Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael

Cattle Current Podcast—May 19, 2026


Listen Later

Cattle futures trended lower Monday with pressure including more bearish outside markets and the strong rebound in Corn futures.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 89¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.43 lower (10¢ lower in spot May to $3.10 lower).

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly 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 $4 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $260/cwt., mostly steady to $4 higher in Kansas and mainly $260, and steady to $5 higher in the North at $260-$265. Dressed delivered prices were $8-$13 higher in Nebraska at $410-$415 and mostly $5-$10 higher in the western Corn Belt at mostly $410.

Last week’s weighted average five-area direct FOB live fed steer price was $4.33 higher at $262.85/cwt. The weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was $8.57 higher at $411.07.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.89 higher Monday afternoon at $392.14/cwt. Select was 98¢ higher at $390.23.

Grain and Soybean futures were higher Monday, boosted by details released by the White House, regarding last week’s U.S.-China trade talks. According to the White House Fact Sheet:

  • China will purchase at least $17 billion per year of U.S. agricultural products in 2026 (prorated), 2027, and 2028, in addition to the soybean purchase commitments that it made in October 2025.
  • China restored market access for U.S. beef by renewing expired listings of more than 400 U.S. beef facilities and adding new listings. China will work with U.S. regulators to lift all suspensions of U.S. beef facilities.
  • China resumed imports of poultry from U.S. states determined by the USDA to be free of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
  • Toward the close, and through near Dec contracts, Kansas City HRW Wheat futures were 16¢ higher. Corn futures were mostly 17¢ to 21¢ higher. Soybean futures were 29¢ to 35¢ higher.

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Cattle Current Market Update with Wes IshmaelBy Wes Ishmael: cattle business analyst and journalist

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    39 ratings


    More shows like Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael

    View all
    Ag PhD Radio on SiriusXM 147 by Ag PhD

    Ag PhD Radio on SiriusXM 147

    228 Listeners

    Working Cows - Regenerative Ranching to Maximize Profitability and Soil Health by Clay Conry

    Working Cows - Regenerative Ranching to Maximize Profitability and Soil Health

    439 Listeners

    Beef Market Update – RealAgriculture by RealAgriculture

    Beef Market Update – RealAgriculture

    5 Listeners

    Cattle Chat by BCI Cattle Chat

    Cattle Chat

    125 Listeners

    Unashamed with the Robertson Family by The Robertson Family

    Unashamed with the Robertson Family

    24,817 Listeners

    Farm4Profit Podcast by David Whitaker, Corey Hillebo, Tanner Winterhof

    Farm4Profit Podcast

    398 Listeners

    The Shawn Ryan Show by Shawn Ryan

    The Shawn Ryan Show

    46,368 Listeners

    Grain Markets and Other Stuff by Joe Vaclavik

    Grain Markets and Other Stuff

    351 Listeners

    Rodeo Time with Dale Brisby by Dale Brisby

    Rodeo Time with Dale Brisby

    1,349 Listeners

    Beyond The Ring by Beyond The Ring

    Beyond The Ring

    792 Listeners

    Ranching Returns Podcast by Jared Luhman

    Ranching Returns Podcast

    236 Listeners

    CALF News Price Point by CALF News

    CALF News Price Point

    4 Listeners

    Barn Talk by Tork and Sawyer Whisler

    Barn Talk

    1,706 Listeners

    Uncut & Real Raw With Clinton Anderson by Clinton Anderson

    Uncut & Real Raw With Clinton Anderson

    540 Listeners

    Let's Freakin' Rodeo by The Cowboy Channel

    Let's Freakin' Rodeo

    280 Listeners