Cattle futures closed higher Friday on stronger wholesale beef values and the fact that USDA’s New World Screwworm update the previous day did not include reopening the U.S. border to Mexican cattle, as some had feared.

Live cattle futures closed an average of $3.43 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $4.53 higher.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures were an average of $3.63 higher and Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.96 higher.

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

For the week, FOB live prices were 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 Nebraska at $380-$385.

The previous week, FOB live prices were $235 in the Southern Plains. Dressed delivered prices in the western Corn Belt were $378-$385 in a light test.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $6.78 higher Friday afternoon at $400.57. Select was $3.88 higher at $370.76. Week to week on Friday, Choice boxed beef cutout value was $21.73 higher and Select was $15.67 higher (see below).

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 530,000 head was 6,000 head fewer than the previous week and 75,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter of 18.3 million head was 1.3 million head fewer (-6.8%). Estimated year-to-date beef production of 15.9 billion pounds was 635.1 million pounds less (-3.8%).

Grain and Soybean futures closed higher Friday, building on the rally after the early-week drop tied to the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

Corn futures closed mostly 5¢ to 8¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures closed mostly 3¢ higher. Soybean futures closed 10¢ to 14¢ higher through Sep ’26 and then 7¢ to 8¢ higher.

Cattle futures closed sharply lower Friday on likely profit taking, week-end positioning and lack of weekly cash fed cattle direction. However, they still posted strong weekly gains.

Live cattle futures closed an average of $5.10 lower. Feeder Cattle futures closed mostly limit down, an average of $9.20 lower. However, week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $3.78 higher and Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $7.36 higher.

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

Although too few to trend, there were some FOB live trades at $245/cwt. in Nebraska and $240-$242 in the western Corn Belt with some up to $245. There were also some dressed delivered trades in Nebraska at $378-$385.

The previous week, FOB live prices were $235/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $235-$236 in Kansas, $245-$247 in Nebraska and mostly $245 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were mostly $383.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 10¢ lower Friday afternoon at $378.84. Select was $1.34 higher at $355.09.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 536,000 head was 1,000 head more than the previous week but 52,000 head less than the same week last year. Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter of 17.8 million head was 1.3 million head less (-6.6%). Estimated year-to-date beef production of 15.5 billion pounds was 580.6 million pounds less (-3.6%).

Grain and Soybean futures closed lower Friday with the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates looming Tuesday and speculation about how much USDA might increase estimated yields.

Corn futures closed mostly fractionally lower to 1¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures closed mostly 4¢ to 5¢ lower. Soybean futures closed mostly 6¢ to 7¢ lower.

Cattle futures continued higher yet again Thursday, riding the same bullish fundamentals.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $3.32 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.95 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $235/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $235-$236 in Kansas, $245-$247 in Nebraska and mostly $245 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were mostly $383.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $4.08 higher Thursday afternoon at $379.94. Select was $2.39 higher at $353.75.

Grain and Soybean futures were higher Thursday, perhaps buoyed by some bottom picking.

Toward the close and through Jly contracts, Corn futures were 4¢ to 5¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 7¢ to 10¢ higher. Soybean futures were 8¢ to 10¢ higher.

Cattle futures powered upward Wednesday, helped along by another bounce in wholesale beef values and growing expectations of steady to higher cash fed cattle trade again this week.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $2.04 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.91 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $235/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $235-$236 in Kansas, $245-$247 in Nebraska and mostly $245 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were mostly $383.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $4.92 higher Wednesday afternoon at $374.86. Select was $5.42 higher at $351.36.

Turning toward the gain complex,

Toward the close and through away Jly contracts, Corn futures were another 3¢ to 5¢ lower as traders bet on a behemoth crop. Kansas City Wheat futures were 6¢ to 7¢ higher. Soybean futures were 5¢ to 7¢ lower.

Cattle futures charged higher Tuesday, helped along by last week’s record-high cash fed cattle prices and resurgent wholesale beef values.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $3.29 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.65 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on 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 the Texas Panhandle, $235-$236 in Kansas, $245-$247 in Nebraska and mostly $245 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were mostly $383.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $4.15 higher Tuesday afternoon at $369.94. Select was $4.35 higher at $345.94.

Grain and Soybean futures were lower Tuesday on likely bumper yields and international demand concerns.  

Toward the close and through away Jly contracts, Corn futures were 4¢ to 6¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 10¢ to 11¢ lower. Soybean futures were mostly 1¢ to 2¢ lower.

Cattle futures extended gains Monday, helped along by last week’s stronger negotiated cash fed cattle prices and thoughts that wholesale beef values may have established the seasonal bottom.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of 52¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 78¢ 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 $3-$5 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $235/cwt., $4-$5 higher in Kansas at $235-$236, $2-$3 higher in Nebraska at $245-$247 and mostly $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $245. Dressed delivered prices were $3-$5 higher in Nebraska at $383-$385 and $3 higher in the western Corn Belt at $380.

Last week’s weighted average five-area direct FOB live fed steer price was $3.79 higher at $243.17. The weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was $4.18 higher at $383.68.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.10 higher Monday afternoon at $364.32. Select was $1.09 higher at $341.59.

Turning to the grain complex, Toward the close and through away Jly contracts, Corn futures were 2¢ to 3¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were fractionally lower to 1¢ lower. Soybean futures were 5¢ higher.

Cattle futures bounced back Friday after the previous session’s sharp decline and despite bearish outside markets.

Live cattle futures closed an average of 98¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.59 higher.

Cattle futures were mostly higher week to week on Friday, which says plenty when considering the sharp downward correction on Thursday. Except for $3.65 higher in spot Aug. and 30¢ lower at the back, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 47¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 86¢ higher (20¢ higher at the back to $2.80 higher at the front).

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on moderate demand in the Texas Panhandle through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Trade was light on moderate demand in the western Corn Belt and moderate on moderate demand elsewhere.

For the week, FOB live prices were $3-$5 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $235/cwt., $4-$5 higher in Kansas at $235-$236, $2-$3 higher in Nebraska at $245-$247 and mostly $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $245. Dressed delivered prices were $3 higher at $383.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.90 higher Friday afternoon at $363.22. Select was 87¢ lower at $340.50. Week to week on Friday, Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.46 lower and Select was $4.37 lower.

Estimated total cattle slaughter of 535,000 head least week was 14,000 head fewer than the previous week. Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter of 17.3 million head was 1.2 million head fewer (-6.6%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 15 billion pounds was 549 million pounds less (-3.5%).

Turning to the grain complex, ongoing favorable weather and growing prospects of monster crops pressured Corn futures 2¢ to 4¢ lower through new-crop contracts on Friday. Kansas City Wheat futures closed mostly 4¢ to 5¢ lower. Soybean futures were unchanged to 1¢ higher through new-crop contracts and then 2¢ higher.

Cattle futures closed sharply lower Thursday with likely profit taking, month-end position squaring and technical wariness over the impact of steeper U.S. tariffs on Brazilian beef imports.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $4.68 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $8.59 lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light on moderate demand in Nebraska through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. There were some early dressed delivered prices $3 higher at $383/cwt. FOB live prices there last week were $242-$245.

Trade was limited on moderate demand in Kansas. Although too few to trend, there were some early FOB live sales at $235/cwt. Prices last week were $230-$232.

Elsewhere, trade was mostly inactive on moderate demand.

Last week, FOB live prices were $230-$232/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle and mostly $240 in the western Corn Belt where dressed delivered prices were $380.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 67¢ lower Thursday afternoon at $361.32. Select was 46¢ higher at $341.37.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Thursday.  

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

Cattle futures continued to grind higher Wednesday on bullish supply and demand fundamentals.

Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $2.06 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.74 higher. So far this week, Live Cattle futures are $4.80 higher and Feeder Cattle futures are $7.77 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on moderate demand in Kansas through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although too few to trend, there were some early FOB live sales at $235/cwt. Elsewhere, trade was mostly inactive on moderate demand.

Last week, FOB live prices were $230-$232/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $242-$245 in Nebraska and mostly $240 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $380.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.20 lower Wednesday afternoon at $361.99. Select was $1.57 lower at $340.91.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Wednesday.  

Toward the close and through away Jly contracts,

Corn futures were 1¢ to 2¢ higher on likely short covering. Kansas City Wheat futures were 1¢ to 2¢ higher. Soybean futures were mainly 13¢ to 14¢ lower with pressure including demand concerns.

Cattle futures were higher Friday ahead of the monthly Cattle on Feed and semiannual Cattle inventory reports.

Live cattle futures were an average of 67¢ higher.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.08 higher.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures were $3.80 higher and Feeder Cattle futures were $8.34 higher.

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

There were too few trades to establish a trend in any region, however there were some early FOB live trades at $230-$237.50/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $240-$242 in the North where early dressed delivered prices were $375-$380.

Last week, FOB live prices were $230/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $230-$231 in Kansas and $240 in the North where dressed delivered prices were $380.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.41 lower Friday afternoon at $366.68. Select was $2.13 lower at $344.87. Week to week on Friday, Choice was $6.87 lower and Select was $6.62 lower.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 549,000 head was 14,000 head fewer than the previous week and 56,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 16.7 million head was 1.2 million head less (-6.5%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 14.6 billion pounds was 513.2 million pounds less (-3.4%).

Grain futures were lower Friday beneath the ongoing weight of positive crop progress and weather.  

Corn futures were 1¢ to 2¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were mostly 1¢ lower. Soybean futures were mainly 1¢ to 3¢ lower.