AGSIST DAILY — ARCHIVE
↔ Mixed 📅 WEEKEND EDITION
Saturday, April 25, 2026
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PLANTING PRESSURE BUILDS AS GRAINS SLIDE

Corn and wheat fell sharply Friday while cattle surged to 52-week highs.

Spring planting pressure finally showed in grain futures as the week closed, with nearby corn sliding to $4.55 and Chicago wheat dropping to $6.08. Live cattle bucked the trend, rallying 2% to $248.30 on strong demand fundamentals. The week showcased the classic April tension: planting season price weakness meets seasonal demand strength.

Corn$4.55
Soybeans$11.64
Wheat$6.08
📊 THE NUMBER
$248.30
live cattle per hundredweight
Cattle hit their highest level since last spring, now sitting at 89% of their 52-week range. Strong beef demand and tight supplies are overwhelming feed cost concerns. This strength typically signals good profit margins ahead for cattle feeders through summer.
💬 DAILY QUOTE

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Peter Drucker
📊WEEK IN REVIEWMEDIUM CONVICTION
The week told two stories: grain weakness and livestock divergence. Corn fell 1.8% to close Friday at $4.55 as planting pressure built across the Corn Belt. December corn held steadier, gaining slightly to $4.84, showing the market's focus on old crop liquidation. Soybeans managed better, slipping just 0.8% to $11.64 as meal strength provided support. Chicago wheat joined the grain selloff, dropping 1.8% to $6.08.
Grain prices finally acknowledged planting season reality this week.
🐄CATTLE SURGE CONTINUESHIGH CONVICTION
Live cattle exploded higher Friday, gaining 2% to reach $248.30 and touching their best levels in nearly a year. Feeder cattle followed suit with a 2.4% jump to $367.62. The strength reflects tight supplies meeting robust demand as grilling season approaches. Meanwhile, hogs crashed 8.8% to $94.30 on seasonal pressure and processing capacity concerns. Class III milk extended this week's decline, falling another 6.5% to $16.84.
Cattle strength contrasts sharply with weakness across other livestock.
🎯 Cattle feeders should price summer cattle if futures hold above $245 when markets open Monday.
👀WHAT TO WATCH MONDAYMEDIUM CONVICTION
Three key themes will drive early week trade. First, weather forecasts for the central Corn Belt become critical as planting accelerates. Second, cattle futures need to hold Friday's breakout levels to maintain momentum. Third, crude oil's slide below $95 signals broader commodity pressure that could spill into ags. Managed money (hedge funds) positioning in grains remains historically light, leaving room for volatility in either direction.
Weather, cattle technicals, and energy weakness top Monday's watch list.
🧠 THE MORE YOU KNOW
Why April Grain Weakness Is Actually Healthy
Grain markets typically weaken during planting season, and that's actually bullish for longer-term prices. Lower prices during planting discourage farmers from switching acres to competing crops, preserving planted area for the original crop. This April's corn weakness helps lock in projected corn acres while December futures hold relatively firm. The pattern suggests the market is managing supply correctly, even if it feels painful for farmers holding old crop inventory.
📅 THIS WEEK'S WATCH LIST
  • Sunday eveningWeekend weather models for Corn Belt planting conditions
  • Monday openLive cattle holding above $245 breakout level
  • Tuesday morningWeekly export sales for both grains and livestock
Written by Sigurd Lindquist, founder. Reply at sig@farmers1st.com — I read everything.
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CME Group, CBOT, NYMEX closing data as of Friday, April 24, 2026 · Auto-compiled at 6:02 AM CT
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