WLI

Packers up north got a head start on the holiday-shortened week Monday, paying steady to $3 less for negotiated cash fed cattle at $153/cwt. on a dressed basis in the western Corn Belt.

The five-area average direct fed steer price last week was $96.21/cwt. on a live basis, which was $4.57 less than the prior week. The average steer price in the beef was $154.78, which was $5.92 less. Prices the same week last year were $110.13 and $179.02, respectively.

Even so, Cattle futures ended Monday higher, helped along by outside markets and despite the bounce in Corn futures. Higher wholesale beef values also helped.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 64¢ higher.

Except for 20¢ lower in the back contract, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 50¢ higher. 

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.19 higher Monday afternoon at $208.36/cwt. Select was $1.86 higher at $200.71.

Grain futures traded higher, perhaps buoyed by positioning ahead of Tuesday’s Grain Stocks and Acreage reports due from USDA.

Corn futures closed 7¢ to 9¢ higher through Sep ’21 and then 4¢ to 6¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 1¢ higher through Jan ’21 and then mostly 5¢ to 6¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices on Monday bounced back from steep losses in the previous session.

Positive news on the day included a record rebound in pending home sales, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings, rose 44.3% to 99.6 in May, the stoutest month-over-month gain since NAR started the series in January 2001. However, contract signings were 5.1% less year over year.

“The outlook has significantly improved, as new home sales are expected to be higher this year than last, and annual existing-home sales are now projected to be down by less than 10%, even after missing the spring buying season due to the pandemic lockdown,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 580 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 44 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 116 points higher.

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“After the disappointing shortages and high beef prices during Memorial Day, the improved beef situation for this grilling holiday is a great relief,” says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University.  “Grocery stores should be well stocked in time for July 4 and retail prices are adjusting down rapidly. For individual stores, it may depend on their particular supply arrangements.” 

In his weekly market comments, Peel explains actual slaughter for the week ending June 13 exceeded year-ago levels for the first time since the first week of April.

Of course, supplies of competing meats are growing, too.

Although decreased broiler chick placements in April and May will likely lead to a modest third-quarter decrease in production, Peel says total production for beef, pork and broilers is projected to increase to a new annual record this year.

As for pork, Peel explains, the most recent Quarterly Hogs and Pigs (June) report pegged the total hog inventory at 79.6 million head, up 5.2% year over year and 3.0% more than in March.

According to Peel, beef production this year is projected at 27.41 billion lbs., 0.6% more than last year. Pork production for the year is estimated to be 3.4% more the last year at 28.47 billion lbs. and broiler production is projected 1.7% more at 44.16 billion lbs. Total red meat and poultry production is projected to be 1.9% more than last year at 106.74 billion lbs.

Negotiated cash fed cattle prices ended the week solidly lower, according to reports from the Agricultural Marketing Service. Regionally, live prices were $5-$7 lower in the Texas Panhandle at $93-$95/cwt., $5 less in Kansas at $95, $3-$7 lower in Nebraska at $95 and $1-$4 less in the western Corn Belt at $98. Dressed trade was $3-$7 less at $155-$156 in Nebraska and at $153-$156 in the western Corn Belt.

The five-area average direct fed steer price through Thursday was $96.24/cwt. on a live basis, which was $4.58 lower than the previous week and $14.34 less than the same period a year earlier. The average dressed steer price was $154.78, which was $5.96 less than the prior week and $24.58 less than a year earlier.

Cattle futures softened to end the week, amid the lower cash fed cattle prices, possible month-end and quarter-end positioning, as well as the picture painted by the monthly Livestock Slaughter report (see below).

Except for 52¢ higher in waning spot Jun, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 62¢ lower (5¢ to 97¢ lower).

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.08 lower (65¢ lower to $1.75 lower).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.09 lower Friday afternoon at $207.17/cwt. Select was $1.08 lower at $198.85.

USDA estimated total cattle slaughter for the week at 680,000 head, which would be 3.7% more than the previous week and 1.5% more than the same week last year. Total beef production under federal inspection was estimated at 562.3 million lbs., which would be 3.9% more than the previous week and 5.3% more than the same week last year.

Corn futures closed fractionally lower to 1¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 7¢ to 9¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed sharply lower Friday on renewed fears that recent spikes in COVID-19 will further slow nascent economic rebuilding.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 730 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 74 points lower. The NASDAQ closed 259 points lower.

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The latest Livestock Slaughter report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) provides insight to recent packing disruptions, including a reflection of how increased carcass weights are impacting total beef production. Keep in mind, there were two fewer business days in May this year compared to 2019.

Federally inspected beef production in May of 1.83 billion lbs. was 473.3 million lbs. less than the previous year (-20.6%), but 45.6 million lbs. more than the previous month (+2.6%).

Beef production for January through May of 10.50 billion lbs. was 364.7 million lbs. less than the same period a year earlier (-3.4%).

There were 1.70 million fed steers and heifers harvested in January-May, which was just 45,800 head more (+2.8%) than the previous month and 626,100 head fewer (-26.9%) less than May of last year.

For January through May, the 9.8 million steers and heifers slaughtered was 785,600 head fewer (-7.4%) than the same period a year earlier.

The 3.7 million fed heifers harvested in January through May were 199,100 more (+5.0%) than the same time a year earlier.

The 1.3 million beef cows harvested in January through May were 20,100 head more (+1.6%) than the same time a year earlier.

Federally inspected total red meat production of 3.71 billion lbs. in May was 820.3 million lbs. less than the previous May (-18.1%), and 108.2 million lbs. less than in April (-2.8%).

Total red meat production for January through May of 21.81 billion lbs. was 419.7 million lbs. less than the same period a year earlier (-1.9%).

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade continued at lower money for the week with live sales in the Texas Panhandle on Thursday down $5-$7 at $93-$97/cwt.

Cattle futures closed mainly higher, with support likely including lower corn prices and positive export news.

Weekly net U.S. beef export sales as of June 18 were 24,400 metric tons (mt), which were 21% more than the previous week and 52% more than the prior four-week average, according to the weekly U.S. Export Sales report from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Increases were primarily for South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, and Hong Kong.

Other than unchanged to an average of 15¢ lower in three contracts, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 32¢ higher.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 49¢ higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.43 lower Thursday afternoon at $208.26/cwt. Select was $1.76 lower at $199.93.

The average dressed steer weight for the week ending June 13 was 896 lbs., which was 4 lbs. heavier than the previous week and 47 lbs. heavier than the same week a year earlier, according to USDA’s Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. The average dressed heifer weight was 824 lbs., which was the same as a week earlier, but 37 lbs. heavier than the prior year.

Corn futures closed 4¢ to 7¢ lower through May ’21 and then mostly 3¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 1¢ to 3¢ lower through Sep ’21 and then 4¢ to 7¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Thursday after a volatile session. Primary support seemed to be the rollback of some regulations for big banks, despite the somber outlook from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“Consumption growth, in particular, has been downgraded for most economies, reflecting the larger-than-anticipated disruption to domestic activity,” according to that organization’s most recent quarterly World Economic Outlook. “The projections of weaker private consumption reflect a combination of a large adverse aggregate demand shock from social distancing and lockdowns, as well as a rise in precautionary savings. Moreover, investment is expected to be subdued as firms defer capital expenditures amid high uncertainty. Policy support partially offsets the deterioration in private domestic demand.”

The IMF projects global economic growth this year to be -4.9%, which is 1.9% more negative than its April outlook.

Outlook for economic growth in advanced economies is -8.0%, also 1.9% more negative than April projections. IMF also projects growth for the U.S. this year at -8.0%. Next year, GDP in advanced economies is projected at +4.8%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 299 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 33 points higher. The NASDAQ closed 107 points higher.

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“The calculated number of cattle on feed longer than 120 days is 5.1 million compared to 4.2 million a year ago,” says David Anderson, Extension Livestock Economist at Texas A&M University, referring to last week’s monthly Cattle on Feed report. “Most of that increase in over 120 days on feed are cattle that have been on feed even longer as evidenced by the number of cattle on feed over 150 days. But, cattle on feed between 90 and 120 days totaled about 1.65 million versus 1.79 million last year. So, there remains more adjustments to come to work through the impacts of corona virus in the cattle markets.”

However, in the most recent issue of In the Cattle Markets, Anderson explains the recent report hints at more normalcy returning to the industry.

For instance, he points out marketings in May were 27.5% less than the prior year, but there were two less business days.

“As May progressed, packing constraints loosened and daily slaughter moved closer to year-ago speeds. June 2020 has 22 slaughter days compared to only 20 in June 2019, so the next report’s marketings will likely show the dual impact of improving slaughter speeds and 10% more workdays in the month,” Anderson says.

Likewise, May feedlot placements (feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity) were 1.3% less year over year, after being more than 20% less the previous two months.

“May is typically a larger month for placements due to cattle coming off wheat pasture and other small winter grains,” Anderson explains. “Feeder cattle sales did start to pick up as May went on, as cattle previously held back had to move. Some drought conditions likely moved some feeders, and some opportunities to favorably place occurred.”

Except for in the Texas Panhandle, trendable negotiated cash fed cattle trade continued on Wednesday, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Live sales were mostly $5 lower in Kansas at mostly $97/cwt. They were $3-$4 lower in Nebraska at $95-$98 and $1-$4 lower in the western Corn Belt at $98. Dressed trade for the week is $3-$6 lower at mostly $156.

Cattle feeders offered 1,221 head in the weekly Fed Cattle Exchange Auction. Of those, 276 head—four lots from Kansas and Nebraska—sold for a weighted average price of $96.43/cwt. for delivery at 1-17 days.

Choice steers and heifers sold $2.75-$3.00 lower at the fat auction in Tama, IA, where 184 Choice 2-4 steers weighed an average of 1,376 lbs. and brought an average price of $100.95.

At Sioux Falls Regional in South Dakota, slaughter steers and heifers sold $4-$6 lower. There were 372 Choice 2-3 steers weighing an average of 1,429 lbs. and bringing an average of $95.86.

Cattle futures tottered on Wednesday as outside markets eroded, but retained the lion’s share of gains made in the previous session.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 31¢ lower.

Feeder Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed, from an average of 29¢ lower through the front three contracts to an average of 33¢ higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.12 lower Wednesday afternoon at $209.69/cwt. Select was $1.88 lower at $201.69.

Corn futures closed mostly 2¢ to 4¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 3¢ to 4¢ lower. 

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Major U.S. financial indices dove South on Wednesday, with investors apparently spooked by spiking coronavirus cases in some states and what that could mean to reopening the economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 710 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 80 points lower. The NASDAQ closed 222 points lower.

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Total pounds of beef in freezers May 31 were down 13% from the previous month but up 2% from last year, according to the most recent USDA Cold Storage report.

Frozen pork supplies were 24% less than the previous month and down 26% from a year earlier. Stocks of pork bellies were down 27% from last month and down 8% from last year.

Total red meat supplies in freezers were 18% less than the previous month and 13% less than a year earlier.

Total frozen poultry supplies were down 5% from the previous month and down 4% from a year ago.