Cattle futures tried to overcome the Bovine Influenza A virus headlines but couldn’t, taking another step lower Wednesday.

Heading into the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.64 lower (67¢ to $2.30 lower). 

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.55 lower.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $182/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $184-$185 in Nebraska and $184-$186 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $294-$295.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 83¢ lower Wednesday afternoon at $293.54/cwt. Select was $1.88 lower at $288.07/cwt.

Heading into the close, Corn futures were 1¢ to 3¢ higher through Jly ‘25. Soybean were mostly 5¢ higher through Jly ‘25.  Kansas City Wheat futures were mostly 6¢ to 10¢ lower through Jly ‘25.

Cattle futures tumbled Tuesday on new that Bovine Influenza A virus (BIAV) was confirmed in Colorado dairy cows and chatter that USDA was testing ground beef for particles of the virus in states where BIAV had been confirmed.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.21 lower.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $4.12 lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade in the Southern Plains and Nebraska was at a standstill through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. In the Western Corn belt, trade was slow on light demand. The most recent market in that region was Monday with live FOB purchases at $185/cwt. Last week dressed delivered purchases traded at $294 on a light test.

Last week, FOB live prices were steady in the Southern Plains at $182/cwt., mostly $1-$2 higher in Nebraska at $184-$185 and steady to $2 higher in the western Corn Belt at $184-$186. Dressed delivered prices were $2 higher at $294-$295 in Nebraska and $294 in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.16 lower Tuesday afternoon at $294.37/cwt. Select was 26¢ lower at $289.95/cwt.

KC HRW Wheat futures closed  6¢  to 21¢ lower.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢  to 2¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 15¢  to 22¢ lower.

Cattle futures softened Monday, taking a break from last week’s gains and amid likely profit taking and month-end positioning.

Heading into the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 67¢ lower (32¢ to $1.35 lower), except for 77¢ higher in spot Apr. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 42¢ lower.

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

For the week, FOB live prices were steady in the Southern Plains at $182/cwt., mostly $1-$2 higher in Nebraska at $184-$185 and steady to $2 higher in the western Corn Belt at $184-$186. Dressed delivered prices were $2 higher at $294-$295 in Nebraska and $294 in the western Corn Belt.

The weighted average five-area direct FOB live steer price last week was $1.48 higher at $182.67. The weighted average dressed delivered steer price was $2.04 higher at $294.39.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 39¢ higher Monday afternoon at $297.53/cwt. Select was $1.49 higher at $290.21/cwt.

Heading into the close, Corn futures were fractionally lower through Mar ‘25. Soybean were 1¢ to 4¢ higher through Nov. ‘24. 

Cattle futures closed higher Friday, helped along by stronger cash fed cattle prices to end the week, as well as weekly gains in Choice wholesale beef values.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 56¢ higher. They were an average of $3.82 higher week to week on Friday.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.07 higher. They were an average of $6.60 higher week to week.

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

For the week, FOB live prices were steady in the Southern Plains at $182/cwt., mostly $1-$2 higher in Nebraska at $184-$185 and steady to $2 higher in the western Corn Belt at $184-$186. Dressed delivered prices were $2 higher at $294-$295 in Nebraska and $294 in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 22¢ higher Friday afternoon at $297.14/cwt. Select was 94¢ lower at $288.72/cwt.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 613,000 head was 7,000 head fewer than the previous week and 14,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 10.2 million head was 505,000 head fewer (-4.7%) than the same time last year. Year-to-date beef production of 8.5 billion pounds was 229.6 million pounds less (-2.6%).

Turning to row crops, KC HRW Wheat futures closed 11¢ to 14¢ higher. Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 3¢ lower. Soybean futures closed mixed, fractionally lower to 3¢ lower through Jan ’25 and then fractionally higher to 3¢ higher.

Heading into Wednesday’s close, Cattle futures were recovering from the previous day’s losses, helped along by higher cash fed cattle trade in the north.

Live Cattle futures mixed, from an average of $1.86 higher.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.80 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade and demand were moderate in Nebraska  and slow on light demand in the western Corn Belt, through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were $1-$2 higher in Nebraska at $184-$185/cwt. and steady to $2 higher in the western Corn Belt a $184-$186.

Dressed delivered prices were $1-$2 higher in Nebraska at $294. Dressed delivered prices in the western Corn Belt last week were $292.

So far this week, FOB live prices are steady in the Southern Plains at $282.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.18 higher Thursday afternoon at $296.92/cwt. Select was 76¢  lower at $289.66/cwt.

Turning to row crops, heading into the close, Kansas City Wheat futures were 1¢ to 2¢ lower through Mar ’25 on likely profit taking and producer selling. Corn futures were fractionally higher to 1¢ lower through Jly ‘25. Soybean futures were mostly fractionally lower through May ‘25. 

Heading into Wednesday’s close, Cattle futures were sharply lower, pressured by news that viral fragments of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) were found in pasteurized milk during the ongoing investigation into Bovine Influenza A virus found in dairy cattle. Although there is no reason to doubt the safety of pasteurized milk, the headlines made traders skittish.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.32 lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade and demand were moderate in the Southern Plains through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were steady at $182/cwt.

Elsewhere, trade ranged from mostly inactive on light demand to a standstill.

Last week, FOB live prices were mainly $183 in Nebraska and $184 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $292-$293.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.66 lower Wednesday afternoon at $295.74/cwt. Select was $2.34 lower at $290.42/cwt.

Heading into the close, wheat was higher again based on weather concerns.

Kansas City Wheat futures were 14¢ to 17¢ higher through Jly ‘25.

Corn futures were mostly 1¢ to 5¢ lower through Mar ‘25.

Soybean futures were mostly fractionally mixed through Jly ‘25.

Cattle futures were mixed with Live Cattle taking a breather and awaiting weekly cash direction while last Friday’s Cattle on Feed report continued helping lift Feeder Cattle.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 69¢ higher. Live Cattle futures mixed, from an average of 63¢ lower in the front five contracts to an average of an average of 84¢ higher.

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, FOB live prices were $182/cwt., in the Southern Plains, mostly $183 in Nebraska and $184 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $292-$293.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.47 higher Tuesday afternoon at $297.40/cwt. Select was 89¢ higher at $292.76/cwt.

Heading into the close Tuesday, Wheat futures were the grain the complex higher again, based on weather concerns and apparent short covering.

Kansas City Wheat futures were 11¢ to 13¢ higher through Jly ‘25.

Corn futures were mostly 1¢ to 3¢ higher through Jly ‘25.

Soybean futures were 1¢ to 5¢ higher through Nov ‘24.

Cattle futures surged higher Monday, supported by Friday’s friendly Cattle on Feed report, which indicated fewer March placements than expected.

At the close and before final settlement, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.56 higher and Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.71 higher.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were steady in the Southern Plains at $182/cwt., mostly $1 lower in Nebraska at mainly $183 and $1 lower in the western Corn Belt at $184. Dressed delivered prices were steady to $1 lower in Nebraska at $292-$293 and $1 lower in the western Corn Belt at $292 in a light test.

The weighted average five-area direct FOB live steer price last week was $1.17 lower at $182.67/cwt. The weighted average dressed delivered steer price was 74¢ lower at $292.35.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 26¢ higher Monday afternoon at $295.93/cwt. Select was $1.04 higher at $291.87/cwt.

Cattle futures were narrowly mixed Friday with uncertainty about the Cattle on Feed report, which ultimately proved to be likely supportive.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 12¢ higher, except for unchanged to an average of 5¢ lower in three contracts. They were an average of $4.20 higher week to week on Friday.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 57¢ lower. They were an average of $6.82 higher week to week on Friday.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on moderate demand in the Southern Plains and Nebraska through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Trade in the western Corn Belt was slow on light to moderate demand.

FOB live prices were steady in the Southern Plains at $182/cwt., mostly $1 lower in Nebraska at $183 and $1 lower in the western Corn Belt at $184. Dressed delivered prices were $1 lower at $292.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 13¢ lower Friday afternoon at $295.67/cwt. Select was $1.56 higher at $290.83/cwt.

Last week, estimated total cattle slaughter of 620,000 head was 17,000 head more than the previous week but 5,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter of 9.5 million head was 486,000 head fewer (-4.7%). Estimated year-to-date beef production of 8 billion pounds was 233.9 million pounds less (-2.8%). For broader context, estimated total year-to-date red meat production is 1.3% less.

Turning to row crops, Grain and Soybean futures rallied Friday with likely short covering.

Corn futures closed mostly 4¢ to 6¢ higher, with added support from the Environmental Protection Agency’s emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 gasoline — gasoline blended with 15% ethanol — to be sold during the summer driving season. 

KC HRW Wheat futures closed mostly 6¢ to 7¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 11¢ to 16¢ higher through Jan ’25.

Cattle futures gained Thursday with likely positioning ahead of Friday’s monthly Cattle on Feed report. Export sales also provided support.

Net U.S. beef export sales for the week ending April 11 were 17,700 metric tons for 2024, according to the weekly U.S. Export Sales report. That was 30% more than the previous week and 27% more than the prior four-week average. Increases were primarily for South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan and Mexico.

At the close and before final settlement, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.46 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.65 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand to a standstill in all major cattle feeding regions through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $182/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $184 in Nebraska and $185 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $293.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.01 lower Thursday afternoon at $295.80/cwt. Select was $1.61 lower at $289.27/cwt.

Turning to row crops before the close, Corn futures mostly 4¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 4¢ to 5¢ higher through Jly ’25. Soybean futures were 10¢ to 16¢ lower through Jly ’25.

Cattle futures drifted Wednesday as traders awaited cash direction. Likely, there was added hesitancy ahead of Friday monthly Cattle on Feed report. Estimates see placements being 8% less year over year and marketings down 12% for an April 1 inventory about 2% higher.

At the close and before final settlement, Live Cattle futures mixed, from an average of 28¢ lower in the front four contracts to an average of 27¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 24¢ lower, except for 15¢ higher in spot Apr.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were $182/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $184 in Nebraska and $185 in the western Corn Belt.

Dressed delivered prices were $3-$4 lower in Nebraska at $293 and $4 lower in the western Corn Belt at $293.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.24 lower Wednesday afternoon at $296.78/cwt. Select was $1.76 lower at $290.88/cwt.

Turning to row crops toward the close, Corn futures were mostly 2¢ lower through Dec ‘25. Kansas City Wheat futures were mostly 8¢ to 13¢ lower through Jly ’25. Soybean futures were 1¢ to 4¢ higher through Jan ’25.