Recent Livestock Analysis
Market Commentary: Risk-off tone hits grains and livestock
What You Need to Know Today: Agricultural commodities were mostly lower on the day, with red-hot soyoil a notable exception. Export sales were a bit underwhelming, particularly for corn with export sales down 52 percent week-over-week. The weakness in ag markets tracked crude oil weakness wit...
Commodity Policy Being Shaped by Unfolding Farm Crisis
With the war in Iran affecting fuel and fertilizer prices, higher tariffs, weak commodity prices, ag labor constraints, and other factors, farm bankruptcies are now at a 6-year high, a signal of growing stress. During the month of April, 62 Chapter 12 bankruptcies were filed, which is a 1...
Summary of Futures
Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.4675/bushel, down $0.09 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.105/bushel, down $0.135 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.8675/bushel, down $0.0775 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $329.8/short ton, down $4...
Market Commentary: Grains and oilseeds see strength on high PCE reading, Crude oil and macros remain topsy-turvy with U.S.-Iran headline risk
What You Need to Know Today: The U.S. struck Iranian military targets for the second time this week. During a cabinet meeting, President Trump said that the Strait of Hormuz is international waters and will be open to everybody, which appears to be wishful thinking. Control of the Strait...
Summary of Futures
Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.5575/bushel, up $0.0325 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.24/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.945/bushel, up $0.0925 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $334.1/short ton, up $3.5 from...
Livestock Roundup: More Dairy Cow Slaughter Later This Year
A total of 79,000 cows has been added to the dairy herd since last December, which compares to 81,000 head added to the dairy herd over the same period in 2025. This similarity in herd expansion numbers in early 2025 and 2026 has kept dairy cow slaughter at the same level in each of the two yea...
Livestock Industry Margins
Beef packer margins improved to -$257/head last week, up $39 from the prior week as the Choice cutout strengthened while fed cattle prices eased. The cutout rose to nearly $390/cwt, while fed cattle prices slipped to $260/cwt, allowing packer spreads to recover modestly from the prior week&rsqu...
Market Commentary: Trading Headlines, Pricing Risk
Key Market Insights Today was another reminder that this market is trading headlines first, facts second. Early optimism surrounding reports of a possible U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding helped pressure energy risk premium and kept the broader commodity space defensive. An hour later, how...
Producers' Share of Beef Value Up, Packer Margins Down
Key Takeaways: Cattle producers are currently capturing a greater proportion of total retail beef values amid tight cattle supplies. Packers are forced to make higher bids on cattle to keep operations running when supplies are tight, hurting packer margins. Sustained poor packer margins...
Summary of Futures
Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.525/bushel, down $0.05 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.225/bushel, down $0.13 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.8525/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $330.6/short ton, up $2 fro...
Market Commentary: CBOT Falls on Better Weather, Geopolitical Trade Dynamics
What You Need to Know Today: The U.S. conducted “self-defense strikes” in Iran and said the two sides are “close” to negotiating a ceasefire. “Close” is a relative term, however, and even if 95 percent of the terms are agreed to, the remaining 5 percent is l...
Summary of Futures
Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.575/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.355/bushel, down $0.1075 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.86/bushel, down $0.105 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $328.6/short ton, down $3...
Market Commentary: Risk-off tone hits grains and livestock
What You Need to Know Today: Agricultural commodities were mostly lower on the day, with red-hot soyoil a notable exception. Export sales were a bit underwhelming, particularly for corn with export sales down 52 percent week-over-week. The weakness in ag markets tracked crude oil weakness wit...
Commodity Policy Being Shaped by Unfolding Farm Crisis
With the war in Iran affecting fuel and fertilizer prices, higher tariffs, weak commodity prices, ag labor constraints, and other factors, farm bankruptcies are now at a 6-year high, a signal of growing stress. During the month of April, 62 Chapter 12 bankruptcies were filed, which is a 1...
Summary of Futures
Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.4675/bushel, down $0.09 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.105/bushel, down $0.135 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.8675/bushel, down $0.0775 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $329.8/short ton, down $4...
Market Commentary: Grains and oilseeds see strength on high PCE reading, Crude oil and macros remain topsy-turvy with U.S.-Iran headline risk
What You Need to Know Today: The U.S. struck Iranian military targets for the second time this week. During a cabinet meeting, President Trump said that the Strait of Hormuz is international waters and will be open to everybody, which appears to be wishful thinking. Control of the Strait...
Summary of Futures
Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.5575/bushel, up $0.0325 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.24/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.945/bushel, up $0.0925 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $334.1/short ton, up $3.5 from...
Livestock Roundup: More Dairy Cow Slaughter Later This Year
A total of 79,000 cows has been added to the dairy herd since last December, which compares to 81,000 head added to the dairy herd over the same period in 2025. This similarity in herd expansion numbers in early 2025 and 2026 has kept dairy cow slaughter at the same level in each of the two yea...
Livestock Industry Margins
Beef packer margins improved to -$257/head last week, up $39 from the prior week as the Choice cutout strengthened while fed cattle prices eased. The cutout rose to nearly $390/cwt, while fed cattle prices slipped to $260/cwt, allowing packer spreads to recover modestly from the prior week&rsqu...
Market Commentary: Trading Headlines, Pricing Risk
Key Market Insights Today was another reminder that this market is trading headlines first, facts second. Early optimism surrounding reports of a possible U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding helped pressure energy risk premium and kept the broader commodity space defensive. An hour later, how...
Producers' Share of Beef Value Up, Packer Margins Down
Key Takeaways: Cattle producers are currently capturing a greater proportion of total retail beef values amid tight cattle supplies. Packers are forced to make higher bids on cattle to keep operations running when supplies are tight, hurting packer margins. Sustained poor packer margins...
Summary of Futures
Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.525/bushel, down $0.05 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.225/bushel, down $0.13 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.8525/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $330.6/short ton, up $2 fro...
Market Commentary: CBOT Falls on Better Weather, Geopolitical Trade Dynamics
What You Need to Know Today: The U.S. conducted “self-defense strikes” in Iran and said the two sides are “close” to negotiating a ceasefire. “Close” is a relative term, however, and even if 95 percent of the terms are agreed to, the remaining 5 percent is l...
Summary of Futures
Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.575/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.355/bushel, down $0.1075 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.86/bushel, down $0.105 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $328.6/short ton, down $3...