Cattle Current Podcast—April 15, 2026

Cattle futures were higher Tuesday, bolstered by more bullish outside markets and last week’s stronger cash trade.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.47 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.65 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 mostly $246/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $246-$249 in Kansas, $248-$249 in Nebraska and mostly $248 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $388-$390 in Nebraska and mainly $388 in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.28 higher Tuesday afternoon at $383.20/cwt. Select was $3.84 lower at $379.80.

Grain futures were broadly mixed Tuesday.  

Toward the close, and through near Dec contracts, Kansas City HRW Wheat futures were 21¢ higher, supported by continued erosion in crop condition. According to the USDA Crop Progress for the week ending April 12, 34% of winter wheat was in Good (29%) or Excellent (5%) condition, which was 1% less than a week earlier and 13% less than a year earlier. On the other side of the scale, 32% was in Poor (20%) or Very Poor (12%) condition, compared to 19% a year earlier.

Corn and Soybean futures were pressured in part by lower Crude Oil prices.

Corn futures were mostly fractionally lower to 2¢ higher through near Dec. Soybean futures were 5¢ to 9¢ lower through near Nov.