Livestock Marketing Information Center
In The Cattle Markets
Updated: 7/6/2026
How Big Will Cattle Get This Year?
Through the first half of the year, year -to- date cattle slaughter is 8.7% lower than last year, and placements have been higher this year compared to last year. These two stats provide information about current and future beef production.
Livestock Monitor
Updated: 7/3/2026
JUNE HOGS AND PIGS REPORT
The June Hogs and Pigs report released by the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) placed all hogs and pigs as of June 1 at 73.664 million head, down fractionally by 34,000 head (-0.05%) from last year. The steady inventory levels were in contradiction to the average analysts’ pre-report estimates, which were expecting all hogs and pigs on June 1 to increase by +1% from last year. Market hogs totaled 67.784 million head, up marginally by 36,000 head (+0.1%) from last year. This translated into the market weight categories being reported on par with year-ago levels, signaling slaughter levels in the near term that should be similar to a year ago.
CORN AND SOYBEAN PLANTINGS COME IN AS EXPECTED; LESS CORN, MORE BEANS
USDA-NASS estimates that corn plantings this spring were 95.3 million acres, down from 98.8 million acres last year. Soybean plantings are pegged at 85.4 million acres, up 4.2 million acres from a year ago. The estimates were similar to the prospective plantings survey the USDA sent out to farmers in March. The alfalfa hay harvested area is unchanged from a year ago at 14.7 million acres. Area of other types of hay harvested is expected to be up less than one percent from last year.
FUTURES AND OPTIONS FOR 90% AND 50% LEAN BEEF TRIM
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME) announced that starting on July 20, 2026, there will be two Beef Trim contracts available for 90% and 50% lean beef trim. According to CME, the contracts are intended to provide “risk management tools” that can help market participants “precisely manage the input costs tied to popular retail blend ratios.” Contract specifications for the 90% lean beef trim futures noted that CEM Group will use a monthly weighted average of weekly prices that are available in USDA reports LM_XB450 and LM_XB460.
