Cattle futures were mixed Tuesday after a strong start with likely pressure from more bearish outside markets.
Toward the close, Live cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 10¢ lower in six contracts to an average of 14¢ higher.
Feeder Cattle futures were mixed, from an average of 85¢ lower in four contracts to an average of $1.57 higher.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Last week, FOB live prices were $2 higher in the Southern Plains at $242.00/cwt. and steady in the North at $245. Dressed delivered prices were steady at mainly $385.
The five-area direct weighted average FOB live fed steer price was 65¢ less week to week at $243.60/cwt. The dressed delivered fed steer price was 52¢ lower at $385.65.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.99 lower Tuesday afternoon at $413.42. Select was $3.83 lower at $386.17.
Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Tuesday.
Toward the close and through away Jly contracts, Corn futures were 2¢ to 5¢ higher on yield pressure. Trade uncertainty helped pressure Kansas City Wheat futures 8¢ to 9¢ lower and Soybean futures 11¢ to 14¢ lower.
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Major U.S. financial indices closed lower Tuesday with pressure tariff uncertainty stemming from Friday’s federal appeals court ruling that most of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are illegal.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 249 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 44 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 175 points.
Through mid-afternoon, West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) were $1.60 to $1.69 higher through the front six contracts.
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Agricultural producer sentiment declined in August for the third consecutive month, according to the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index. It was 10 points lower month to month at 125. The Future Expectations Index drove the decline, falling 16 points to 123, the lowest level since last September. Conversely, the Current Conditions Index rose 2 points to 129.
“Sentiment differed widely among producers according to whether their operations focused mainly on crops or livestock,” according to Ag Barometer analysts. “Crop producers responded with much less optimism than their livestock counterparts, reflecting the profitability disparity between the two enterprises. Beef cattle operations, in particular, are experiencing record profitability as the smallest cattle inventory since 1951 has pushed cattle prices to record levels. This stands in sharp contrast to returns for crop production, which have weakened in 2025.”
The August barometer survey took place from Aug. 11-15, 2025.