futures were an average of 30¢ higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $230/cwt. in Kansas and $225-$230 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were mostly $355 Nebraska and $350-$355 in the western Corn Belt on a light test. There was no reported established trade in the Texas Panhandle.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 58¢ lower Tuesday afternoon at $358.88/cwt. Select was $1.80 higher at $349.10.

Grain and Soybean futures were lower Tuesday.

Toward the close, Corn futures were 3¢ lower. KC HRW Wheat futures were 6¢ to 7¢ lower.  Soybean futures were 8¢ to 9¢ lower.