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Cattle futures slide after Trump comments on higher ground beef imports
USDA data showed cash steers averaged $225.29 and placements during July fell 11% year over year to 1.42 million head.
Cattle futures retreated after a report that President Donald Trump said the U.S. would allow up to 300,000 MT of ground beef imports without affecting tariff quotas under a 90-day deal aimed at supporting the economy, according to trading commentary cited by Yahoo Finance. October live cattle futures fell $0.075 to $217.925 and touched an eight-month low, while September feeder cattle rose $0.10 to $329.025 before easing on the week.
USDA data highlighted softer activity in cash and fewer cattle entering feedlots. At midday Friday, the USDA reported more active cash cattle trading at lower prices, with steers averaging $225.29 and heifers averaging $225.23 versus $228.52 the week prior.
In the USDA’s monthly cattle-on-feed report, cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more totaled 11.1 million head on Aug. 1, 2% above Aug. 1, 2025. Placements in July totaled 1.42 million head, down 11% from 2025, and the article notes July placements were the lowest for that month since the series began in 1996.
Other USDA figures were also described as mixed, with marketings of fed cattle in July totaling 1.62 million head, 7% below 2025, and other disappearances of 55,000 head, 8% above 2025. The story also mentions that detection of New World Screwworm in Sonora, Mexico, threatens to complicate a planned Aug. 24 reopening, though details beyond that warning were not included.