For the week ending July 23

Feeder cattle prices at Texas auctions were mostly $2 to $8 lower per hundredweight. Lower fed cattle and beef prices contributed to the decrease. The drought was also a factor as calves are being marketed earlier than normal because of the lack of grazing, which is increasing supplies and lowering prices. Fed cattle prices were $2.50 lower following a decline in wholesale beef values. Cotton cash prices fell because of continued weak exports and concerns about future demand. Corn prices were lower on forecasts for improved growing conditions in the Midwest. Wheat prices increased because of tight supplies of high protein winter wheat. As for futures markets, feeder cattle, wheat and lumber were higher, while fed cattle, cotton and corn were lower. Widely scattered showers fell over much of the state during the week with amounts in excess of 2 inches reported east of Houston and in parts of the Northern High Plains, Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau. Corn was 60 percent in dough-stage and 53 percent of the acreage was rated mature, ahead of normal for this date. Grain sorghum was 72 percent headed and 41 percent of the crop has been harvested, well ahead of the average pace. Cotton was squaring on 73 percent of the acreage and 36 percent was setting bolls, slightly more than average. Most crops were reported in fair to very poor condition with condition indexes lower than a week ago and well below where they were at this time last year. Pastures showed some improvement in areas that have received rain, but remain in mostly very poor to poor condition statewide as supplemental feeding and reductions of livestock herds continue.




All cash prices above are market averages for locations covered by the TDA Market News program and do not reflect any particular sale at any specific location. Feeder cattle prices are for 500-600 pound medium and large No.1 steers. Futures prices are quoted for the nearest month contract on the last trading day of the week. For additional information, contact TDA Market News at (800) 252-3407 or visit our website, www.tdamarketnews.com.

Agriculture Market Recap for the week ending July 16

Feeder cattle prices at Texas auctions were mixed, with sales early in the week mostly $3 to $6 higher per hundredweight and later-week sales mostly steady to $7 lower. Declines in fed cattle and futures markets contributed to the decrease. Fed cattle prices were $4 lower in spite of modestly higher wholesale beef values. Cotton cash prices declined because of continued weak exports and concerns about future demand. Corn and grain sorghum prices were higher amid forecasts for much hotter weather in the Midwest just as corn is beginning to pollinate. Wheat prices increased following a favorable supply and demand report. As for futures markets, wheat, corn and lumber were higher while fed cattle, feeder cattle and cotton were lower. Widely scattered showers fell over much of the state during the week with amounts in excess of 4 inches reported in parts of the Panhandle and Southeast Texas. Wheat harvest was completed. Corn was 56 percent in dough-stage and 46 percent of the acreage was rated mature, well ahead of normal. Grain sorghum planting was completed with 71 percent of the crop headed and 36 percent harvested, both ahead of the average pace. Cotton was squaring on 64 percent of the acreage and 20 percent was setting bolls, both slightly behind normal. Most crops remained in fair to very poor condition with condition indexes well below where they were at this time last year. Pastures were rated in mostly very poor to poor condition as supplemental feeding and reductions of livestock herds continue.


All cash prices above are market averages for locations covered by the TDA Market News program and do not reflect any particular sale at any specific location. Feeder cattle prices are for 500-600 pound medium and large No.1 steers. Futures prices are quoted for the nearest month contract on the last trading day of the week. For additional information, contact TDA Market News at (800) 252-3407 or visit our website, www.tdamarketnews.com.

For the week ending July 9

Feeder cattle prices at Texas auctions were mostly $3 to $6 higher per hundredweight, with a few steady and a few to $10 higher. Tight supplies, lower feed grain prices over the past few weeks and higher fed cattle contributed to the increase. Fed cattle prices were higher following increases in wholesale beef values and improved processor margins. Cotton cash prices were lower because of continued weak exports. Corn, grain sorghum and wheat prices were higher amid generally strong exports and forecasts for hotter, drier weather in the Midwest. As for futures markets, feeder cattle, fed cattle, wheat, corn and lumber were higher while cotton was lower. Widely scattered showers fell over much of the state during the week with amounts ranging from a trace to more than an inch in some locations. Wheat harvest was nearing completion and ahead of the normal 92 percent with the crop rated in mostly very poor to poor condition. Corn was 61 percent silked and 24 percent of the acreage was rated mature. Grain sorghum planting was nearing completion with 60 percent of the crop rated mature and 27 percent harvested. Cotton was squaring on 50 percent of the acreage and 15 percent was setting bolls. Most crops remained in fair to very poor condition with condition indexes well below where they were at this time last year. Pastures were rated in mostly very poor to poor condition as supplemental feeding and reductions of livestock herds continue.



All cash prices above are market averages for locations covered by the TDA Market News program and do not reflect any particular sale at any specific location. Feeder cattle prices are for 500-600 pound medium and large No.1 steers. Futures prices are quoted for the nearest month contract on the last trading day of the week. For additional information, contact TDA Market News at (800) 252-3407 or visit our website, www.tdamarketnews.com

For the week ending July 2

Feeder cattle prices at Texas auctions were mostly steady to $8 higher per hundredweight. Lower feed grain prices and higher fed cattle contributed to the increase. Fed cattle prices were modestly higher following increases in wholesale beef. Cotton cash prices were lower because of higher than expected planted acreage and continued weak exports, but losses were limited by the declining prospects for this year’s crop. Corn, grain sorghum and wheat prices ended the week lower after USDA reported larger than expected corn planted acres and higher stocks of grain in storage. As for futures markets, feeder cattle and lumber were higher while fed cattle, cotton, wheat and corn were lower. Hurricane Arlene brought rain to much of South Texas with some locations receiving in excess of three inches. Parts of northeast Texas recorded more than two inches of rain while widely scattered showers fell in other areas of the state. Topsoil moisture was in mostly adequate to surplus supply in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and mostly short to very short elsewhere. Wheat harvest was 98 percent complete, well ahead of the normal 83 percent with the crop rated in mostly very poor to poor condition. Corn was 60 percent silked with 13 percent rated mature. Grain sorghum planting was 95 percent complete with 51 percent of the crop rated mature. Cotton was squaring on 41 percent of the acreage and 14 percent was setting bolls. Most crops were rated in fair to very poor condition with condition indexes well below where they were at this time last year. Pastures remain in mostly very poor to poor condition as supplemental feeding and reductions of livestock herds continue.




All cash prices above are market averages for locations covered by the TDA Market News program and do not reflect any particular sale at any specific location. Feeder cattle prices are for 500-600 pound medium and large No.1 steers. Futures prices are quoted for the nearest month contract on the last trading day of the week. For additional information, contact TDA Market News at (800) 252-3407 or visit our website, www.tdamarketnews.com.