WLI

Negotiated cash fed cattle prices ended the week generally steady to $1 higher on a live basis and $2 higher in the beef, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Live prices were at $111/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $110-$111 in Nebraska and $109-$110 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed trade was at $174.

Cattle futures mostly drifted lower on Friday, amid extremely light holiday trade.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 47¢ lower (32¢ to 92¢ lower).

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 24¢ lower except for an average of 26¢ higher in two contracts.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.21 lower Friday afternoon at $242.85/cwt. Select was 22¢ lower at $220.68.

Corn futures closed mostly 3¢ to 5¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 6¢ to 7¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Friday, buoyed by the week’s mostly positive news surrounding apparent progress with COVID-19 vaccines.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 37 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 8 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 111 points.

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Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 8% from the previous month and up 7% from the previous year, as of Oct. 31, according to USDA’s latest monthly Cold Storage report.

Frozen pork supplies were down 4% from the previous month and down 27% from last year.

Total red meat supplies in freezers were up 1% from the previous month but down 12% from last year.  

Total frozen poultry supplies were 7% less than the previous month and down 4% from a year earlier.

Negotiated cash fed cattle prices were generally steady to $1 higher on a live basis and $2 higher in the beef, through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Live prices were at $111/cwt. in the Southern Plains on moderate demand and trade. Live prices were at $110 in the western Corn Belt on slow trade and moderate demand. There were a few in Nebraska at $110. Dressed trade was at $174.

Cattle futures mostly continued gains on Wednesday, buoyed by stronger cash markets, weaker grain futures, stronger wholesale beef values and light pre-holiday trade.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 27¢ higher.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 92¢ higher (25¢ to $1.57 higher) except for 7¢ lower and 32¢ lower in the back two contracts.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 76¢ higher Wednesday afternoon at $245.06/cwt. Select was $1.19 higher at $220.90.

Corn futures closed 5¢ lower through Jly ’21 and then mostly unchanged to 1¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 5¢ to 7¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed Wednesday. Pressure included more jobless claims than traders expected.

Initial unemployment insurance claims last week were 778,000, which was 30,000 more than the previous week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 173 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 5 points lower. The NASDAQ was 57 points higher.

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When Jan. 1 cattle inventory numbers come out toward the end of January, analysts with the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) expect to see more year- over-year contraction of the beef cow herd.

“The beef herd is expected to be down 0.5 to 1.0% based on year-to-date slaughter numbers that are above a year ago by about 2%, and heifer numbers in feedlots,” say LMIC analysts, in the latest Livestock Monitor. “It appears beef cows held for replacement are likely steady to below a year ago, given the uncertainty of 2020. Other heifers, those in the feedlot, are also expected to have pulled back. Those on feed are slightly lower than a year ago, while heifer slaughter is about 4% below last year.”

This year began with 31.31 million head, which was 1.18% less (-374,000 head) than the previous year.

“Bull slaughter is well below a year ago, a reflection of lower volumes of male cattle kept for breeding purposes. This is primarily driven by the cattle cycle and the smaller needs for bulls. LMIC estimates bull inventory Jan. 1 is likely slightly less than last year,” say LMIC analysts. “Steers over 500 lbs. are expected to fall, in line with July 1 calf crop expectations, as well as cattle weighing less than 500 lbs. Both are expected to be down over half a percent.”

Even with expectations for there to be slightly more dairy cows at the beginning of 2021, LMIC expects the total of all cattle and calves to be slightly less year over year. Total inventory at the beginning of this year was 0.41% less than the prior year.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade remained undeveloped through Tuesday afternoon, but the recent surge in Cattle futures and wholesale beef values bolstered hope for higher prices.

Cattle futures extended gains on Tuesday, supported by the previous session’s optimism and the brighter outlook for cash prices.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 50¢ higher (10¢ to $1.17 higher) except for 55¢ lower in the back contract.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 50¢ higher except for 2¢ lower in May.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.70 higher Tuesday afternoon at $244.30/cwt. Select was $2.23 higher at $219.71.

Corn futures closed narrowly mixed, mostly from 1¢ lower to 1¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly fractionally higher to 1¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher again Tuesday with follow-through support from the previous session, tied to positive news about COVID-19 vaccines and the outlook toward a bounce in economic recovery in 2021.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 454 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 57 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 156 points.

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U.S. beef exports for 2021 are projected to be $7.1 billion, according to the latest quarterly Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade, from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). The projection is $200 million more than the previous report in August, based on increased volume offsetting a decline in unit values.

Overall, ERS projects U.S. agricultural exports in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 at $152.0 billion, up $11.5 billion from the August forecast, fueled by increased soybean and corn export values.

“The projection for soybean exports is up $5.9 billion to a record $26.3 billion due to higher unit values, strong demand from China, and record volumes,” according to the report. “Corn exports are forecast up $4.2 billion to $13.2 billion as a result of reduced competition, higher unit values and record volumes…Wheat exports are projected at $6.2 billion, up $200 million, on higher unit values and slightly larger volumes.”

The forecast suggests China will become the largest market for U.S. agricultural products next year for the first time since 2017. Exports to that nation are projected at a record high $27.0 billion.

All of that is shrouded by the global economic contraction and ongoing uncertainty borne by the pandemic.

“Expectations of real gross domestic product (GDP) numbers have improved from the initial lockdown contractions, but recovery forecasts are still marked by uncertainty and prone to future setbacks,” say ERS analysts. “Overall, global real GDP growth is expected to fall by about 4.4% in 2020. This is slightly less severe than was previously feared back in June. Global trade volume, which declined 9.2% in FY 2020, is expected to increase 7.2% in FY 2021. The expected economic recovery in 2021 will be shaped by both regional and overall global success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to boosting consumer spending.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on very light demand in the western Corn Belt through Monday afternoon. Elsewhere, it was at a standstill, according to data from the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Last week, live prices were at $110/cwt. in the Southern Plains and Nebraska and at $109-$110 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices are steady at $172.

Cattle futures closed sharply higher on Monday, shaking off last week’s blues with the help of higher outside markets and an apparently bullish view of Friday’s Cattle on Feed report.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.99 higher.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.83 higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.25 higher Monday afternoon at $241.60/cwt. Select was $2.50 higher at $217.48.

Corn futures closed mostly 3¢ to 5¢ higher

Soybean futures closed 10¢ to 12¢ higher through Aug ’21 and then mostly 4¢-7¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Monday, buoyed by the third COVID-19 vaccine candidate that proved at least 90% effective in trials. Traders also seemed optimistic about Janet Yellen, former Federal Reserve Chair, being named Treasury secretary by president-elect Biden.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 327 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 20 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 25 points.

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“Feeder markets are reflecting a mix of influences including seasonal supplies of calves, wheat pasture forage conditions, higher corn prices and volatility in futures markets,” says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his weekly market comments. “Feeder markets have been very dynamic and it means that both cow-calf and stocker producers must constantly evaluate changing market conditions.”

By way of illustration, Peel graphed (see chart below) Oklahoma calf and feeder steer prices by weight from August through Nov. 20.

After posting lows during the winter storm in late October, he explains prices for steer calves and stockers weighing less than 600 lbs. increased sharply; little change at heavier weights.

“The result is a sharper bend in the price-weight line, with an even steeper price rollback for steers up to 600 pounds,” Peel says. “Using a stocker gain of 250 lbs. from 500 to 750 lbs., the value of gain in August was $1.02/lb. In October, the value of gain was slightly higher at $1.05/lb. based on lower prices for both 500 and 750-lb. steers. In November, the higher prices for the lightweight animals resulted in a lower value of gain of $0.74/lb. Of course, a 500-lb. stocker purchased now will not reach 750 lbs. for some time. However, March Feeder futures price was $134.48 recently. That with an expected early March basis of $1.69/cwt. for 750-lb. steers in Oklahoma suggests a final price of $136.17/cwt., close to the current cash price of $136.03/cwt.”

For cow-calf producers selling calves at weaning, he explains recent prices mean the value of adding 50 lbs. to a 500-lb. steer is about 50¢/lb.

“For producers holding calves after weaning, the low value of gain must be balanced against the value of preconditioning programs and extra weaning time before sale,” Peel says. “The implications of current market conditions depend on the current weight of animals and the amount of additional weight added to animals prior to sale.”