Cattle futures stormed higher Monday, fueled by news that New World screwworm was confirmed just about 70 miles south of the U.S. border (see below) and traders thinking it will prevent Mexican cattle imports for even longer. Last week’s Cattle on Feed report may have provided some added lift.
Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $3.75 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $8.01 higher.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light to moderate demand in all regions, through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Last week, FOB live prices were steady in the Southern Plains at $240/cwt., $2-$4 lower in Nebraska at $236-$238 and $3-$4 lower in the western Corn Belt at $236-$237. Dressed delivered prices were $5-$8 lower in Nebraska at $370 and $2 to $7 lower in the western Corn Belt at $368-$376.
The five-area direct weighted average FOB live fed steer price last week was $1.82 lower at $237.51. The weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was $5.27 lower at $370.88.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 66¢ lower Monday afternoon at $381.39/cwt. Select was $2.17 higher at $362.09.
Soybean futures led the grain complex lower again Monday, pressured by Argentina lowering its export tax for a time.
Toward the close and through away Jly contracts, Corn futures were 2¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 5¢ lower. Soybean futures were 13¢ to 14¢ lower.
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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher again Monday with follow-through support.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 166 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 29 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 157 points.
Through mid-afternoon, West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) were 4¢ lower to 6¢ higher through the front six contracts.
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Late Sunday, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
This is now the northernmost detection of NWS during this outbreak, and the one most threatening to the American cattle and livestock industry, according to USDA. Sabinas Hidalgo is located near the major highway from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to Laredo, Texas, which is one of the most heavily trafficked commercial thoroughfares in the world.
“Protecting the United States from NWS is non-negotiable and a top priority of the Trump Administration,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “This is a national security priority. We have given Mexico every opportunity and every resource necessary to counter NWS since announcing the NWS Bold Plan in June 2025. Nevertheless, American ranchers and families should know that we will not rely on Mexico to defend our industry, our food supply, or our way of life. We are firmly executing our five-pronged plan and will take decisive action to protect our borders, even in the absence of cooperation. Furthermore, we will pursue aggressive measures against anyone who harms American livestock.”
The previous northernmost detection was reported on July 9, 2025, in Veracruz, approximately 370 miles farther south. Preliminary reports from SENASICA indicate that the affected animal—an 8-month-old heifer—had recently been moved to a certified feedlot in Nuevo León from a region in southern Mexico with known active NWS cases. The potential link to animal movement underscores the non-negotiable need for Mexico to fully implement and comply with the U.S.–Mexico Joint Action Plan for NWS in Mexico, according to USDA.
Currently, U.S. ports remain closed to imports of cattle, bison, and horses from Mexico.