Cattle Current Podcast—June 21, 2023

Cattle futures started the trading week lower with pressure from last week’s weaker fed cattle prices, increasing feed costs, lower wholesale beef values and bearish outside markets.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.49 lower ($1.02 to $2.02 lower).

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.25 lower ($1.47 to $2.77 lower).

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

Last week, live prices were $182/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $185-$189 in Nebraska and $186-$188 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices were $296 in Nebraska and $294-$300 in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.23 lower Tuesday afternoon at $336.91/cwt. Select was $2.83 lower at $307.93/cwt.

Corn and Soybean futures retained last week’s sharp gains on Tuesday as new-crop conditions erode (see below).

Corn futures closed mostly 2¢ to 6¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 1¢ to 7¢ higher.

KC HRW Wheat closed mostly narrowly mixed from 4¢ lower to 1¢ higher.