Source: Texas Department of Agriculture
For the week ending April 6, 2013, feeder cattle prices reported by Texas auctions were mostly steady to $6 higher per hundredweight (cwt). However, late in the week, a few locations noted lower prices on a portion of their offerings. Texas direct feeder cattle sales were $3 to $5 higher and the Oklahoma City National Stockyards were $2 to $8 higher.
Lower grain prices, higher fed cattle markets and beneficial rains that boosted pasture conditions contributed to the stronger feeder cattle market. Fed cattle cash prices were $1.50 higher. Wholesale beef values were mixed, with Choice-grade offerings higher, but Select cuts lower. Weekly beef export sales were up 5 percent from the prior four-week average, but cumulative sales for 2013 are running slightly behind last year’s pace.
Cotton prices were higher on the tight world supplies outside China, projections that world cotton use will exceed production in 2013 and continued dry conditions on the Texas South Plains. Weekly export sales came in higher than the previous week and higher than the average needed to meet USDA projections for the marketing year, but lower than the prior four-week average. Wheat and corn prices were lower because of weak exports and continued reaction to the prior week’s USDA report showing higher-than-expected stocks on hand. Wheat export sales were much lower than expected, but still higher than the average needed to reach marketing year projections. Corn export sales declined from the previous week.
As for futures markets, feeder cattle, fed cattle, cotton, wheat, corn and lumber were lower.
Much of the state except for the eastern Panhandle and Tran-Pecos region recorded rainfall during the week, with totals of an inch or more common in East, Central and North Texas. For more information on crop conditions, please see the weekly USDA-NASS “Texas Crop Progress and Condition” report at www.nass.usda.gov.
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Week Ending |
Previous |
Previous |
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| Texas Cash Markets: |
April 6, 2013 |
Week | Year | |
| Feeder Steers | ($/cwt) |
162.47 |
159.65 |
187.68 |
| Fed Cattle | ($/cwt) |
127.78 |
126.11 |
121.82 |
| Slaughter Lambs | ($/cwt) |
127.50 |
97.50 |
175.00 |
| Slaughter Goats | ($/cwt) |
205.00 |
180.00 |
217.00 |
| Cotton | (¢/lb.) |
82.75 |
82.50 |
82.15 |
| Grain Sorghum | ($/cwt) |
10.86 |
12.10 |
11.39 |
| Wheat | ($/bu.) |
6.95 |
6.94 |
6.01 |
| Corn | ($/bu.) |
6.76 |
7.43 |
6.84 |
| Oranges | ($/carton) |
11.65 |
11.65 |
11.30 |
| Grapefruit | ($/carton) |
15.60 |
15.60 |
n/a |
| Cabbage | ($/50 lbs.) |
7.75 |
7.45 |
4.75 |
| Onions | ($/40 lbs.) |
16.00 |
16.00 |
10.00 |
| Futures Markets: | ||||
| Feeder Cattle | ($/cwt) |
142.57 |
143.40 |
148.72 |
| Fed Cattle | ($/cwt) |
126.02 |
128.90 |
118.32 |
| Cotton | (¢/lb.) |
86.79 |
88.46 |
88.54 |
| Wheat | ($/bu.) |
7.26 |
7.27 |
6.62 |
| Corn | ($/bu.) |
6.29 |
6.95 |
6.58 |
| Lumber | ($/MBF) |
374.10 |
391.20 |
266.90 |
MBF = thousand board feet
All cash prices above are market averages for locations covered by the USDA 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 at the Oklahoma City National Stockyards. Futures prices are quoted for the nearest month contract on the last trading day of the week. Timber prices are from the Texas A&M Forest Service, bimonthly “Texas Timber Price Trends.”
For additional information, contact TDA at 800-835-5832 or visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov.