WLI

Negotiated cash fed cattle prices trended higher through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Live sales in Colorado were $2 higher than last week at $98/cwt. In Nebraska, live trades were 50¢ to $2 higher at $98; dressed sales were $1.00-$1.50 higher at $158.00-$158.50.

Cattle feeders sold 422 head of the 1,022 offered in the weekly Fed Cattle Exchange auction—all from the Southern Plains. Of those 103 head sold for a weighted average price of $96/cwt. (1-9 day delivery) and 319 head sold for a weighted average price of $96.12 (9-17 day delivery). Those prices mirrored country trade in the region on Tuesday.

Cattle futures closed mixed, but mostly slightly higher on Wednesday, with more strength later in the session. Some positioning is likely Thursday, ahead of Friday’s Cattle on Feed report and the semiannual Cattle inventory report.

Live Cattle futures closed mixed, from an average of 24¢ lower through the front four contracts to an average of 42¢ higher.  

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 31¢ higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 27¢ higher Wednesday afternoon at $201.15/cwt. Select was $2.02 lower at $189.28.

Corn futures closed 2¢ to 4¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 1¢ to 2¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Wednesday, buoyed by promising coronavirus vaccine news and chatter about additional federal economic stimulus.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 165 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 18 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 25 points higher.

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USDA released its investigation into cattle and beef price reactions to last summer’s fire at the Tyson plant in Holcombe, KS and to disruptions wrought by COVID-19.

The report—Boxed Beef & Fed Cattle Price Spread Investigation Report—details market conditions and prices before, during and after those events, although the pandemic continues.

Keep in mind this USDA investigation does not examine potential violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act. USDA continues to cooperate with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division in that agency’s current investigation.

Instead, the report provides the logic and details behind the price reactions of the two black swan events: higher wholesale beef prices and lower fed cattle prices spawned by disruption to packing capacity and by altered demand flow, in the case of the pandemic.

No surprises, no matter how distasteful the reality.

“Record high meat prices are not a surprise,” says Stephen Koontz, agricultural economist at Colorado State University, reflecting on COVID impacts, specifically, in Economic Reasons for What was Observed in Fed Cattle and Beef Markets During the Spring of 2020.

“The grocery store supply chain was emptied during the closures of local economies and then had difficulty catching up,” Koontz explains. “Further, prices associated with specific cuts that consumers typically prepare at home were the highest. Prices of cuts sold at restaurants initially dropped to record lows and then rallied as consumers made substitutions and began purchasing cuts they did not buy typically. However, all rallied as total beef supplies diminished with closures and partial operations.

“Record low livestock prices are also not a surprise. If packers cannot run or cannot run at typical throughput levels—especially if animal supplies are abundant—then the marginal value of that last group of animals that is not sold is close to zero. And the last pen or truckload or group of animals is a perfect substitute for the first. It is the marginal value of the last product that sets the market. This point is critical. In fact, that is what is communicated by economists when supply and demand curves are drawn. The equilibrium quantity and price are what is traded at the lowest marginal value to buyers and the highest marginal value to sellers.”

The USDA report also offers considerations relative to price discovery, market transparency and price risk management.

Although too few to trend, there were some early live sales in the Southern Plains on Tuesday at $96/cwt., which was $1 higher than last week.

Cattle futures closed mixed on Tuesday, amid sluggish activity, as traders apparently waited for more cash direction.

Except for 2¢ higher in Apr, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 34¢ lower.        

Except for 27¢ lower and 2¢ lower in the front two contracts, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 57¢ higher (15¢ to $1.30 higher at the back).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 86¢ lower Tuesday afternoon at $200.88/cwt. Select was 29¢ lower at $191.30.

Corn futures closed 3¢ to 5¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 5¢ to 7¢ lower through Mar ’21 and then fractionally lower to 3¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed Tuesday, with apparent profit taking in tech stocks, but more optimism in financials.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 159 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 5 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 86 points lower.

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Total customer transactions at major U.S. restaurant chains eroded the week ending July 12, down 14% compared to a year earlier, and down 3% more than the previous week, according to the NPD Group (NPD).

Transactions at quick service restaurants (QSRs) led the decline, down 4% week to week and 13% less than a year earlier. Full service restaurant (FSR) transactions improved 3% week to week to 26% less year over year, according to NPD’s CREST® Performance Alerts. That was something of a surprise given the fact that QSR transactions so far are faring the pandemic more positively than FSRs.

“Last week, when quick service restaurants drove the improvements in restaurant customer transaction declines, I highlighted the apparent divergence in trend between quick service and full service restaurants, supported by sound reasoning about on-premises and off-premises models, the pace of reopening and reclosing, and the resurgence in COVID-19 cases around the country,” explains David Portalatin, NPD food industry advisor. “The flip in declines this week from quick service restaurants to full service restaurants is a reminder that the world is unpredictable today and we should expect twists and turns on the bumpy road to recovery. Still, the pre-COVID trend that favored quick service restaurants and the segment’s expertise in offering off-premises services, like drive-thru and delivery, has accelerated during the pandemic and will continue to do so in the long-term.”

The estimated percentage of U.S. restaurants permitted to have on-premises dining in the week ending July 12 declined to 82% from 90% in the prior week, according to NPD’s restaurant census ReCount®.  The majority of the change was in California, where the state government rolled back recent reopening to off-premise dining only.

Cattle futures softened some on Monday, likely with some profit taking from last week’s strong performance.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 39¢ lower (25¢ lower to $1.00 lower in spot Aug). 

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.31 lower (32¢ to $2.30 lower).

Wholesale beef values edged higher Monday after dropping to the lowest levels last week since December of 2017.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.27 higher Monday afternoon at $201.74/cwt. Select was $1.28 higher at $191.59.

Corn futures closed 2¢ to 4¢ lower through Jly ’21 and then fractionally lower to 1¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 3¢ to 5¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Monday, led by tech stocks, which were paced by Amazon.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 8 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 27 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 263 points higher.

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“Beef production will be higher year over year for the remainder of the year. This may combine with limited demand to keep wholesale beef prices under pressure going forward,” says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his latest weekly market comments.     

The most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates project beef production this year at 26.93 billion lbs., which would be just 0.81% less than last year. Heavier carcass weights are making up for lost slaughter earlier in the year.

For seasonal perspective, Peel explains carcass weights typically decline significantly in April, May and June. Last year, for instance, steer carcass weights declined 54 lbs. from January (896 lbs.) to a low of 842 lbs. the first week of June. This year, he notes average steer carcass weights in June of 896 lbs. were 16 lbs. less than in January.

“Longer term, beef demand may be affected by the economic recession,” Peel says. “Impacts have not been obvious thus far but unemployment is still high and some unemployment benefits will end this month. With COVID-19 far from controlled, considerable uncertainty remains regarding how school schedules, sporting activities and business travel could affect beef demand this fall.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle prices ended the week generally steady.

The weighted average five-area direct fed steer price through Thursday was $96.32/cwt. on a live basis, which was 35¢ higher than the previous week, but $16.70 less than the same week last year. The average steer price in the beef was $157.58, which was 9¢ less than the previous week and $25.39 less than a year earlier.

Cattle futures meandered higher by Friday’s close, supported by the week’s optimism built by cash feeder prices and thoughts that the low may be in the books for fed cattle prices.

Except for unchanged in spot Aug, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 36¢ higher.       

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 38¢ higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 33¢ lower Friday afternoon at $200.47/cwt. Select was 99¢ lower at $190.31.

The average dressed steer weight for the week ending July 4 was 896 lbs., according to USDA’s Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. That was even with the previous week and 35 lbs. heavier than the previous year. The average dressed heifer weight was 826 lbs., on par with the previous week but 34 lbs. heavier than the same week last year.

Estimated total cattle slaughter for the week ending July 18 was 650,000 head, according to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. That would be 7,000 head fewer (-1.07%) than the previous week’s estimate and 5,000 head fewer (-0.76%) than the same week last year. Year to date estimated total cattle slaughter of 17.15 million head is 1.01 million head fewer (-5.56%) than last year.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 2¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 4¢ higher through Jly ’21 and then fractionally higher to 3¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed narrowly mixed Friday. Pressure included the expanding number of coronavirus cases.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 62 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 9 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 23 points higher.

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U.S. beef exports are typically viewed in terms of tonnage, dollars and the impact on the U.S. beef industry, specifically. Export benefits run deeper, though.

Since 2015, indirect exports of corn and soybeans through beef and pork exports has been the fastest-growing category of corn and soybean use, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

For perspective, U.S. beef and pork exports last year used 480 million bushels of corn. Corn revenue generated by beef and pork exports totaled $1.8 billion (480 million bushels x average annual price of $3.75/bushel).

U.S. beef and pork exports also used about 3 million tons of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in 2019 at an annual average price of $137/ton, generating $411.8 million in revenue for ethanol mills’ co-products.

U.S. pork exports last year also used 2.12 million tons of soybean meal, which is the equivalent of 89.2 million bushels of soybeans. Soybean revenue generated by pork exports totaled $751.7 million (89.2 million bushels x average annual price of $8.43/bushel).

Snubbed to a different post, beef and pork exports last year contributed more than 12% of the per-bushel price of corn ($0.46/bushel) of an annual average price of $3.75/bushel.

All of that comes from a recently updated study conducted by World Perspectives, Inc. It helps explain why domestic corn and soybean growers invest a portion of their checkoff dollars in market development efforts conducted by USMEF.

“These are challenging times for everyone in U.S. agriculture, with producers facing difficult choices every day,” says Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO. “USMEF greatly appreciates the foresight and confidence shown by the corn and soybean sectors when they invest in red meat exports. This study provides a detailed analysis of the value delivered by that investment.”

Cattle futures stepped higher Thursday, supported by firmer cash prices, chatter about the low for fed cattle being established and an increase in weekly exports.

Net beef export sales of 27,800 metric tons for the week ending July 9 were up noticeably from the previous week and up 68% from the prior four-week average, according to the U.S. Export Sales report from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Increases were primarily for South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, and Canada.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.33 higher (67¢ to $2.05 higher).  

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.92 higher (67¢ to $3.20 higher).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 4¢ higher Thursday afternoon at $200.80/cwt. Select was 7¢ lower at $191.30.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 3¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 7¢ to 8¢ higher through Mar ’21 and then mostly 4¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower amid mixed economic news.

Although 10,000 fewer than the previous week, initial jobless claims of 1.3 million, reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, were more than traders expected.

On the other hand, U.S. retail sales beat expectations, climbing 7.5% month to month in June, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 135 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 10 points lower. The NASDAQ closed 76 points lower.

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Based on the monthly Cattle on Feed report, USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) estimated 971,000 head of cattle on feed more than 150 days, as of June 1, which was 42% more than the same time last year.

“With expectations of steadying demand for slaughter cattle and a large number of market-ready cattle in feedlots, price forecasts (fed cattle) for both the third and fourth quarters were lowered by $4 to $100/cwt. and by $3 to $103, respectively,” says ERS analysts, in the latest monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook.

In turn, expected higher fed cattle slaughter and increased feedlot marketings should improve demand for feeder cattle, according to those analysts. 

ERS projects the average feeder steer price (basis Oklahoma City) at $133/cwt. in the third quarter and $131 in the fourth quarter for an annual average of $131.70. Prices are projected at $129 in the first quarter of next year and at $132 in the second.