Daily Market Highlights

Cattle futures closed higher Friday, helped along by the weekly decline in Corn futures and the hint of higher cash prices.

Live Cattle futures an average of $1.40 higher (92¢ higher at the back to $2.40 higher in spot Aug). 

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.91 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle demand and trade were moderate in the western Corn Belt through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. For the week, live FOB prices were $2-$3 higher at $188/cwt. Dressed delivered prices the previous week were $294-$295.

Elsewhere, trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand to limited on light demand.

Although too few to trend, there were a few live delivered sales in Kansas at $184.00-$185.50 and a few live FOB sales in Nebraska at $188.

The previous week, live FOB prices were $178-$179/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $186 in Nebraska, where dressed delivered prices were $292-$295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 22¢ lower Friday afternoon at $301.79/cwt. Select was $1.83 lower at $276.48/cwt.

Corn and Soybean futures firmed on Friday but continued to be capped by the favorable weather outlook.

Corn futures closed mostly 2¢ to 3¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 5¢ to 10¢ higher.

KC HRW Wheat closed mostly 9¢ to 12¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Friday. Pressure included a less robust jobs report than expected.

Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 187,000 in July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate was little changed at 3.5%.

Average hourly earnings in July for all employees on private non-farm payrolls rose by 14¢ (0.4%) to $33.74. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.4%. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 150 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 23 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 50 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed $1.00 to $1.27 higher through the front six contracts.

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United States farm real estate value — a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $4,080 per acre for 2023, up $280 per acre (+7.4%) from 2022, according to Land Values-2023 Summary from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

United States cropland value averaged $5,460 per acre in 2023, which was $410 more per acre (+8.1%) than the previous year. Regionally, value increased from a low of 2.2% in the Delta states (AR, LA and MS) with an average value of $3,260/acre, to a high of 14.1% in the Northern Plains (KS, NE, ND and SD) with an average value of $4,200 per acre.

United States pasture value averaged $1,760 per acre in 2023, which was $110 more per acre (+6.7%) than the previous year. Regionally, value increased from a low of 2.4% in the Delta states (AR, LA and MS) with an average value of $2,940/acre, to a high of 13.5% in the Northern Plains (KS, NE, ND and SD) with an average value of $1,510 per acre.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on light demand to a standstill through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. There were a few live FOB sales in the western Corn Belt at $188/cwt., but too few to trend.

Last week, live FOB prices were $178-$179/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $186 in Nebraska, and $185-$186 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $292-$295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.17 lower Thursday afternoon at $302.01/cwt. Select was 84¢ higher at $278.31/cwt.

Cattle futures on Thursday mainly regained what was lost in the previous session as traders returned the focus to fundamentals rather than the selloff triggered by the downgrading of U.S. credit.

Live Cattle futures an average of 76¢ higher (12¢ to $1.17 higher). 

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.35 higher.

Corn futures continued lower Thursday with the more favorable production outlook coupled with continued anemic international demand.

Corn futures closed 6¢ to 7¢ lower through May ‘24 and then mostly 2¢ to 3¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed 9¢ to 19¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 3¢ to 5¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices were little changed but softer again Thursday.  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 66 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 11 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 13 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed $1.69 to $2.06 higher through the front six contracts.

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“Most of the decline in beef production compared to a year ago stems from reduced beef cow slaughter, steer slaughter, and lighter slaughter weights,” says Andrew P. Griffith, agricultural economist at the University of Tennessee, in his weekly market comments. “Beef cow slaughter is down more than 12% while steer slaughter has declined close to 5%. Alternatively, dairy cow slaughter has increased nearly 6% compared to a year ago due to declining milk prices.”

Griffith points out heifer slaughter is less 1% lower year over year, further affirming that fact that heifer retention has yet to begin.

“All of these points should support beef prices remaining elevated in the near term and in the longer term,” Griffith explains. He adds that “It will be interesting to see how imports are adjusting to meet the demand for lean grinding beef, given the production decline domestically.

Commodity and equity markets saw widespread selling Wednesday on the news that Fitch Ratings downgraded the long-term credit rating for United States.

The lack of weekly cash fed cattle price direction and profit taking may also have pressured Cattle futures.

Live Cattle futures an average of 86¢ lower (50¢ lower at the back to $1.47 lower in spot Aug). 

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.15 lower (57¢ lower toward the back to $1.80 lower toward the front).

Corn futures closed mostly 2¢ to 8¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed 10¢ to 17¢ lower through Dec ‘24 and then 9¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 14¢ to 20¢ lower through Jly ‘24 and then mostly 8¢ to 9¢ lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Wednesday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, live FOB prices were $178-$179/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $186 in Nebraska, and $185-$186 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $292-$295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.92 lower Wednesday afternoon at $303.18/cwt. Select was $2.13 lower at $277.47/cwt.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Wednesday, pressured by the aforementioned lowering of the U.S. credit rating. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 348 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 63 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 310 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed $1.53 to $1.88 lower  through the front six contracts.

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Strong demand and underlying U.S. economic strength are fueling cattle prices even more than snugger cattle supplies and beef production, says Stephen Koontz, agricultural economist at Colorado State University, in the latest issue of In the Cattle Markets from the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC).

“Within the important underlying fundamentals, slaughter weights are seasonally tight, cattle on feed over 120 days are very tight compared to prior years, packer margins and feedlot margins are very strong. These are all bullish signals,” Koontz says. “At some point in the future, we will need to be concerned about competing meat supplies, trade volumes, the strength of the dollar, and interest rates versus inflation. But this summer the cattle and beef market just continue to show dramatic strength. And this is largely due to the underlying strength in the domestic economy.”

Koontz notes cattle markets have the strength to move higher but there are signs of slowing momentum.

A surge in wholesale beef prices helped lift Live Cattle futures on Tuesday. They closed an average of $1.27 higher on strong volume (50¢ higher at the back to $2.30 higher near the front).

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.22 higher ($1.65 higher at the back to $2.87 higher in spot Aug).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $4.32 higher Tuesday afternoon at $306.10/cwt. Select was $1.87 higher at $279.60/cwt.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Tuesday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, live FOB prices were $178-$179/cwt. in the Southern Plains $186, in Nebraska, and $185-$186 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $292-$295.

Corn futures eroded further Tuesday, closing 4¢ to 7¢ lower through Jly ‘24 and then mostly fractionally lower to 2¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed 5¢ to 11¢ lower through Jly ‘24 and then mostly 1¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 5¢ to 10¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed Tuesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 71 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 12 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 62 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed 36¢ to 43¢ lower through the front six contracts.

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Agricultural producer sentiment improved slightly in July, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. It rose 2 points to a reading of 123. The Index of Current Conditions rose 5 points to a reading of 121, while the Index of Future Expectations was up 1 point to 124.

“Producers were slightly more confident about the farming economy in July, despite recent crop price volatility and continued concerns about rising interest rates,” says James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.

Given the volatility in commodity prices, especially crop prices, this spring and early summer, Ag Barometer analysts say it’s notable that more producers expressed concern about rising interest rates than declining output prices. Producers’ top concern for their farming operations in the upcoming year is still higher input costs, followed by rising interest rates and lower output prices.

The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted between July 10-14.

Despite another day of lower Corn futures, Feeder Cattle futures paddle in place on Monday, closing an average of 33¢ lower, except for unchanged to an average of 12¢ higher in the front three contracts.

Softer cash fed cattle prices last week and continued erosion in open interest helped cap Live Cattle, which closed an average of 46¢ lower, from 7¢ to 70¢ lower.

Last week, FOB negotiated cash fed cattle were $1-$2 lower at $178-$179/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle on a light test. Likewise, prices were $1-$2 lower in Kansas at $178-$179 on a light test but with a few up to $185. Live-delivered prices in Kansas were $182.50 to $184. In Nebraska, FOB live trades were mostly $2 lower at mainly $186 on a light test, but a few up to $188.50. Live prices in the western Corn Belt were $1-$3 lower at 185-$187. Dressed delivered prices were steady to $3 lower in Nebraska at $292-$295 and steady to $1 lower in the western Corn belt at $294-$295.

Trade ranged from inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Monday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

The weighted average five-area direct fed steer price last week was $1.38 lower on a live basis at $184.81/cwt. The weighted average steer price in the beef was $1.09 lower at $293.63.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 22¢ lower Monday afternoon at $301.78/cwt. Select was 19¢ higher at $277.73/cwt.

Significantly cooler and wetter weather forecasted for the Corn Belt pushed grain and Soybean futures sharply lower Monday.

Corn futures closed 15¢ to 17¢ lower through Jly ‘24 and then mostly 8¢ to 10¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed 23¢ to 43¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 31¢ to 50¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices eked out gains Monday as investors closed out the month and geared up for another week of quarterly earnings reports.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 100 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 6 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 29 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed 95¢ to $1.22 higher through the front six contracts.

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When national beef cow herd expansion finally begins, the dearth of heifers means rebuilding will likely be a slow process, according to Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his weekly market comments.

“The previous record-high calf prices occurred after heifer retention was well underway and feeder cattle supplies were squeezed to their tightest levels. This process may begin in late 2023 but the tightest feeder supplies will not occur until 2024 at the earliest or possibly into 2025,” Peel says. “With the pipeline of beef replacement heifers and residual other heifers extremely low, heifer retention will likely begin mostly with heifer calves.”

Peel points out the inventory of calves weighing less than 500 pounds on July 1 was 26.3 million head, down 2.6% year over year, according to the semiannual USDA Cattle report. 

“Rapidly rising calf prices in 2023 have not yet provoked any heifer retention and herd rebuilding,” Peel says. “The beef replacement heifer inventory was 4.05 million head, down 2.4% from last year and is the lowest ever in the July Cattle report. Not only are replacement heifer inventories low, but the supply of other heifers that could be used for breeding is also low … The other heifer inventory includes heifers already in feedlots as well as heifers that are part of the estimated feeder supply. The July Cattle report showed an inventory of other heifers at 7.3 million head, down 5.2% year over year.”

Feedlots and packers continued their standoff on negotiated cash fed cattle trade, which remained largely undeveloped through Friday afternoon. Trade ranged from slow on light demand to a standstill, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. There were a few FOB live sales in the western Corn Belt at $185-$186/cwt., but too few to trend.

Last week, live prices (FOB) were $180/cwt in the Southern Plains and $188 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt, where dressed prices (FOB) were $295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 86¢ lower Friday afternoon at $302.00/cwt. Select was $2.22 lower at $277.54/cwt.

Further erosion in Corn futures helped Feeder Cattle futures close an average of 77¢ higher Friday.

Live Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed, from an average of 10¢ lower in the back three contracts to an average of 15¢ higher.

Corn futures continued to decline Friday, pressured by more favorable weather in the Corn Belt and less risk premium tied to Ukrainian grain shipments. They closed 11¢ to 12¢ lower through Jly ‘24 and then mostly 6¢ to 9¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed 4¢ to 10¢ lower through Sep ‘24 and then mostly 2¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 8¢ to 15¢ lower through Jan ‘25 and then mostly 2¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Friday with another gauge of cooling inflation.

The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index increased 0.2% month to month in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. That was in line with expectations. Core PCE, excluding food and energy was slightly less than expected year over year at 4.1%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 176 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 44 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 266 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed 44¢ to 69¢ higher through the front six contracts.

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Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 619,000 head was 5,000 head fewer than the previous week and 47,000 head fewer (-7.1%) than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 18.7 million head was 751,000 head fewer (-3.9%) year over year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 15.3 billion pounds was 773.8 million pounds less (-4.8% less) year over year.

“Most of the decline in beef production compared to a year ago stems from reduced beef cow slaughter, steer slaughter, and lighter slaughter weights,” says Andrew P. Griffith, agricultural economist at the University of Tennessee, in his weekly market comments. “Beef cow slaughter is down more than 12% while steer slaughter has declined close to 5%. Alternatively, dairy cow slaughter has increased nearly 6% compared to a year ago due to declining milk prices.”

Griffith points out heifer slaughter is less 1% lower year over year, further affirming that fact that heifer retention has yet to begin.

“All of these points should support beef prices remaining elevated in the near term and in the longer term,” Griffith explains. “It will be interesting to see how imports are adjusting to meet the demand for lean grinding beef, given the production decline domestically. Export data will also help solidify the beef availability picture.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade remained undeveloped through Thursday afternoon. There were a few FOB live sales in the western Corn Belt at $186/cwt., but too few to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, live prices (FOB) were $180/cwt in the Southern Plains and $188 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt, where dressed prices (FOB) were $295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 48¢ lower Thursday afternoon at $302.86/cwt. Select was 5¢ lower at $279.76/cwt.

Net U.S. beef export sales of 21,400 metric tons (2023) for the week ending July 20 were 2% more than the previous week and 43% more than the prior four-week average. Increases were primarily for South Korea, Japan, China, and Canada.

Eroding front-month Corn futures supported Feeder Cattle futures again on Thursday. They closed an average of 54¢ higher, except for an average of 7¢ lower in two contracts.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 31¢ lower, except for an average of 13¢ higher in two contracts.

Corn futures closed 4¢ to 7¢ lower through Jly ‘24 and then mostly 1¢ to 2¢ higher.

KC HRW Wheat closed fractionally mixed to 1¢ higher through Sep ’24 and then 3¢ to 6¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 12¢ to 22¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Thursday despite frothier second-quarter domestic economic growth than expected.

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.4% in the second quarter of this year, according to the advance estimate from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Real GDP in the first quarter was 2.0%. Gains in the second quarter primarily reflected increases in consumer spending and business investment.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 237 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 29 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 77 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed $1.05 to $1.31 higher through the front six contracts.

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Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) passed a directive earlier this week to continue the organization’s advocacy efforts for transparent labeling and inspection of cell-cultured protein products.

“Cattle producers are not afraid of a little competition, and I know that consumers will continue choosing real high-quality beef over cell-cultured imitations,” says NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “Our priority is ensuring that consumers accurately know the difference between real beef and cell-cultured products through transparent and accurate labeling. We have already been successful at engaging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct robust inspections and oversight to protect food safety.”

Earlier this year, USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) issued two grants of inspection to companies producing cell-cultured chicken imitation products. These grants of inspection permit companies producing cell-cultured products to sell their products in interstate commerce. While no cell-cultured imitations of beef have received a grant of inspection, several companies are attempting to create them.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 88¢ higher Wednesday, supported by lower Corn futures.

Live Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed, from an average of 16¢ lower to an average of 33¢ higher.

Sharp volatility continued in grain futures, Wednesday, with traders apparently retrieving a chunk of recent risk premiums.

Corn futures closed 13¢ to 17¢ lower through Jly ‘24 and then 4¢ to 9¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed 18¢ to 47¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 1¢ to 2¢ lower, except for 30¢ and 18¢ higher in the front two contracts.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, live prices (FOB) live prices were $180/cwt in the Southern Plains and $188 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt, where dressed prices (FOB) were $295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 88¢ lower Wednesday afternoon at $303.34/cwt. Select was $2.26 higher at $279.81/cwt.

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Major U.S. financial indices were mixed and little changed Wednesday, as the Fed interest rate hike (0.25%) was widely expected.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 82 points higher. The S&P 500 closed fractionally lower. The NASDAQ was down 17 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed 57¢ to 85¢ lower through the front six contracts.

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Frozen beef supplies continue to decline year over year, according to the latest USDA Cold Storage report.

Total pounds of beef in freezers June 30 were 3% less than the previous month and 20% less than last year.

Frozen pork supplies were down 8% from the previous month and down 9% from the previous year.

Total red meat supplies in freezers were down 6% from the previous month and down 14% from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies were 5% more than the previous month and 10% more than a year earlier.

Lower Corn futures helped Feeder Cattle futures firm Tuesday and close narrowly mixed, from an average of 15¢ lower to an average of 34¢ higher.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 75¢ lower, except for 37¢ higher in in the back contract, with pressure tied, in part, to eroding open interest.

Corn futures softened Tuesday with likely profit taking, closing mostly 2¢ to 3¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 4¢ to 5¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed mostly 4¢ to 6¢ higher through Mar ‘25.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was at a standstill in all major cattle feeding regions through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, live prices (FOB) live prices were $180/cwt in the Southern Plains and $188 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt, where dressed prices (FOB) were $295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 6¢ higher Tuesday afternoon at $304.22/cwt. Select was 56¢ higher at $277.55/cwt.

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Major U.S. financial indices edged higher Tuesday, amid mixed quarterly corporate earnings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 26 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 12 point higher. The NASDAQ was up 85 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed 60¢ to 89¢ higher through the front six contracts.

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Rural economic growth continues, at least in one region, according to Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI). Although it remained above growth-neutral for the fourth consecutive month, the RMI declined from 56.9 in June to 55.6 in July. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral. It is based on a survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.

“After negative growth during the first quarter of this year, the Rural Mainstreet economy experienced positive but slow economic growth for the second quarter and has now started the third quarter on a healthy note,” says Ernie Goss, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.

The region’s farmland price index rose to 64.6 from 59.3 in June and 56.3 in May. This was the 34th straight month that the index has advanced above 50.0. 

Bankers reported that, on average, non-farm investors secured approximately 17.1% of farmland sales in their area over the past six months. This is almost double the 9.1% reported by bankers in April 2022 when the same question was asked. 

Bank CEOs were asked to comment on the Federal Reserve’s current short-term interest rate policy. More than nine of 10 (92.5%) indicated that the Fed should cease raising rates. Only 7.5% indicated that the Fed should continue to raise short-term interest rates.

“Higher short-term interest rates produced by Federal Reserve’s rate hikes over the past year have posed a significant threat to community banks by expanding the costs of customer deposits while the rates on bank loans have risen little over the same time period,” Goss says.

Feeder Cattle futures took stepped lower Monday, pressured by sharply higher Corn futures and Friday’s bearish Cattle on Feed report which indicated June feedlot placements were 2.7% more than the previous year and 4.6% more that the average of analyst expectations ahead of the report.

Headlines of Russia bombing Ukrainian ports fueled grain and Soybean futures Monday.

Corn futures closed 27¢ to 33¢ higher through the front five contracts and then 9¢ to 19¢ higher.

KC HRW Wheat closed 46¢ to 58¢ higher through Jly ‘24 and then 32¢ to 40¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 19¢ to 22¢ higher.

Live Cattle futures faded most of the heat, supported by last week’s stronger cash trade.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.08 higher (32¢ to $1.82 higher), except for an average of $1.24 lower in the front three contracts.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on very light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, live prices (FOB) were $2 higher in the Southern Plains at $180/cwt., $2 higher in Nebraska at $188 and $3-$4 higher in the western Corn Belt at $188. Dressed prices (FOB) were $3-$5 higher in Nebraska at $295 and steady to $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $295.

The weighted average five-area fed steer price last week was $1.92 higher at $186.19/cwt. on alive basis. The weighted average dressed fed steer price was $3.38 higher at $294.72.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.42 higher Monday afternoon at $304.16/cwt. Select was 26¢ higher at $276.99/cwt.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Monday, buoyed by energy stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 183 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 18 point higher. The NASDAQ was up 26 points.

West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed $1.41 to $1.67 higher through the front six contracts.

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Reflecting on Friday’s semiannual USDA Cattle report, Derrell Peel, Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist at Oklahoma State University notes this is the fifth year of smaller beef cow inventories since the 2018 cyclical peak, with the beef cow herd down 3.0 million head, a five-year decrease of 9.3%.

“Not only did the report show continued cattle liquidation thus far in 2023, but there are also no clear indications that numbers will stabilize and grow anytime soon,” Peel says.  “The current inventory of beef replacement heifers is 4.05 million head, lower than the previous cyclical low of 4.2 million head in 2011 and 2012 and is the lowest in 50 years of available July 1 inventory data.”

Moreover, Peel points out the inventory of heifers in feedlots in the July Cattle on Feed report — unchanged from last year —indicates relatively large numbers of heifers continue to be fed for slaughter rather than retained for breeding. He adds that heifers currently represent 39.9% of total feedlot inventories, the highest proportion of heifers in feedlots since 2001.

“The sharp increase in feeder cattle prices this year represents a growing market incentive for the beef cattle industry to transition from liquidation to herd expansion, but it does not appear that the industry is responding yet,” Peel says. “Feeder cattle prices will continue to increase to jumpstart heifer retention, which will lead to even higher prices as feeder supplies are further squeezed with fewer heifers in the feeder cattle supply.”