Negotiated cash fed cattle prices were $3-$4 higher on a live basis in the Northern Plains on Friday at mostly $113/cwt., according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. That was with slow trade and light demand. Dressed sales in Nebraska were $5 higher at $178.
There were a few live sales in the Southern Plains at $113 and a few dressed trades in the western Corn Belt at $178, but too few to trend.
On Thursday, live sales in the western Corn Belt were $2-$7 higher at $112. Dressed trade the previous week was at $170-$173.
The prior week, live sales were at $110-$111 in the Texas Panhandle and at $110 in Kansas. On Friday, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association reported its members trading cattle at just over $2 more week to week: $112.80 for steers and $112.91 for heifers.
Despite higher cash cattle prices and increasing wholesale beef values, Cattle futures closed lower Friday, as grain futures continued to climb. Month-end position squaring likely played a role, too.
Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.23 lower.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.96 lower.
Corn futures closed mostly 3¢ to 6¢ higher mixed, except for 9¢ to 12¢ higher in the front three contracts.
Soybean futures closed 10¢ to 16¢ higher through Sep ‘22, and then 7¢ to 9¢ higher.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Stitcher | RSS | More