WLI

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade continued on Wednesday at mainly steady prices, with live sales at $95/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $96 in the Northern Plains, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Dressed trade in the western Corn Belt was at $157-$160.

Cattle feeders offered 1,224 head in the weekly Fed Cattle Exchange auction. Of those, 275 head–three Kansas lots–sold for a weighted average price of $95.62/cwt. with delivery of 1-9 days.

Choice 2-4 steers (169 head) weighing an average of 1,379 lbs. brought an average of $101.79 at the fat auction in Tama, IA, which was 50¢ to 75¢ lower than the prior week.

At Sioux Falls Regional in South Dakota, though, slaughter steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher. There were 459 Choice 2-3 steers weighing an average of 1,451 lbs. and bringing an average of $100.88.

Cattle futures bounced higher, supported by firm cash fed cattle, as well as current cash demand for feeder cattle.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 85¢ higher (30¢ higher at the back to $2.50 higher in spot Aug).

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.40 higher (32¢ higher to $2.70 higher in spot Aug).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 16¢ lower Wednesday afternoon at $200.76/cwt. Select was 52¢ higher at $191.37.

Corn futures closed mostly fractionally higher.

Soybean futures got a boost from Wednesday’s announcement that China bought 389,000 metric tons for delivery in 2020-21.

Soybean futures closed 4¢ to 8¢ higher through Mar ’21 and then mostly 3¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices continued higher Wednesday, with promising trial results for a COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna), as well as quarterly earnings from Goldman Sachs that beat expectations.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 227 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 29 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 61 points higher.

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COVID-19 is accelerating the divergence between full service restaurants (FSRs) and quick service restaurants (QSRs) that began before the pandemic, according to David Portalatin, food industry advisor for The NPD Group (NPD).

“Long before anyone ever heard of social distancing, consumers were showing an increasing preference for off-premise restaurant meals. Then suddenly this March, we entered a reality where the entire restaurant industry was off-premise only,” Portalatin explains. “That harsh reality was far harsher for FSRs, a segment that saw transaction declines near 80% or worse at the depth of the pandemic in the U.S. In contrast, QSR declines were roughly half as severe thanks to their abundance of drive-thru windows, capacity for high volume pick-up, and the ability of large QSR chains to leverage digital apps as an accelerant, as well as provide a contactless experience.”

For current perspective, FSR customer transactions were 30% less than a year earlier for the week ending July 5, representing a week-to-week decline of 5%, according to NPD’s CREST^®Performance Alerts. Conversely, QSR customer transactions that same week continued to improve, up 4% week to week to a level that was 13% less year over year.

Since mid-March, when the pandemic closed dine-in services, Portalatin explains QSR chains doubled down on their off-premise prowess with streamlined menus optimized for volume and efficiency and by expanding drive-thru capacity with reconfigured traffic flow and added lanes. These and other changes allow continued improvement in QSR customer transactions, whether or not government regulations allow reopening dining rooms.

In fact, Portalatin says many QSR chain operators are finding the incremental cost of opening a dining room to be greater than any incremental margin dollars they might gain and are remaining closed even when governing bodies allow reopening.  

FSR performance, on the other hand, remains largely at the mercy of governmental regulation and the persistence of the coronavirus. 

Pivoting to off-premise is far more difficult for many FSRs, Portalatin explains. These restaurants can employ similar tactics as QSRs, like streamlined menus, and temporary drive-thrus, but none play to the inherent strengths of FSRs. Moreover, as on-premise dining restrictions ease, he says many FSR operators are forced to dismantle much of their temporary off-premise infrastructure so that guests can park, have a waiting area that allows for social distancing, and labor can be redirected to the front of the house.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade got off to a steady start Tuesday with live prices in the Southern Plains at $95/cwt., but a few up to $96.25 in Kansas, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Cattle futures softened with some likely profit taking as traders take stock of the potential upside beyond the backlog of fed cattle.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 73¢ lower (32¢ lower to $1.22 lower).          

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 64¢ lower (30¢ to $1.20 lower).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.34 lower Tuesday afternoon at $200.92/cwt. Select was $1.03 lower at $190.85.

Corn futures closed mostly 2¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 2¢ higher through Aug ’21 and then fractionally higher to 1¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices bounced higher Tuesday. Support included more positive quarterly earnings than expected from J.P Morgan Chase.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 556 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 42 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 97 points higher.

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“The COVID impacts on cattle and beef markets are not all behind us, but the majority of the disruptions appear to have passed,” says Stephen Koontz, agricultural economist at Colorado State University, in the latest issue of In the Cattle Markets. “Beef cutout prices have returned to normal levels with tenderloins being rather weak. Fed steer and heifer slaughter volumes have returned to strong levels and the Saturday kill is very comparable to last year’s high values. Packer margins remain rather strong, but are well off of record highs, and are being realized as plants are back to operating at or close to full capacity.”

Koontz notes exceptions to normality, which will remain for some time, include the inventory of cattle on feed, the number of long-fed cattle and the resulting heavier carcass weights.

“The supply scenario is usually difficult this time of year with gradual declines in numbers but higher animal weights. And that difficult scenario is usually on the tail of market opportunities in the spring,” Koontz explains. “The disruptions this year eliminated the most persistent opportunity and could not have been worse timed. I, and the futures market, think it will take us through December or into next year for the market outlook to clearly improve.”

Koontz also points to deepening drought conditions as another near-term market factor.

“I expect to see beef cow liquidation be more substantial in the fall and I expect to see stronger western forage prices through the rest of the year; the extent of both, depending on the weather,” Koontz says. “Forecasts are for high and dry through the remainder of this year, with the potential for more normal weather during next year and starting next winter.”

Although beef cow slaughter increased significantly in recent weeks, Koontz notes there is no indication of drought-forced cow liquidation currently, but beef cow feeding is reported in the West.

The weighted average five-area direct fed steer price last week was $95.98/cwt. on a live basis, which was $1.11 higher than the previous week but $17.39 less than the same week last year. The average price in the beef was $157.60, which was $3.92 higher than the prior week but $25.21 less than the prior year, according to USDA. Fed cattle transactions of 83,634 head were 3,098 head fewer than the prior week but 19,304 head more (+30%) than the same week a year earlier.

Firmer to higher cash fed cattle prices helped Cattle futures close mostly higher Monday. Feeder Cattle were also supported by a steep decline in Corn futures.

Except for an average of 25¢ lower through the front three contracts, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 31¢ higher.       

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.41 higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.24 lower Monday afternoon at $203.26/cwt. Select was $2.41 lower at $191.88.

Friday’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates and continued positive crop progress weighed on grain futures to start the week.

Corn futures closed 6¢ to 7¢ lower through Jul ’21 and then mostly 2¢ to 4¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 12¢ to 15¢ lower through May ’21 and then 5¢ to 10¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices roared higher early Monday, buoyed by positive coronavirus vaccine progress. Investor sentiment turned bearish, though, after California announced it was closing indoor restaurants, bars and movie theatres, in order to slow recently escalating COVID-19 cases.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 10 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 29 points lower. The NASDAQ closed 226 points lower.

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Nationwide, pasture and range conditions continue to erode, according to the latest USDA Crop Progress report for the week ending July 12.

36% of pasture and range was rated in Good (31%) or Excellent (5%) condition, which was 32% less than last year. 30% was rated in Poor (19%) or Very Poor (11%) condition, compared to 8% at the same time last year.

Cattle states with 30% or more of the pasture and range in Poor and Very Poor condition include: Arizona (31%); California (55%); Colorado (44%); New Mexico (58%); Oregon (54%); Texas (39%); Wyoming (36%).

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor (July 7) 48.51% of the Continental U.S. was rated from abnormally dry to extreme drought. That was 3.09% more than the previous week and 37.68% more than the same time last year.

29% of corn was silking, which was 3% less than last year but 15% more than the five-year average. 3% was at the dough stage, which was 1% more than last year, but on par with the average. 69% is rated as Good (52%) or Excellent (17%), which is 11% more than last year. 8% was rated as Poor (6%) or Very Poor (2%), which was 4% less than a year earlier.

48% of soybeans were blooming, which was 29% more than last year and 8% more than the average. 11% were setting pods, compared to 3% last year and 10% for average. 68% was rated as Good (54%) or Excellent (14%), which was 14% more than last year. 7% was rated as Poor (5%) or Very Poor (2%), compared to 12% the previous year.

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Beef production played a role in the precipitous decline in May U.S. beef exports, but higher prices and economic turmoil wrought by COVID-19 were likely factors, too.

As mentioned in Cattle Current last week, U.S. beef exports in May were 33% less than a year earlier, and the least in 10 years, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Value was 34% less than the same time last year at $480.1 million.

“It is not clear how much of the drop in May beef exports was due to reduced supply and how much was due to reduced demand because of global recession,” says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his weekly market comments. “Beef production dropped 19.7% in April followed by a 19.9% drop in May. There is little doubt that May beef exports were curtailed in part simply due to a lack of available product. No doubt, some export orders were simply unable to be filled in May. It is likely, however, that part of the decrease in beef exports was due to macroeconomic weakness in some countries, combined with higher U.S. beef prices. Choice boxed beef prices increased to a monthly average of $263.35/cwt. in April, up from the March level of $228.05/cwt. May Choice boxed beef prices increased to $420.00/cwt., up 84.2% over the March levels.”

In terms of specific markets, Peel explains May exports to Japan, the leading U.S. market, were 26.3% less year over year. Beef exports to Korea, the second leading U.S. market were 21.7% less. They were 78.0% less to Mexico, which recently occupied the position as third largest importer of U.S. beef.

“The drop in beef exports to Mexico, in particular, is very concerning,” Peel says. “It is doubtful that reduced supply alone explains the 78.0% drop. Mexico is experiencing a sharp recession, compounded by a weaker Mexican Peso in April and May (with some recovery in June). In 2019, Mexico accounted for 14.0% of total U.S. beef exports for the year, but in May only amounted to 4.4% of total monthly exports. May exports of pork to Mexico were down 21.9% and broiler exports were down 27.6%, highlighting the overall demand weakness in Mexico.”

Looking ahead, Peel notes U.S. beef production in June recovered to about 97% of year-ago levels. Choice boxed beef prices declined to an average of $242.30/cwt.

 “Now that production has substantially recovered, the U.S. industry is better able to meet the needs of both domestic and international customers,” explains Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO. “While the foodservice and hospitality sectors face enormous challenges, they are on the path to recovery in some markets while retail demand remains strong. Retail sales have also been bolstered by a surge in e-commerce and innovations in home meal replacement, as convenience remains paramount.”

“June beef exports will likely bounce back significantly from the May drop but it will be important going forward to monitor both the residual impact of April-May processing disruptions and the ongoing global economic weakness to see how beef export prospects develop in the second half of the year,” Peel says.

The weighted average five-area direct fed steer price through Thursday was $95.97/cwt. on a live basis and $157.67 in the beef. That was $1.06 and $3.84 higher, week to week, respectively.

Speculation by some that that the low is in for cash fed cattle price, along with normalizing wholesale beef values, helped support Cattle futures to end the week. Lower Corn futures on Friday also supported Feeder Cattle.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 76¢ higher.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.24 higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 91¢ higher Friday afternoon at $204.50/cwt. Select was 54¢ lower at $194.29.

Increased beginning corn and soybean stocks projected in the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (see below) weighed on futures Friday.

Corn futures closed mostly 10¢ to 11¢ lower through Jul ’21 and then mostly 6¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 9¢ to 12¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Friday, with much of the overall support attributed to promising results for a coronavirus treatment.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 369 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 32 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 69 points higher.

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USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates increased expectations for 2020 beef production and total red meat and poultry production.

Beef production for this year was projected at 26.93 billion lbs., which was 260 million lbs. more (+0.97%) than the previous month’s estimate, based on higher cattle slaughter and heavier carcass weights. The total would be 221 million lbs. less (-0.81%) than in 2019.

“Cattle price forecasts for 2020 are lowered from last month on prices to date and continued large supplies of fed cattle,” according to analysts with USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS).

ERS projects the five-area direct weighted average steer price at $100/cwt. in the third quarter and at $103 in the fourth quarter for an annual average price of $106.80. That’s $1.80 less than the June projection. The projected annual price next year is $110, with prices estimated at $104 in the first quarter and $105 in the second.

ERS estimates total red meat and poultry production for this year at 106.54 billion lbs., which is 1.54 billion lbs. more (+1.46%) than the previous month’s estimate. That would be 1.28 billion lbs. more (+1.21%) than last year.

Among other WASDE highlights:

Corn

USDA estimated corn production for this year at 15.0 billion bu., which was 995 million bu. less (-6.22%) than the previous month’s estimate, given 5 million fewer planted acres projected in June’s Acreage report.

Corn production, with projected yield of 178.5 bu./acre, would be 1.38 billion bu. more than last year (+10.16%). Beginning corn stocks were projected 145 million bu. higher, based on lower estimated use forecast for 2019-20.

However, with 2020-2021 supply declining more than use, the forecast season-average corn price received by producers was raised 15¢ to $3.35/bu. 

Soybeans

Soybean production is projected at 4.14 billion bu., up 10 million on increased harvested area (83.0 million acres) in the June 30 Acreage report. The soybean yield forecast was unchanged at 49.8 bu./acre. With higher beginning stocks, 2020-21 soybean supplies were raised 45 million bu.

The U.S. season-average soybean price for 2020-21 is forecast at $8.50/bu., up 30¢, partly reflecting higher price expectations following the June Acreage report. The soybean meal price is projected at $300/short ton, up $10 from the previous month. The soybean oil price forecast is unchanged at 29.0¢/lb. 

Wheat

The outlook for 2020-21 U.S. wheat is for larger supplies, lower domestic use, unchanged exports, and increased stocks. Supplies were raised, with larger beginning stocks more than offset by lower production.

Ending wheat stocks for 2020-21 were projected 17 million bu. higher than the previous month at 942 million. The projected season-average farm wheat price (SAFP) was unchanged at $4.60/bu., compared to the revised 2019-20 SAFP of $4.58.