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.