Cattle futures melted down Friday on President Trump’s widely reported and vague comments that the White House plans to lower beef prices. Algorithmic trading likely drove the selloff deeper and faster than would have otherwise been the case. Fundamentally speaking and guided by history, government intervention in cattle and beef markets has never been favorable to producers.

Live Cattle futures were an average of $6.50 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $9.08 lower — limit down in all but the front contract.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average $2.59 lower, except for $1.78 higher in spot Oct. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.86 lower, from 80¢ lower in the back contract to $4.20 lower toward the front.

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

FOB live prices were mainly $240/cwt. in all regions, which was $5 higher in Kansas, $5-$6 higher in Nebraska, $5 higher in the western Corn Belt, and compared to two weeks earlier, $7 higher in the Texas Panhandle.

Dressed delivered prices were $10 higher in Nebraska at $372 and $10-$10.50 higher in the western Corn Belt at $372-$372.50.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 66¢ higher Friday afternoon at $366.77/cwt. Select was $1.34 higher at $350.27.

Technical support continued to underpin Grain and Soybean futures Friday.

Corn futures closed fractionally higher to 1¢ higher. KC HRW Wheat closed 1¢ to 2¢ higher through Mar ’27 and then fractionally higher. Soybean futures closed mostly 6¢ to 8¢ higher.