Cattle futures continued higher Friday on positive fundamentals and the week’s higher cash fed cattle prices.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.01 higher (95¢ to $5.70 higher).

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average $7.80 higher ($6.50 higher to $11.57 higher in spot Dec). That’s an average of $12.02 higher in the last two weeks.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.83 higher on Friday ($1.92 to $3.62 higher). Week to week on Friday, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $15.94 higher. That’s an average of $26.86 higher over the past two weeks.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light on moderate to good demand in Nebraska through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were $5 higher than earlier in the week at $225/cwt.

Trade in the western Corn Belt was limited on moderate demand. Although too few to trend, there were some FOB live trades at $220-$222.

For the week, FOB live prices were $10-$15 higher in Nebraska at $220-$225 and $10-$12 higher in the western Corn Belt at $220. Dressed delivered prices were $10-$15 higher in Nebraska at $340-$345 and $12-$15 higher in the western Corn Belt at $340-$345.

There was no reported established weekly trade  in the Southern Plains. The previous week, FOB live prices were $215-$220 in the Texas Panhandle and mainly $220 in Kansas.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.56 lower Friday afternoon at $361.20/cwt. Select was $2.93 lower at $347.39.

Week to week on Friday, Choice boxed beef cutout value was $5.62 lower and Select was $3.66 lower.

Estimated total cattle slaughter for the week of 600,000 head was 102,000 head more than the prior holiday-shortened week but 14,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter of 27.3 million head was 2.1 million head fewer (-7%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 23.9 billion pounds was 1.1 billion pounds less (-4.3%).

Turning to row crops, Grain and Soybean futures were mixed on Friday.

Soybean futures closed 9¢ to 14¢ lower on increasing confusion about the U.S. trade deal with China.

Corn futures closed 1¢ to 2¢ higher through Sep ‘26, and then fractionally mixed with spillover pressure from Soybeans.

KC HRW Wheat futures closed unchanged to 2¢ lower, except for 6¢ lower in spot Dec.