WLI

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.

******************************

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.

*******************************

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.

*******************************

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.

******************************

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.

*******************************

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.

The week’s mostly steady to stronger negotiated cash fed cattle trade helped lift Cattle futures on Thursday.

Except for 30¢ lower in the back contract, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 50¢ higher.

That was despite the latest U.S. Export Sales report from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For the week ending July 6, net U.S. beef export sales of 9,500 metric tons (mt) were 23% less than the previous week and 51% less than the previous four-week average. Increases were primarily for Japan, South Korea, China, Mexico, and Taiwan.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 56¢ higher.

At $133.69, the CME Feeder Cattle Index was at the highest level since the first part of March.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 24¢ lower Thursday afternoon at $203.59/cwt. Select was 69¢ lower at $194.83.

USDA’s latest weekly Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report underscores the continued recovery in beef packing capacity. Total fed cattle slaughter for the week of June 27 was 532,820 head, which was 20,029 more than the previous week–the most since the last week of March–but 5,221 head fewer than the previous year. Total cattle slaughter of 664,812 head was 19,151 head more than the previous week, but 5,499 head fewer than the previous year.

That same report speaks to the continued backlog of fed cattle, with the average dressed steer weight for the week at 896 lbs., which was 6 lbs. heavier than the previous week and 42 lbs. more than the previous year. The average dressed heifer weight of 826 lbs. was 3 lbs. heavier than the previous week and 37 lbs. heavier than the same time a year earlier.

******************************

Grain futures continued to firm and gain Thursday, helped along by weather and harvest, in the case of wheat. There was also likely some positioning ahead of the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, due out Friday.

The aforementioned Export Sales report was also supportive.

Net corn export sales of 599,200 mt for 2019-2020 were up 66% from the prior week and up 30% from the prior four-week average. Increases were primarily for China, Colombia, Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Net soybean export sales of 952,200 mt for 2019-2020 were up noticeably from the previous week and up 60% from the prior four-week average. Increases were primarily for China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Mexico.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 2¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 1¢ to 4¢ higher.

******************************

Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed on Thursday. While tech stocks continued to surge higher, climbing coronavirus infections in the U.S. cast a pall.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 361 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 17 points lower. The NASDAQ closed 55 points higher.

*******************************

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have devastating impacts on public health and the economies of the U.S. and many other countries. There is much uncertainty about the future impacts of COVID-19, but even in the best of circumstances, the economic impacts are enormous,” says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his latest market comments.

He points to the sobering GDP projections made by a host of organizations.

The U.S. Federal reserves estimates U.S. GDP this year at -6.5%. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development projects -7.3%, but -8.5% if there’s a secondary coronavirus outbreak. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees GDP at -8.0%.

Further, Peel says the Federal Reserve’s most recent forecast is for the U.S. unemployment rate this year to be 9.3%.

Peel shared this observation from the IMF:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a more negative impact on activity in the first half of 2020 than anticipated, and the recovery is projected to be more gradual than previously forecast. In 2021 global growth is projected at 5.4%. Overall, this would leave 2021 GDP some 6.5 percentage points lower than in the pre-COVID-19 projections of January 2020.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade continued on Wednesday with prices mainly steady to higher, compared to last week. Live prices in the Texas Panhandle were steady to $2 higher at $95/cwt.; steady to $1 lower in Kansas at $94-$95. For the week, live sales are steady in Nebraska at $95-$96 and $3-$5 higher in the beef at $157-$160. In the western Corn Belt, live sales are $3 higher than last week at $99-$100 and $5-$7 higher in the beef at $160.

Cattle feeders offered 1,390 head in the weekly Fed Cattle Exchange auction. Of those, 659 head sold, all from Kansas: 509 head for delivery at 1-9 days for a weighted average price of $95.16; 150 head for delivery at 1-17 days for a weighted average price of $95.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 41¢ lower.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 69¢ lower.

The monthly five-area direct average steer price in June was $103.82/cwt. on a live basis (FOB), which was $7.71 less than the previous month and $8.10 less than the prior year, according to USDA’s monthly report. The average live weight was 1,441 lbs., which was 21 lbs. lighter month to month, but 61 lbs. heavier year over year. The average dressed steer price (delivered) was $165.69 in June, which was $13.33 less than in May and $16.01 less than the previous year. The average dressed steer weight in June of 926 lbs. was 9 lbs. lighter than the previous month, but 43 lbs. heavier than the same time a year earlier. For January through June, total five-area direct confirmed sales of 1.91 million head were 9.75% less than the same period a year earlier.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.47 lower Wednesday afternoon at $203.83/cwt. Select was $1.32 lower at $195.52.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 2¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 1¢ to 5¢ lower through May ’21 and then mostly 1¢ higher.

******************************

The Wall Street seesaw continued Wednesday, to the upside this time, with tech stocks leading Major U.S. financial indices higher.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 177 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 24 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 148 points higher.

*******************************

Recovery of U.S. restaurant customer transactions stalled for the second week in a row as COVID-19 cases continue to increase in a number of states, according to The NPD Group (NPD).

For the week ending June 28, total customer transactions at major U.S. restaurant chains were down 14% versus the same week a year ago.  That’s a 1% decline from the previous week, based on NPD’s CREST® Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 72 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains.

The rise in COVID-19 case counts is causing local and state authorities to delay reopening, and in some cases, reinstating on-premise restaurant dining restrictions. In Texas, for example, restaurants may continue to offer on-premise dining, but capacity was rolled back from 75% to 50%. California announced last week the closing of its nearly 86,000 restaurants to on-premise dining. 

Nationwide, full service restaurant customer transactions were 25% less than a year earlier, for the week ending June 28. That was a 1% weekly decline overall, while transactions fell 6-9% in states where coronavirus is increasing.

Customer transactions at major quick service restaurant chains declined by 13% compared to the same week last year, down 1 point from the previous week’s decline.

“It’s apparent that the road to recovery is going to be a challenging one for the U.S. restaurant industry,” says David Portalatin, NPD food industry advisor. “Consumer demand is there, as is the want for normalcy, but there is nothing normal about this situation.”