WLI

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was slow on light demand in the Northern Plains through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although too few to trend, there were a few early live sales at $114/cwt., which was steady to $1 higher.

Last week, live prices were at $114 in the Southern Plains, $113-$114/cwt. in the Northern Plains and at $112-$114 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed trade was at $180.

Cattle futures closed mostly higher Tuesday, buoyed in part by softer Corn futures and increasing chatter that the bottom may finally be in or at least near for cattle prices.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 33¢ higher, except for an average of 16¢ lower in the back two contracts.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.03 higher through the front three contracts, and then from 30¢ lower to 60¢ higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.05 lower Tuesday afternoon at $229.03/cwt. Select was 67¢ higher at $223.80.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 3¢ higher, except for 1¢ to 3¢ lower in the front three contracts.

Soybean futures closed mostly 4¢ to 7¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Tuesday, led by recently beleaguered big tech stocks, as Treasury yield rates declined.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 30 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 54 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 464 points.

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USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) increased estimated beef production for this year by 40 million lbs. to 27.58 billion lbs., in the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE).

“First-half beef production is raised from last month as lower expected fed cattle slaughter in the first quarter is more than offset by higher first-half non-fed cattle slaughter,” according to ERS analysts. “Second-half production is adjusted to reflect a more rapid pace of first-quarter feedlot placements.”

Fed steer price forecasts were unchanged at $113/cwt. in the first and second quarters, $114 in the third quarter and $119 in the fourth quarter for an annual average of $115.

Total red meat and poultry production was reduced 127 million lbs. to 107.47 billion lbs., with expected reductions in pork, broiler and turkey production.

Among other WASDE highlights:

Corn

The 2020-21 U.S. corn supply and use outlook was unchanged from the previous month. However, international corn production was forecast higher with increases for India, South Africa, and Bangladesh. Global corn ending stocks, at 287.7 million tons, were up 1.1 million from the previous month.

The projected season-average farm price was unchanged at $4.30/bu. 

Soybeans

U.S. soybean supply and use projections for 2020-21 were mostly unchanged. Global 2020-21 oilseed supply and demand forecasts include higher production, exports, and ending stocks.

The U.S. season-average soybean price was projected at $11.15/bu., unchanged from the prior month. Although current cash prices are significantly higher, ERS analysts explain prices received through January averaged just over $10/bu., reflecting forward pricing at lower prices. Soybean meal prices were also unchanged at $400/ton. Soybean oil price was forecast at 41.0¢/lb., up 1¢ from the prior month.

Wheat

The supply and demand outlook for 2020-21 U.S. wheat was mostly unchanged. The 2020-21 global wheat outlook is for larger supplies, increased consumption, higher exports, and reduced stocks. Supplies were raised 3.5 million tons to 1,077.1 million.

The season-average farm price for wheat was unchanged at $5.00/bu. 

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was at a standstill through Monday afternoon, except for mostly inactive on very light demand in the western Corn Belt, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Prices last week ended up steady on a live basis in the Southern Plains at $114/cwt., steady to $1 lower in the Northern Plains at $113-$114 and steady to $2 lower in the western Corn Belt at $112-$114. Dressed trade was $2 lower at $180.

The five-area average direct steer price last week was 43¢ lower on a live basis at $113.64/cwt. and $1.84 lower in the beef at $179.79.

Cattle futures closed higher Monday, supported by increasing optimism about further reopening the domestic economy and more positive fundamentals on the horizon.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 59¢ higher.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 61¢ higher, except for 7¢ lower in May.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 25¢ lower Monday afternoon at $231.08/cwt. Select was $2.28 higher at $223.13.

Corn futures closed mostly fractionally higher to 1¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 3¢ to 8¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed Monday. Key support included the Senate passing the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief legislation over the weekend, with expectations the House of Representatives will follow suit. Pressure included the outlook for higher inflation and interest rates.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 306 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 20 points lower.The NASDAQ was down 310 points.

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“Although the global foodservice sector still has a long recovery ahead, international demand for U.S. red meat remains impressive and resilient, but a range of logistical challenges must be overcome in order to fully satisfy this demand,” says Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

For instance, Halstrom explains transportation challenges are currently a dominant concern, especially congestion and container shortages at West Coast ports where shorthanded crews are handling record-large cargo volumes.

“Labor is also at a premium in processing plants, which affects the industry’s ability to fully capitalize on demand for certain labor-intensive cuts and variety meat items,” Halstrom says.

Such challenges helped pressure U.S. beef and pork exports to start the year.

U.S. Beef exports were 2% less year over year in January at 105,047 metric tons (mt), according to data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. Value was 3% less at $653 million. Lower beef variety meat shipments drove the decline as muscle cut exports were steady with a year earlier.

January beef exports to South Korea were strong and continued to gain momentum in China.

U.S pork exports in January of 248,656 mt, were 9% less than a year earlier. Export value was 13% less at $642.8 million.

Although exports still face the aforementioned transportation and labor challenges, as well as COVID-related obstacles, Halstrom says, “As key destinations for U.S. red meat roll out COVID vaccination programs, the outlook for 2021 is optimistic, with retail meat demand remaining strong and the expectation that foodservice will rebound in more and more regions.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on light to moderate demand in Colorado and the western Corn Belt through Friday afternoon. Elsewhere, trade ranged from a standstill to mostly inactive on very light demand, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, established trade was steady on a live basis at $114/cwt. in the Southern Plains and Northern Plains. Dressed trade in Nebraska was $2 lower at $180. The previous week, live sales in the western Corn Belt were at $114, with dressed trade at $182.

Total estimated cattle slaughter the week ending March 6 was 665,000 head, which was 1,000 head fewer than the previous week. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 5.83 million head is 213,000 head fewer (-3.52%) than the same period last year. Estimated beef production so far this year is 4.93 billion lbs., which is 73.8 million lbs. less (-1.48%) year over year.

Cattle futures closed higher Friday, supported by higher outside markets and despite the increase in grain futures. Perhaps support also included expectations that cash fed cattle prices next week will likely edge higher, given the dearth of cash purchases by packers the past two weeks.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 59¢ higher.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.48 higher (5¢ to $2.50 higher), except for 50¢ lower in spot Mar.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.55 lower Friday afternoon at $231.33/cwt. Select was 83¢ lower at $220.85.

Grain futures closed higher Friday, likely supported by positioning ahead of the next World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates due out Tuesday.

Corn futures closed 11¢ to 15¢ higher in the front three contracts, and then mostly 3¢ to 5¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 10¢ to 19¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher at the end of a volatile trading session Friday. Primary support seemed to stem from easing Treasury yield rates and significantly more new jobs than the trade expected.

Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 379,000 in February, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The nation’s unemployment rate was little changed at 6.2%. Average hourly earnings for all employees on private non-farm payrolls increased by 7¢ to $30.01.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil Futures on the CME were an average of $4.63 higher week to week on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 572 points higher on Friday. The S&P 500 closed 73 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 196 points. 

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Total beef cows in Canada and the U.S. totaled 34.69 million head  Jan. 1, which was 194,300 head fewer (-0.56%) than the previous year, according to the United States and Canadian Cattle and Sheep report. Beef cows in the U.S. were 31.16 million head, which were 181,100 fewer (-0.58%). Beef cows in Canada of 3.53 million head were 13,200 head fewer (-0.37%).

The inventory of all cattle and calves in the U.S. and Canada Jan. 1 was 104.74 million head, which was  313,800 head fewer year over year (-0.30%). Inventory in the U.S. of 93.59 million head were 198,800 head fewer (-0.21%). Canadian inventory of all cattle and calves was 11.15 million head, down 115,000 head (-1.02%); the least since 1989, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC), in the most recent Livestock Monitor.

Between a smaller calf crop (-0.8%) north of the border and 4.1% more heifers retained for replacement, LMIC analysts say there will likely be a smaller number of cattle available in Canada for feedlots in 2021.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was at a standstill in Colorado and the Texas Panhandle through Thursday afternoon. Elsewhere, trade was limited on light demand with too few transactions to trend.

For the week so far, trade is steady with last week on a live basis in the Southern Plains and Northern Plains at $114/cwt. Dressed trade in Nebraska is $2 lower at $180. Live sales in the western Corn Belt last week were at $114, with dressed trade at $182.

Cattle futures closed lower Thursday, pressured by the slog for higher cash prices and faltering outside markets. That was despite net U.S. export beef sales for the week ending Feb. 25 up noticeably from the previous week and up 15% from the prior four-week average at 22,600 metric tons (mt), according to the weekly U.S. Export Sales report from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 41¢ lower, from 2¢ lower at the back to 85¢ lower in spot Apr.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.34 lower, from 75¢ lower at the back to $2.32 lower toward the front.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 85¢ higher Thursday afternoon at $233.88/cwt. Select was $2.56 lower at $221.68.

The average dressed slaughter weight of 909 lbs. the week ending Feb. 20 was 10 lbs. less than the previous week, helped along by the recent winter storm. That was still 9 lbs. heavier year over year, according to the USDA Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. The average dressed heifer weight of 841 lbs. was 9 lbs. lighter than the previous week, but 10 lbs. heavier year over year. Fed cattle slaughter of 439,124 head was 49,097 head fewer (-10.05%) than the same week a year earlier.

Corn futures encountered some pressure in the front months, perhaps tied in part to the previously mentioned weekly U.S. Export Sales report.

Weekly net U.S. corn export sales of 115,900 mt for 2020-21 were a market-year low, down 74% from the previous week and down 96% from the previous four-week average. U.S. net soybean export sales of 334,000 mt were up noticeably from the previous week but 33% less than the previous four-week average.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 2¢ higher, except for 1¢ to 4¢ lower in the front three contracts.

Soybean futures closed 6¢ to 15¢ higher, except for 3¢ to 4¢ higher in the front five contracts.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed sharply lower Thursday, with traders apparently rattled by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s dovish remarks concerning recent inflation, which helped lift Treasury yield rates and depress bond prices.

On the other hand, crude oil futures continued to surge higher, tied to the OPEC announcement that it would maintain reduced production levels. West Texas Intermediate on the CME closed $2.13 to $2.55 higher through the front six contracts.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 345 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 51 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 274 points.

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Recent data continues to paint a bleak picture for U.S. restaurant recovery, the nation’s second largest private sector employer.

“While many other industries have moved into a recovery phase, the restaurant industry ended last year in a double-dip recession and with 2.5 million fewer jobs. Between March 2020 and January 2021, restaurant and foodservice sales were down $255 billion from expected levels,” according to a letter to Congress from Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of the National Restaurant Association (NRA). The letter supported passage of the American Rescue Plan.

Kennedy shared highlights from a February NRA survey of 3,000 restaurant operators.

Among the survey findings:

The restaurant industry lost nearly 450,000 jobs between November of last year and January 2021, representing about 10% of the total jobs recovered during the first six months after the spring shutdowns. Eighty percent of operators say their current staffing level is lower than what it would normally be in the absence of COVID-19.

Consumer spending in restaurants remained well below pre-pandemic levels in January. Overall, 77% of restaurant operators say their total dollar sales volume in January was lower than in January 2020.

32% of restaurant operators think it will be 7 to 12 months before business conditions return to normal for their restaurant, while 29% think it will be more than a year. An additional 10% of operators say business conditions will never return to normal for their restaurant.

14% of restaurant operators say they will ‘probably’ or ‘definitely’ be closed within three months if there are no additional relief packages from the federal government.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade and demand were light to moderate in the Southern Plains through Wednesday afternoon at $114/cwt., according to the Agricultural Marketing Service; steady with the previous week. Trade was light on moderate demand in Nebraska with dressed prices $2 lower at $180. Elsewhere, trade was limited on light demand, with too few transactions to trend.

Cattle feeders offered 1,592 head (10 lots) in Central Stockyards’ weekly Fed Cattle Exchange auction. All were from Texas, except for one lot from Nebraska. Of those offered, 757 head sold (four lots), with 167 heifers bringing an average price of $114.08/cwt. and 590 steers bringing an average of $114.00. All sales were by live weight.

Similarly, Choice steers and heifers sold steady to $1 lower at the fat auction in Tama, IA. There were 150 Choice 2-4 steers weighing an average of 1,473 lbs., bringing an average of $114.19/cwt., which was steady with the prior week’s negotiated trade.

Cattle futures closed mainly higher Wednesday, supported by lower Corn futures and oversold conditions.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 59¢ higher, except for an average of 5¢ lower in the front two contracts.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.28 higher, from 47¢ higher in spot Mar to $1.97 higher toward the back.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.65 lower Wednesday afternoon at $233.03/cwt. Select was $1.93 lower at $224.24.

Corn futures closed 2¢ to 10¢ lower through May ‘22 and then mostly fractionally mixed.

Soybean futures closed 3¢ to 7¢ lower through Mar ‘22, and then mostly fractionally higher to 1¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Wednesday. Positive news included private sector employment increasing by 117,000 jobs from January to February according to the February ADP^® National Employment Report^TM. 

Pressure included a higher Treasury yield rate, though not spiking as it did last week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 121 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 50 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 361 points.

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Agricultural producers surveyed for the monthly Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer believe plant-based meat alternatives will make inroads in the total protein marketplace during the next five years.

According to the February Ag Economy Barometer report, 55% of respondents said they expect alternative protein sources to capture up to 10% of the combined market for animal and plant-based protein, while approximately 15% said they expect plant-based alternatives to capture 10% or more of the total protein market.

Respondents also believe alternative proteins gaining too much market share would impact farm income negatively.

When asked what impact they would expect to see on farm income if plant-based alternatives to animal protein capture a relatively large market share (25%) of the total protein market, a majority  said they think the impact on farm income would be negative. Approximately four out of 10 producers would expect to see farm income decline by 10% or more.

“That a majority of farmers perceive negative effects of alt-meats on the agricultural economy is consistent with: 1) the fact that some respondents are likely livestock producers, and 2) a recognition that the amount of corn and soy needed to produce alt-meats is lower than the amount needed to produce an equivalent amount of beef, pork, or chicken,” says Jayson Lusk, Purdue University agricultural economist, in his March 2 blog. 

When asked if they would be interested in pursuing a contract offered to grow a crop used in the production of plant-based meat, 62% of survey respondents said no, 16% said maybe and 23% said yes.

“That strikes me as high and may include a bit of cheap talk,” Lusk explains. “It may also be that the question was worded too vaguely. What are the conditions of the contract? What are the price premiums? Farmers would want to know answers to these questions (and more) before switching to a new crop.”

February’s Ag Economy Barometer reading of 165 was little changed compared to January when the index stood at 167.

The Current Conditions Index of 200 in February was near the all-time high. The Future Expectations Index, though, declined by 3 points to 148, marking the third decline in four months.

“Ongoing strength in ag commodity prices and farm income continue to support producers’ perspective on current conditions while concerns about possible policy changes affecting agriculture and eroding confidence in future growth in ag trade continue to weigh on producers’ future expectations,” according to the report.

The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses.