Episode Details

Cattle futures were unable to build on recent gains Friday, bogged down by more political rhetoric.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 92¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.68 lower.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.88 lower, except for an average of 60¢ higher in the back two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.54 lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light on light demand in the North through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. For the week, FOB live prices were $4-$7 lower in the North at $218-$222/cwt., with the highest prices paid late in the week. Dressed delivered prices were mostly $345, which was $10-$11 lower. There was no established trade in the Southern Plains.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $5.13 lower Friday afternoon at $376.23/cwt. Select was $1.89 higher at $361.08. Week to week on Friday, Choice was $9.46 lower and. Select was 24¢ lower.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 542,000 head was 19,000 head more than the previous week. Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter of 17.9 million head was 1.5 million head fewer (-7.9%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 16 billion pounds was 915.2 million pounds less (-5.4%).

Grain and Soybean closed expanded gains on Friday.

Corn futures were mostly 1¢ to 4¢ higher. Week to week on Friday, they were an average of 26’2¢ higher through the front six contracts. That’s an average of about 49¢ higher in those same two contracts over the past two weeks.

Soybean futures were mostly 15¢ to 19¢ higher.

Kansas City HRW Wheat futures were 10¢ to 24¢ higher through Dec ‘27 on continued war premium.