Market Commentary

2026

2/6/2026 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures traded sharply higher today as the cash market continued to work higher, but gave up a large portion of the gains late in the day. Feeder Cattle futures also traded sharply higher this morning but finished with minimal gains. Lean Hogs finished the day mixed after trading to near their contract highs. Corn futures posted new highs for the move this morning but lost support from the Soybean market and finished the week lower.

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2/3/2026 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures pushed to new highs for the move today due to fund buying in anticipation of a higher cash market. Feeder Cattle futures could not post new highs today but finished the day higher as the CME Feeder Cattle index approaches record highs. Lean Hogs posted new contract highs today across most of the complex as the cash markets continue to be supported. Corn futures finished the day higher and are now testing overhead resistance.

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1/30/2026 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures finished the day mixed with the front month higher and the deferred contracts sharply lower despite a higher cash market this week. Feeder Cattle futures struggled all day and finished sharply lower on what looked like end of the month profit taking. Lean Hogs finished slightly lower after posting new contract highs this week. Corn futures bounced off of their lows today but posted new lows for the week this afternoon.

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1/27/2026 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures finished the day slightly lower as cash trade has yet to be established and boxed beef has been supported. Feeder Cattle futures recovered nicely today as the cash market remains strong. Lean Hogs posted new contract highs across most contracts today with the cash fundamentals continuing to work higher. Corn futures have failed to find follow-through this week as the market continues to digest the large supplies of U.S. Corn.

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1/23/2026 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures started the day sharply lower but followed the higher cash market and finished the day with sizable gains. Feeder Cattle futures tested downside support this morning and finished the day with slight gains. Lean Hog futures posted new contract highs yesterday but finished the week mixed. Corn futures finished the week higher after a huge week of exports.

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1/20/2026 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures finished the day higher after trading mixed all day, fearing a sharply lower equity market. Feeder Cattle futures finished higher after the Screwworm rumors from last week were confirmed untrue. Lean Hog futures continue to push to new contract highs as the cash fundamentals have turned positive. Corn futures traded in a tight range today and could not take out Friday’s high.

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1/16/2026 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures traded lower to end the week after another week of steady cash trade. Feeder Cattle futures fell victim to Screwworm rumors and traded down to limit lower many times today despite the rumors being untrue. Lean Hogs found support from the higher cash market this week and finished higher each of the last four days. Corn futures finished higher today but will finish the week with sharp losses.

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1/13/2026 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures continue to follow the Feeder Cattle complex higher as cash fat cattle remain stagnant and boxed beef is lackluster. Feeder Cattle futures continue to be supported by the Feeder Cattle index and now, a sharply lower corn market. Lean Hogs traded mixed today after many contracts posted new contract highs at the end of last week. Corn futures have been under heavy pressure following yesterday’s WASDE Report that showed increased corn production for 2025.

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1/9/2026 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures finished the week lower as the cash market fails to find a spark. Feeder Cattle futures followed the Feeder Cattle index higher this week but could not hold all of those gains through Friday. Lean Hogs posted new highs for the move this week and many of the deferred contracts posted new contract highs despite the pork cutout moving lower. Corn futures are back to the middle of their range that began in the middle of October as traders wait for the WASDE Report Monday morning.

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2025

7/25/2025 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures set new contract highs this week while the cash market was steady with a week ago. Feeder Cattle posted a new all-time high as feed costs continue to decrease and inventory of available Feeder Cattle gets tighter. Lean Hogs traded sideways this week as the pork cutout continues to work higher. Corn finished the week lower as the forecasts show continued chances for rain over the next few weeks.

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7/22/2025 Market Commentary

Live Cattle finished the day mixed as cash trade has yet to be established for the week and slaughter numbers remain small. Feeder Cattle posted new contract highs all the way through the complex as the CME Feeder Cattle index set a new record high after Friday’s sales. The pork cutout has gained nearly $6 over the last week and has moved the futures market back higher. Corn has erased half of last week’s gains as U.S. production looks to be large.

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7/18/2025 Market Commentary

Live Cattle finished the week slightly lower after a good recovery in the middle of the week. Cash trade was steady to a dollar better throughout all regions. Feeder Cattle failed to post a new contract high this week as the CME Feeder Cattle index saw limited movement. Lean Hogs finished the week on a positive note as the pork cutout has begun to work higher. Corn futures also finished the week higher as warmer weather has entered the forecast.

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7/15/2025 Market Commentary

Live Cattle futures have traded both directions to start the week after last week’s better than expected cash trade. Feeder Cattle continue to follow the record cash prices higher as feed costs continue to remain low. Lean Hogs have erased nearly $10 over the course of the last month and have failed to hold some important technical areas. Corn posted a new contract low to begin the week but have recovered over 10 cents the past two days.

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7/11/2025 Market Commentary

Cash Cattle traded sharply higher this week and pulled the futures to new contract highs to end the week. Feeder cattle found strong support on the USDA again closing the Mexican border for Feeder Cattle imports. Lean Hogs continue to grind lower despite the better cash and cutout markets this week. Corn futures posted new contract lows to end the week as the USDA did not change yield in the monthly WASDE report and weather forecasts continue to look favorable.

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7/8/2025 Market Commentary

Live Cattle posted new contract highs on Tuesday as optimism surrounding this week’s cash market continues to grow. Feeder Cattle futures set new record highs as feed costs continue to work lower. Lean Hogs have settled into a sideways range as the pork cutout has drifted lower. Corn posted new contract lows as weather looks beneficial to U.S. production, and no positive developments with trade partners have surfaced.

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7/3/2025 Market Commentary

Markets closed for the 4th of July with Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle finishing the week on a positive note as the cash markets performed better than initial expectations. Lean Hogs finished lower three of the four days this week due to the pork cutout losing $13 over the last seven days. Corn reversed direction middle of the week and bounced off of contract lows as trade deals present optimism for U.S. corn demand.

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7/1/2025 Market Commentary

Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle futures both traded sharply lower on the news that the Mexican border will be reopened to Feeder Cattle imports. Lean Hogs have failed to find traction after the Hogs and Pigs Report in addition to a lower cutout market. Corn posted new contract lows this morning but recovered throughout the day to finish slightly lower.

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6/27/2025 Market Commentary

Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle both finished sharply higher to end the week as the cash markets continue to outperform expectations. Lean Hogs shed off a bearish Hogs and Pigs Report and finished the week mixed. Corn set new contract lows this week but found strength on Friday heading into Monday’s Grain Stocks and Planted Acres Reports.

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Producers Livestock offers livestock sourcing and marketing, commodities trading and hedging and loans and credit facilities to farmers and processors in the Midwestern US and Central Plains.

Nebraska Location

4809 S 114th St
Omaha, NE 68137

Iowa Location

4280 Sergeant Rd, Ste 240
Sioux City, IA 51106

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PO Box 45978
Omaha, NE 68145

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8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.