WLI

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was slow on light demand in the Western Corn Belt through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Live FOB prices were steady at $188/cwt. Dressed delivered prices last week were $295/cwt.

Elsewhere, trade ranged from inactive on light demand to a standstill with too few transactions to trend.

Last week live FOB prices were $180/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $188 in Nebraska, where dressed delivered prices were $295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.76 higher Wednesday afternoon at $307.26/cwt. Select was $2.58 higher at $283.03/cwt.

However, Cattle futures edged lower Tuesday, pressured by lower outside markets as much as anything.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 27¢ lower, except for 5¢ higher in the back contract.

Live Cattle futures an average of 56¢ lower. 

Weaker outside markets and improved crop conditions weighed on grain and Soybean futures Tuesday.

Corn futures closed 9¢ to 12¢ lower through Sep ‘24 and then mostly 5¢ to 6¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed 13¢ to 16¢ lower through Mar ‘25.

Soybean futures closed 10¢ to 29¢ lower through Sep ‘24 and then 7¢ to 10¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Tuesday, pressured by anemic economic growth in China and weaker U.S. bank stocks tied to a potential downgrade in credit ratings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 361 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 51 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 157 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed $1.15 to $1.52 lower through the front six contracts.

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Feeder cattle prices are driving feedlot breakevens significantly higher, according to recent estimates from the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC).

For perspective, in order to be profitable, LMIC analysts peg a closeout price exceeding $188/cwt. in January for cattle placed in July. They note it is close to the current level of the February Live Cattle contract.

“Feeder steers in Dodge City have increased since December of last year, jumping from $172 to the $180s, then the $190s, and were at $242/cwt. in July, a 40% increase in eight months. During that time, breakeven prices have increased 27%,” LMIC analysts explain, in the latest Livestock Monitor.

Projected breakevens at the beginning of next year represent a significant departure from apparent feedlot profits this year. LMIC estimated returns were as high as $400 per head earlier this summer. Analysts there estimated July feedlot returns at $300 per head, followed. By positive returns for the remainder of the year.

Keep in mind, estimates do not account for price risk management.

“Through the rest of 2023, breakevens are estimated to be between $150 and $176/cwt.,” LMIC analysts say. “The futures market has most contracts ahead of breakevens by $10 to more than $20/cwt., ensuring that cattle feeding returns will likely be profitable in 2023. LMIC is estimating the average per head return annually will be close to $250 per head, like the 2014 average.”

Cattle futures closed lower Monday on lackluster trade and static to declining open interest.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.08 lower.

Live Cattle futures an average of 61¢ lower. 

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was at a standstill in all regions through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Live FOB prices last week were steady at $180/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $188 in the north where dressed delivered prices were steady at $295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.89 higher Monday afternoon at $305.50/cwt. Select was $3.22 higher at $280.45/cwt.

Corn futures closed mostly fractionally higher to 1¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 10¢ to 18¢ higher.

KC HRW Wheat closed mostly 9¢ to 15¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices edged higher Monday, supported by tech stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 26 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 25 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 143 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed 62¢ to 68¢ lower through the front six contracts.

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Amid tighter feeder cattle supplies and lower feedlot cost of gain, stocker opportunities veer toward lightweight cattle with more incentive to market with less weight gain ahead of the feedlot, according to Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his weekly market comments.

“As cattle numbers continue to tighten this year, the general incentive in the market is to push cattle into feedlots sooner and through the beef production system faster to keep beef production as high as possible,” Peel explains. “Beef production is down about 4.8% year over year thus far in 2023 but is falling more sharply recently with July beef production down 6.7% compared to one year ago.” 

Moreover, Peel says cheaper cost of gain, as corn prices moderate, provide feedlots more opportunity to compete for limited feeder cattle supplies and further enhance the general need to push cattle through the system faster. “A lower feedlot cost of gain generally means feedlots can purchase lighter weight feeder cattle and place them in feedlot earlier,” he says.

As for fall grazing, at least on Oklahoma, Peel says wheat pasture prospects are more promising than in recent years with improved soil moisture and soil temperature conditions for early-planted winter wheat.

“Dynamic cattle and grain market conditions mean that producers will need to carefully and frequently evaluate stocker budget prospects this fall prior to stocker purchase,” Peel says. “Calf prices are moving counter-seasonally higher this summer suggesting that stocker purchase costs will continue to increase this fall. The Oklahoma combined auction price for 450-500 pounds Medium/Large #1 steers in the second week of August reached $302.05/cwt., the highest weekly price since June 2015 and just 6.4% below the record high of $322.56/cwt. in November 2014.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was slow on light to moderate demand in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. For the week, FOB live prices were steady in both regions at $188/cwt. and dressed-delivered prices were also steady at $295.

Trade in the Southern Plains ranged from inactive on light demand in Kansas to a standstill in the Texas Panhandle. The previous week, FOB live prices were $180 in the Southern Plains.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 58¢ higher Friday afternoon at $302.61/cwt. Select was 57¢ lower at $277.23/cwt.

Total estimated cattle slaughter last week of 603,000 head was 10,000 head fewer than the previous week and 42,000 head fewer (-6.5%) than the same week last year. Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter of 19.3 million was 830,000 head fewer (-4.0%) than the same time last year. Estimate year-to-date beef production of 16.3 billion pounds was 836.9 million pounds less (-4.9%) than the same time last year.

Cattle futures closed lower Friday on likely profit taking ahead of the weekend.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 32¢ lower.

Live Cattle futures an average of 84¢ lower. 

Grain and Soybean closed lower Friday, pressured by the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates coming in with expected yield cuts (see below).

Corn futures closed mostly 4¢ to 8¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed 11¢ to 13¢ lower through May ‘24 and then mostly 5¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 10¢ to 14¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed on Friday with pressure from another inflation gauge that was higher than expected. The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.3% in July (seasonally adjusted), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand advanced 0.8% for the 12 months ended in July.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 105 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 4 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 93 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed 12¢ to 37¢ higher through the front six contracts.

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USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) increased the anticipated fed steer price for the remainder of this year and next, in the August World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

Based on strong packer demand, ERS increased the projected third-quarter five-area direct fed steer price by $6 compared to the previous month to $184/cwt., and the fourth-quarter price by $7 to $190 for an annual average of $178.50, which was $3.20 more than the previous estimate. Projected fed steer prices increased $2 for next year at $188 in the first quarter, $186 in the second quarter and $186 for the 2024 average.

Beef production for 2023 was lowered on less steer and heifer slaughter and lighter dressed weights, although projected cow slaughter increased. For 2024, forecast beef production increased, reflecting higher expected placements in late 2023 and early 2024. Cow slaughter was also raised for the first part of 2024.

ERS estimated total beef production this year at 26.98 billion pounds, which would be 1.3 billion pounds less (-4.6%) than last year. Beef production in 2024 was forecast at 25.17 billion pounds, which would be 1.81 billion pounds less (-6.7%) than this year’s estimate.

Cattle futures continued higher Thursday with ongoing bullish fundamentals and expectations of steady to higher cash trade, given cattle feeders’ recent marketing resolve.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.10 higher.

Live Cattle futures an average of 81¢ higher. 

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade and demand ranged from slow on light to moderate demand to a standstill through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Although there were too few transactions to trend in any region, there were some early FOB live trades in the western Corn Belt at $188-$189/cwt and a few in Kansas at $186.

Last week, FOB live prices were $180/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $188 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices were $295 in a light test.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.49 lower Thursday afternoon at $302.03/cwt. Select was 97¢ lower at $277.80/cwt.

Net U.S. beef export sales (2023) for the week ending Aug. 3 of 14,800 metric tons were 19% more than the previous week, but 8% less than the prior four-week average. Increases were primarily for South Korea, Japan, China, Mexico and Hong Kong, according to the weekly U.S. Export Sales report.

As for the other side of the ledger, Grain and Soybean futures firmed Thursday with likely positioning ahead of Friday’s widely anticipated World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, with forecast yields top of mind for many.

Corn futures closed mostly fractionally higher to 2¢ higher.

KC HRW Wheat closed 3¢ to 5¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 8¢ to 10¢ higher, except for old-crop contracts.

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Although gains faded by the end of the session, major U.S. financial indices edged higher Thursday, supported by slightly cooler inflation than expected. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 0.2% in July on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.2% before seasonal adjustment.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 52 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 1 point higher. The NASDAQ was up 15 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed 99¢ to $1.58 lower through the front six contracts.

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U.S. beef exports in June continued to trend lower year over year but with hints of renewed strength.

Beef exports totaled 115,107 metric tons (mt) in June, down 12% from a year ago and slightly below the May volume, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). June export value was $909.5 million, down 13% year-over-year but the highest since October and 4% above the value posted in May.

For January-June, U.S. beef exports were 10% below last year’s record pace at 669,176 mt. Export value was just under $5 billion – down 19% from a year ago but still 8% above the first half of 2021.

Beef export value equated to $407.12 per head of fed slaughter in June, down 9% from a year ago. The first-half average was $394.39, down 17%.

“It was a challenging first half for beef exports, especially when compared to the blistering pace established a year ago,” says Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO. “But we are encouraged to see that exports are still accounting for a consistently high percentage of total beef production, and variety meat exports have held up very well considering the decline in U.S. slaughter. These metrics continue to illustrate the important contribution of exports in maximizing beef carcass value.”

June beef exports to Taiwan were the largest in 14 months, while exports to Mexico continued to build momentum and shipments to Canada, Hong Kong, South Africa and the Dominican Republic posted year-over-year gains. June exports to South Korea, China and Japan were below last year’s large totals, though shipments to Japan improved notably in value from the previous month.

June pork exports totaled 245,964 metric tons (mt), up 12% from a year ago, while export value climbed 6% to $691.4 million. Through the first half of 2023, exports were 14% above last year’s pace at 1.47 million mt, valued at $4.05 billion (up 12%).

Weaker corn futures and an uptick in wholesale beef prices helped lift Cattle futures Wednesday.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 77¢ higher.

Live Cattle futures an average of 39¢ higher. 

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade and demand ranged from inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $180/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $188 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices were $295 in a light test.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.13 higher Wednesday afternoon at $303.52/cwt. Select was $1.98 higher at $278.14/cwt.

Favorable weather, and perhaps skittishness ahead of Friday’s WASDE, pressured grain futures on Wednesday.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 4¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed mostly 3¢ to 6¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 1¢ to 4¢ higher through Aug ‘24 and then mostly fractionally higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower again Wednesday, perhaps defensive pressure ahead of Thursday’s next read on inflation — the monthly CPI. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 191 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 31 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 162 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed $1.03 to $1.48 higher through the front six contracts, supported by chatter about reduced global production.

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Although seasonally lower, wholesale beef prices continue at what some would consider a remarkably high and consistent level.

“Since the middle of April, the weekly comprehensive boxed beef cutout price has only traded outside of an $8 range for a four-week period in June and early July,” says Andrew P. Griffith, agricultural economist at the University of Tennessee, in his weekly market comments. “The cutout has spent most of its time trading on either side of $300/cwt. and there are no signs it will deviate in the near term.”

Griffith explains the loin and rib primals were the primary price drivers in June, while brisket also demonstrated strength in late June and early July.

“Middle meat prices softened through July, which is the primary reason the cutout fell off its June highs,” Griffith explains. “However, the brisket and short plate also contributed to some of the boxed beef cutout price decline. Alternatively, the chuck, round and flank primal prices have held their own the past month and continue to offer support for the comprehensive cutout.”

Although middle meats may gather added interest heading into Labor Day, Griffith says prices will likely soften again heading into the late summer and the fall months.