Daily Market Highlights

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive with very light demand in Nebraska and the western Corn belt through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Elsewhere, trade was at a standstill.

For the week, live prices were steady to 50¢ higher in the Texas Panhandle at $119-$120/cwt., $1 lower in Kansas at $119, steady in Nebraska at $120 and mostly steady in the western Corn Belt at $120. Dressed prices were steady to $1 lower at $190-$191 in Nebraska and at $188-$191 in the western Corn Belt.

Cattle futures closed mainly higher Friday, with a late surge after two-sided trading. Support included softer, more stable Corn futures, along with continued demand strength.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.69 higher. 

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 66¢ higher, (27¢ to $1.07 higher), except for and average of 30¢ lower in the back to contracts.

How the market reacts to the monthly Cattle on Feed report (see below) is anybody’s guess.

Boxed beef cutout value (p.m.): Choice boxed beef cutout value was 99¢ higher Friday afternoon at $325.17/cwt. Select was 70¢ higher at $302.31.

Estimated total cattle slaughter of 669,000 head last week was 29,000 head more than the previous week. Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter of 12.9 million head is 757,000 head more (+6.2%) than last year’s pandemic-ravaged pace. Estimated beef production last week was 550.7 million lbs., which was 23.1 million lbs. more than the previous week.

Corn futures closed mostly 3¢ to 5¢ lower. 

Soybean futures closed 7¢ to 14¢ lower. 

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed Friday, with most of the pressure on big tech stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 123 points higher. The S&P 500 3 points lower. The NASDAQ down 64 points.

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Reaction to the monthly Cattle on Feed report for feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity could range from neutral to widely diverse.

April placements of 1.82 million head were 389,000 head more (27.16%) more than the previous year, which was about 6.3% more than the average of analyst expectations ahead of the report. However, comparing to last year’s pandemic blip seems a fool’s errand. Compared to 2019, April placements were 21,000 head fewer (-1.14%).

In terms of placement weight, 35% went on feed weighing 699 lbs. or less, 49% weighing 700-899 lbs. and 16% weighing 900 lbs. or more.

Marketings in April of 1.94 million head were 479,000 head more (32.83% more) than a year earlier, about even with the average of analyst expectation. The number was 10,000 head more (0.5%) than the same month in 2019.

Cattle on Feed May 1 of 11.73 million head were 525,000 head more (4.69%) more than last year and the second most for the date since the data series began in 1996. That was about 1% more than what analysts expected, on average. Compared to two years earlier, there were 93,000 head fewer (-0.79%) cattle on feed.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was slow on moderate demand in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Live trade continued at $120/cwt. in Nebraska, which is steady with the previous week. Dressed trade earlier in the week was at $190-$191, which was steady to $1 lower.

Although too few to trend, there were some live trades in the western Corn Belt at $120 and some in the beef at $191. Prices last week were at mostly $120 and $188-$191, respectively.

Trade was limited on light demand in Kansas with a few live trades at $119, steady with earlier in the week but steady to $1 lower than last week.

Elsewhere, trade was mostly inactive on very light demand. Earlier in the week live trades were at $119-$120 in the Texas Panhandle, which was steady to 50¢ higher than last week.

Feeder Cattle futures closed and average of $1.54 lower Thursday, pressured by the bounce higher in Corn futures and the dour fed cattle market.

Live Cattle futures closed mixed (average of 22¢ lower to average of 43¢ higher), helped along by stellar wholesale beef prices.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 80¢ higher Thursday afternoon at $324.18/cwt. Select was $1.92 higher at $301.61.

Net U.S. beef export sales added optimism. For the week ending May 13, they were 56,900 metric tons (mt), according to the U.S. Export Sales report from USDA. That’s a market-year high, up noticeably from the prior week and from the previous four-week average. Increases were primarily for the Netherlands, China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

The average dressed steer weight the week ending May 8 was 896 lbs., which was 5 lbs. heavier than the previous week and even with the same week last year, according to USDA’s Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. The average dressed heifer weight was 826 lbs., which was 2 lbs. heavier than the prior week but 3 lbs. lighter than the previous year.

Corn futures closed mostly 12¢ to 13¢ higher through Jly ‘22 and then mostly 3¢ to 4¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly fractionally lower to 3¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Thursday, lifted by a rebound from the previous session’s sharp decline in digital Bitcoin currency, as well as positive employment news. Weekly initial unemployment insurance claims were 444,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That was 34,000 fewer than the previous week and a pandemic-era low.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 188 points. The S&P 500 closed 43 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 236 points.

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Beef production next year is projected to be 2% less than this year at 27.3 billion lbs., according to USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). If so, that would be the first year-over-year decline of domestic beef production in seven years.

That’s based on expectations drought conditions will accelerate the pace of cattle slaughter in the second-half of this year, likely reducing cattle supplies for next year. “However, carcass weights are expected to increase year over year as non-fed cattle will be a smaller portion of the slaughter mix,” ERS analysts explain.

The same expectations for increased cattle slaughter in the second half of this year led ERS to increase projected 2021 beef production to 27.9 billion lbs., which was 260 million lbs. more than the previous month.

“A greater number of feeder cattle than expected were placed in first-quarter 2021, raising the expected pace of fed cattle marketed for slaughter,” say ERS analysts in the latest Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook. “In second-quarter 2021, poor pasture conditions and higher feed costs will likely favor a faster pace of cattle entering feedlots, supporting higher fed cattle marketings in the second half of 2021. Further, in the face of expected tightening forage supplies, producers will likely increase culling of breeding stock—both cows and bulls—in second-half 2021.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was slow on light to moderate demand in Kansas, Nebraska and the western Corn Belt through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, live sales are steady to $1 lower in Kansas at $119/cwt.. steady in Nebraska at $120, and steady to 50¢ higher in the Texas Panhandle at $119-$120. Dressed trade in Nebraska is steady to $1 lower at $190-$191.

Slaughter steers sold steady to $1 higher at the Sioux Falls Regional fat auction Wednesday. Slaughter heifers traded $1-$2 higher. There were 246 Choice 3-4 steers weighing an average of 1,536 lbs., bringing an average of $120.57/cwt.

Feeder Cattle futures were mostly higher Wednesday, buoyed by pressure in grain markets. They closed an average of 85¢ higher (10¢ to $1.22 higher), except for 62¢ lower in spot May. 

Live Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed as traders balanced sluggish cash prices and cattle movement with expectations for lower boxed beef prices after Memorial Day buying ends. They closed an average of 34¢ lower, except for an average of 22¢ higher in the front three contracts.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 4¢ higher Wednesday afternoon at $323.38/cwt. Select was 64¢ higher at $299.69

Corn futures closed mixed, from 4¢ lower to 1¢ higher with most of the pressure in nearby contracts.

Soybean futures closed mostly 21¢ to 36¢ lower through Jly ‘22 and then mostly 6¢ to 10¢ lower. 

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Wednesday, but well off of session lows as a sudden, sharp decline in digital Bitcoin currency rattled investors and fueled a decline in speculative stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 164 points lower. The S&P was down 12 points. The NASDAQ was down 3 points. 

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“With decreased forages available, feeder cattle may need to enter feedlots earlier, depressing feeder cattle prices and possibly having a seasonal low mid-summer as opposed to early fall,” says Brenda Boetel, Extension livestock economist at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. “With continued labor shortages and high levels of cattle on feed, there is limited bullish news for fat cattle prices. Corn prices will remain volatile and will move with any weather news.”

Even so, in the latest issue of In the Cattle Markets, Boetel notes fed cattle profit potential increased slightly last week. “The potential shows up in the gross feeding margins and the idea that corn price has decreased more than the increase in feeder cattle prices,” she says.

For all of the recent price volatility and elevated costs, the outlook is more positive than one might guess, based on the monthly Focus on Feedlots Survey (FFS) conducted by Kansas State University and published in Historical and Projected Kansas Feedlot Net Returns.

Net returns projected for steer closeouts in April were -$39.01/head for steers and $2.77/head for heifers, according to the Kansas data. Estimated returns the previous month were -$69.52 for steers and -$61.18 for heifers. Keep in mind no price risk management is included in the calculations.

Looking ahead, FFS projected returns for steers range from $105.09/head in May to -$56.12 in October, with feedlot cost of gain ranging from $100.82/cwt. in May to $115.80 in October. Projected heifer returns follow a similar pattern.

“Pay attention to basis levels, especially with feed purchases,” Boetel says. “Producers may also want to consider using the futures and options markets more effectively and explore hedging strategies to protect any profit potential. Finally, reconsider your marketing plan, including your marketing strategies and price risk management strategies. Purchasing and selling decisions need to be made in a timely manner and without emotion. Volatility in the cattle/feed markets is not likely to decrease. However, given good cattle marketing and some price risk management, there are still opportunities for profitability.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was slow on light demand in the Southern Plains through Tuesday afternoon at $119-$120/cwt. That was steady in Kansas and steady to 50¢ higher in the Texas Panhandle. Although too few to trend, there were a few live trades at $120 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt, mainly steady with the prior week.

Feeder Cattle futures weakened amid higher Corn futures prices Tuesday.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 66¢ lower, except for 40¢ higher in the back contract.

Live Cattle futures closed mainly higher on Tuesday, with support from a bounce higher in Lean Hog futures and the relentless climb in wholesale beef values. There were also reports that Argentina banned exporting beef for the next 30 days.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 90¢ higher (22¢ to $1.40 higher), except for an average of 21¢ lower in two contracts.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.72 higher Tuesday afternoon at $323.34/cwt. Select was $2.16 higher at $299.05

Corn futures closed mostly 6¢ to 9¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 6¢ to 8¢ higher after 1¢ to 13¢ lower in the front three contracts.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Tuesday, despite positive earnings reports from the likes of Home Depot and Walmart. Negative economic news included less robust housing news than traders expected. Housing starts in April of 1.57 million were 9.5% less than the previous month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 267 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 35 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 75 points.

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“Packers appear unable to increase weekday slaughter levels to process the market-ready supply in a timely manner as the sector enters a period of typically higher fed cattle slaughter,” say analysts with USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), in the latest monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook. “This appears to be in part due to labor disruptions that packers have dealt with since the beginning of the pandemic, but also interruptions in slaughter due to extreme weather in February and scheduled plant maintenance events.”

Compared to 2019, due to pandemic disruptions last year, ERS analysts say packers are processing about 10,000-15,000 head fewer per week, for the first six weeks of the second-quarter this year. That’s with Saturday kills about 5,000 head more per week than in 2019. As of April 1 they estimated there were 11% more cattle on feed for more than 150 days than last year; about 1% more than in 2019.

At the same time, ERS expects drought, poor pasture and higher feed costs will increase feedlot placements this year more than previously expected.

“Feedlots are constrained in their ability to market cattle in a timely manner. As producers face poor pasture conditions and rising feed costs, they will compete for space in feedlots in an environment with higher expected feed prices and little optimism for fed cattle prices,” ERS analysts explain. “Accordingly, the second-quarter 2021 feeder steer price forecast was lowered $1 on current prices and the third-quarter 2021 price was dropped $2, for a 2021 annual forecast of $139.30/cwt.,” say ERS analysts.

Projected average feeder steer prices (basis Oklahoma City) are $139 for the second quarter, $141 for the third quarter and $143 for the fourth quarter.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on very light demand in Kansas and the western Corn Belt through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Elsewhere, trade was at a standstill. Depending on the region last week, live prices were generally $1-$2 higher at $119-$121/cwt. on a live basis and at $188-$191 in the beef.

Feeder Cattle futures gained to start the week as Corn futures maintained their lower pace, in relative terms.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.14 higher (37¢ to $1.60 higher).

Live Cattle futures were mixed on Monday, though as the slower pace of slaughter cork potential.

Live Cattle futures closed mixed, from an average of 29¢ lower to an average of 20¢ higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.68 higher Monday afternoon at $319.62/cwt. Select was $3.70 higher at $296.89.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 3¢ higher, except for 8.6¢ higher in new spot Jly and 3¢ to 5¢ lower in most new crop contracts.

Soybean futures closed mostly 1¢ to 4¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices softened Monday, with most of the pressure presumably coming from inflation worries.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 54 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 10 points lower. The NASDAQ was 50 points.

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“Beef cow slaughter increased sharply in the latest data to levels not seen since fall cow culling last November and December,” says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his weekly market comments. “Weekly beef cow slaughter increased 13-14% in the latest two weeks of data over the previous six-week average. It appears herd liquidation is already happening and more can be expected. Poor pasture conditions now, reduced hay stocks and limited potential for pasture and hay production all suggest that additional beef cow herd liquidation is imminent.”

Although marginally more positive week to week, 25% of the nation’s pasture and range was rated as Good or Excellent for the week ending May 16, compared to 47% a year earlier, according to the latest USDA Crop Progress report. Conversely, 43% was rated as Poor or Very Poor, compared to 16% a year earlier.

The previous week, based on regional aggregation compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center, Peel explains 51% of pastures were rated Poor or Very Poor in the eight states of the western region, 43% in the seven states of the Great Plains Region and 29% in the Southern Plains states of Oklahoma and Texas.

“These three regions account for 60.6% of the total beef cow inventory,” Peel says. “Currently 40.1% of all beef cows in the country (12.67 million head) are in states with 40% or more poor to very poor pasture and range conditions.”

At the same time, Peel says May 1 hay stocks were 24.9% less year over year in the West; 34.1% less than the five-year average. Hay stocks in the Great Plains region were down 20.1% year over year and down 6.4% from the five-year average. Southern Plains hay stocks were 28.8% less than the same time a year earlier; 29.3% less than the five-year average. 

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was at a standstill in the Southern Plains through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Elsewhere, trade was mostly inactive on light demand.

Live prices last week were 50¢ to $1.50 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $119.00-$119.50/cwt., steady to $1 higher in Kansas at $119-$120, $2 higher in Nebraska at $120, and $1 higher in the western Corn Belt at $118-$120. Live prices in Colorado two weeks ago were at $119-$120.

Dressed prices were $1-$4 higher in Nebraska last week at $191. Prices were at $187-$190 in the western Corn Belt the prior week.

Through Thursday, the five-area direct average steer price was $1.35 higher than the previous week at $119.70/cwt., on a live basis. The average five-area direct dressed steer price was $2.01 higher at $190.48.

Feeder Cattle futures mostly gained back on Friday what was lost in the previous session, helped by continued pressure on grain markets.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 52¢ higher, except for an average of 30¢ lower in the back two contracts.

Live Cattle futures mostly extended losses, amid stagnant cash trade and softer Lean Hog futures.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 44¢ lower, except for an average of 12¢ higher in the back three contracts.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 16¢ higher Friday afternoon at $316.94/cwt. Select was $2.72 lower at $293.19.

Estimated total cattle slaughter for the week was 2,000 head more than the prior week at 640,000 head. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 12.2 million head is 658,000 more than the pandemic-ravaged harvest the same week last year. Estimated beef production for the week of 527.6 million lbs. was 300,000 lbs. more than the previous week. Year-to-date estimated beef production of 10.2 billion lbs. is 660.8 million lbs. more than the same time last year.

Forecast rain in Brazil and the U.S. Corn Belt, reopening barge traffic on the Mississippi River and chatter about private analysts projecting significantly more corn acres all added pressure to Corn futures Friday.

Corn futures closed mostly 13¢ to 15¢ lower, after 20¢ to 34¢ lower in the front three contracts.

Soybean futures closed mostly 2¢ to 6¢ higher, except for 8¢ lower in spot May.

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Major U.S. financial indices continued higher Friday, following the steep selloff earlier in the week. That was despite ongoing inflation worries and flat national retail sales.

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April were $619.9 billion, virtually unchanged from the previous month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 369 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 61 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 304 points.

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Tight corn supplies, coupled with strong international demand, pushed corn prices to their highest level in more than a decade. In turn, higher corn prices are altering the price prospects of other products.

“The key for folks to understand is that corn prices roll through everything else,” said David Anderson, Extension livestock economist at Texas A&M University (TAMU). “High grain prices mean meat will eventually cost more because input costs are up. And corn overlaps with other important crops like wheat and soybeans because prices influence what is planted on the available crop acres.” He explained the ripple effect in a consumer-focused interview last week.

In the same interview, Mark Welch, TAMU Extension grain economist, said the corn market is highly speculative currently, due to current supply and demand, coupled with uncertainty about domestic and foreign production this growing season.

Besides higher corn prices currently trying to buy more acres, Welch pointed out U.S. corn planting started early than usual this season, which typically means planted acres will be more than projected in USDA’s March Prospective Plantings report.

“If we see more acres planted, the weather improves in South America and domestic corn-producing states, then we could see things settle down. If corn stocks get lower, there are problems with corn crops and things get tighter, then we could see all-time high record corn prices,” Welch said.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on light demand in Kansas, Nebraska and the western Corn Belt through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Elsewhere, trade was mostly inactive on very light demand.

So far this week, live trade is $1 higher in Kansas at $119-$120/cwt., 50¢ to $1 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $119.00 to $119.50, steady to $1 higher in Nebraska at $120 and unevenly steady in the western Corn Belt at $118-$120. Dressed trade is steady to $1 higher in Nebraska at $191.

Live Cattle futures plunged Thursday. Besides the break in Lean Hog futures, likely explanations for the reversal include sluggish cattle slaughter due in part to pandemic safety measures, but also reports that labor availability is adding constraint. Achieving feedlot currentness becomes more challenged.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.40 lower ($1.95 lower at the back to $3.00 lower in spot Jun).

That was too much for Feeder Cattle to withstand, despite the sharp selloff in Corn.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 48¢ lower (2¢ to 87¢ lower), except for 70¢ higher in spot May.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.70 higher Thursday afternoon at $316.78/cwt. Select was $1.25 lower at $295.91

The average dressed steer weighing for the week ending May 1 was 891 lbs., which was 5 lbs. lighter than the previous week and 2 lbs. lighter than last year, according to USDA’s Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. The average dressed heifer weight of 824 lbs. was 1 lb. lighter than the previous week and 2 lbs. lighter than the same week last year.

Improved weather conditions, including moisture in the Corn Belt forecast, and the previous day’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates applied heavy pressure to grain futures Thursday.

Corn futures closed 33¢ to 40¢ lower through Jly ‘22 and then mostly 22¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 45¢ to 58¢ lower through Jan ‘22, then mostly 15¢ to 29¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices bounced back from the previous day’s selloff, supported by new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can resume pre-pandemic activities including doing away with masks and social distancing.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 433 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 49 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 93 points.

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Geography will help determine price impacts from potential partial beef cow herd liquidation due to drought, says Elliott Dennis, Extension livestock economist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He points out drought impacts are currently most severe in the Mountain region and parts of the Northern Plains.

Using data from USDA’s Economic Research Service, Dennis says average grazed pasture acres per beef cow is 55.56 acres in the Mountain Region, 19.17 acres in the Southern Plains, 16.49 acres in the Pacific region and 13.78 acres in the Northern Plains. Those are the nation’s lowest stocking rates and where the most beef cows exist.

“Under a situation of worsening drought, more feeder cattle will enter feedlots earlier than expected lowering feeder cattle prices,” Dennis explains, in the latest issue of In the Cattle Markets. “Areas with lower stocking rates are likely areas that are at more risk to adverse weather conditions since they rely upon either seasonal or harvested feed resources to sustain a beef cow herd. Further, in the absence of seasonal forage, there are not large amounts of crop residues or protein concentrates from ethanol plants to supplement the lack of forage.”

If producers in the Mountain and Pacific regions are forced to liquidate, then Dennis explains feedlots in the Northern Plains and Southern Plains will likely be able to buy feeder cattle cheaper, decreasing demand for calves in the Southeast and Appalachia regions.

On the other hand, Dennis says cull cow prices are more likely to decrease in the Mountain and Northern Plains regions because those prices are generally assumed to be regional.

“A drought scenario combined with elevated corn and soybean prices is a worst-case scenario,” Dennis says. “With elevated feed costs, feedlots would have further incentives to delay feeder cattle placements, especially lighter feeder cattle, since the cost of gain would be too high. This would put further downward pressure on feeder cattle prices. Risk management in the form of USDA-RMA Livestock Risk Protection or CME futures and options can help mitigate some of these potential downward price movements and likely merit a closer look by producers this production year.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was slow on light demand in the Southern Plains through Wednesday afternoon. Live prices were steady to $1.50 higher in the Texas Panhandle at mostly $119/cwt. There were a few live trades in Kansas at $120, but too few to trend; $119 last week.

Trade was limited on light demand in Nebraska. Dressed trade was at $191, steady with the previous day and $1 to $3 higher than last week. There were a few live trades at $120, but too few to trend; $118 last week.

Elsewhere, trade was mostly inactive on light demand.

Live prices in the western Corn Belt Tuesday were $118-$120, compared to $119 last week. Dressed prices last week were $187-$190.

Cattle feeders offered 2,469 head in Central Stockyards’ weekly Fed Cattle Exchange Auction. Of those, 1,588 head sold (1,114 heifers and 474 steers) for a weighted average price of $119.93/cwt., via live weight and bid-the-grid. The majority was from Texas.

Slaughter steers sold $1-$2 higher at Sioux Falls Regional in South Dakota and slaughter heifers traded steady to $1 higher. There were 168 Choice 3-4 steers weighing an average of 1,534 lbs., bringing an average of $119.56.

Choice steers and heifers sold $4.25 to $5.75 higher at the fat auction in Tama, IA. There were 152 Choice 2-4 steers weighing an average of 1,442 lbs., bringing an average of $125.65.

Feeder Cattle futures continued their nascent rally Wednesday, supported by more optimistic projections of the balance sheet for corn, in the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. Live Cattle closed narrowly mixed with some likely profit taking and sharply lower outside markets.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 38¢ higher, except unchanged in two contracts and down an average of 12¢ in two.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.79 higher ($1.42 higher at the front of the board to $2.20 higher at the back).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.71 higher Wednesday afternoon at $315.08/cwt. Select was 82¢ higher at $297.16.

The monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (see below) stoked Soybean futures Wednesday, but dampened new-crop Corn futures.

Corn futures closed mostly 13¢ to 18¢ lower through the new crop year and then mostly 2¢ to 9¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 11¢ to 23¢ higher through Jan ‘22, then mostly 15¢ to 17¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed sharply lower Wednesday, pressured by indicators of higher inflation than investors expected.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.8% in April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That followed an increase of 0.6% the previous month. The all items index is up 4.2% over the last 12 months, the steepest rise since the period ending September 2008.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 681 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 89 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 357 points.

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USDA’s latest monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates pegged beef production for this year at 27.9 billion lbs., which would be 260 million lbs. more (0.94%) than the previous month and 726 million lbs. more (2.67%) than last year. Increased fed and non-fed slaughter projections drove the adjustment.

The forecast annual average five-area direct fed steer price was projected at $116.30/cwt., which was 30¢ higher than the previous month. Projected average prices are $118 in the second quarter, $114 in the third quarter and $120 in the fourth quarter.

Hay stocks on farms May 1 of 18.0 million tons were 2.4 million tons less than the same time last year, according to the USDA Crop Production report.

Projections for total red meat and poultry production increased 161 million lbs. (0.15%) month to month. That would be 693 million lbs. more (0.65%) than last year.

Corn

The new corn crop is projected at 15.0 billion bu., up from last year on increased area and a return to trend yield of 179.5 bu./acre. With beginning stocks sharply lower year over year, total corn supplies are forecast to increase modestly to 16.3 billion bu.

The season-average corn price received by producers in 2021-22 was projected at $5.70/bu., up $1.35 from a year ago.

Soybeans

The soybean crop was projected at 4.4 billion bu., up 270 million from last year on increased harvested area and trend yields. With lower beginning stocks, soybean supplies were projected 3% less than last year.

With prices for fall delivery above $14.00/bu. in some locations, the 2021-22 U.S. season-average soybean price was projected at $13.85/bu., up $2.60 from 2020-21. Soybean meal prices were forecast at $400 per short ton, down $5.00 from the revised forecast for 2020-21. Soybean oil prices were forecast at 65.0¢/lb., up 10¢ from the revised 2020-21 forecast.

Wheat

Projected 2021-22 ending stocks were projected 11% lower than last year at 774 million bu., the lowest level in seven years. That’s based on lower carry-in stocks and production increasing 3%.

The projected 2021-22 season-average farm wheat price was $6.50/bu., which would be $1.45 higher than last year’s revised price.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on light to moderate demand in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Although too few transactions to trend, there were a few dressed trades in Nebraska at $191/cwt., which was $1-$3 higher than last week; a few lives trades in the western Corn Belt at $120, which was $1-$3 higher. Elsewhere, trade was mostly inactive on light demand or at a standstill.

Cattle futures maintained gains from the previous session, supported by the outlook for higher cash prices and continued wholesale strength.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.14 higher (40¢ to $1.70 higher). 

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 25¢ higher, except for 12¢ lower in spot May. 

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.26 higher Tuesday afternoon at $312.37/cwt. Select was $2.58 higher at $296.34

Grain futures recovered from sharp losses the previous day to surge ahead again in the front months, with likely profit taking and positioning ahead of Wednesday’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

Corn futures closed 10¢ to 11¢ higher in the front two contracts, and then mostly 2¢ to 5¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 16¢ to 27¢ higher through Jan ‘22,  then mostly 4¢ to 11¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Tuesday as ongoing supply chain disruptions and reports of labor shortages fueled inflation worries.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 473 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 36 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 12 points.

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“Weekly cattle slaughter has been averaging near 650,000 head per week, except for the first week in January and the winter storm in February. This is near post-pandemic weekly slaughter highs, which signal that COVID-related changes in processing facilities are limiting slaughter levels,” say analysts with the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC), in the May 7 Livestock Monitor. “The capacity-limited flow of cattle has limited upside potential for cattle prices but has led to a rise in the Choice boxed beef cutout value since the start of the year which has increased 41.1% ($85.06) to 291.79 per cwt.” Choice price was $312.37 Tuesday.

On the other side of the trade, LMIC analysts say the five-area direct weekly weighted average steer price rose from $111.28/cwt. at the start of the year to $122.03 in mid-April. Since then, prices declined.

Tyson Foods, Inc. provided another perspective in its second-quarter financial results released Monday.

“Beef sales volume decreased during the second quarter of fiscal 2021 due to a reduction in live cattle processed, partially associated with the impacts of severe winter weather and a challenging labor environment,” according to the Tyson report. “…Average sales price increased in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2021 as demand for our beef products remained strong. Operating income increased in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2021 due to strong demand as we continued to optimize revenues relative to live cattle supply, partially offset by production inefficiencies and direct incremental expenses related to COVID-19.”

Dean Banks, Tyson Foods President and CEO, noted, “We’re seeing substantial inflation across our supply chain, which will likely create margin pressure during the back half of the year.”

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

Live prices last week were at $117.50-$119.00/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $119 in Kansas, $118 in Nebraska and $117-$119 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices were $187-$190.

Rain in the Corn Belt pressured Corn futures Monday, opening the gate for Cattle futures to trade higher and begin taking a swipe at extremely oversold conditions.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.03 higher, an average of $1.46 higher across the front half of the board and then an average of 61¢ higher, except unchanged in the back contract.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $3.36 higher ($2.35 higher toward the back to $4.42 higher toward the front).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.23 higher at $309.11/cwt. Select was $3.49 higher at $293.76.

Corn futures closed 20¢ to 27¢ lower through Jly ‘22, and then mostly 4¢ to 9¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 8¢ to 9¢ lower, but as much as 19¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Monday, pressured by a selloff in big tech stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 34 points lower. The S&P 500 was down 34 points. The NASDAQ was down 350 points. 

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“It now appears that it will take the remainder of the second quarter and likely much of the third quarter of the year to move the fed cattle industry into tighter numbers and relieve the capacity constraints that are limiting the fed cattle market,” says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University.

In his weekly market comments, Peel provides insight to U.S. beef packing capacity over time. In the 1980’s, when much of the current capacity was constructed, he explains cattle inventories averaged 15% more than in the last decade and there was surplus capacity. That fueled closing some plants like the Tyson plant at Emporia, KS in 2008 and the Cargill plant at Plainview, TX in 2013. Before that,  ConAgra never replaced its facility that burned at Garden City, KS in 2000.

“The cyclical expansion in cattle numbers from 2014 to 2019 has now pushed cattle slaughter beyond packing industry capacity,” Peel says. “It is estimated that annual average slaughter has exceeded capacity since 2016. Although cattle numbers peaked cyclically in 2019, feedlot production is just now at a peak in early 2021, partly as a result of pandemic delays in 2020.”

Saturday harvests are used to bridge some of the gap. For instance, Saturday slaughter accounted for 2.7% of weekly slaughter in 2012 and 7.3% in 2007, according to Peel. Saturdays accounted for more than 9% of weekly slaughter in 2019 and 2020; 10% so far this year.

“Slaughter needs will be seasonally larger in the coming weeks and it will be difficult for feedlots to get more current. It will be challenging to maintain, let alone push Saturday slaughter in the coming weeks,” Peel says.