Livestock Futures

Livestock markets dictate your ultimate revenue potential and feed-conversion profitability. Monitor live cattle, feeder cattle, and lean hog futures to manage herd risk, time your market placements, and secure optimal hedging margins.

Live Cattle

LEZ26 Dec 2026 218.00 ¢/lb -0.15 -0.07%
LEG27 Feb 2027 220.83 ¢/lb -0.60 -0.27%
LEJ27 Apr 2027 223.20 ¢/lb -0.50 -0.22%
LEM27 Jun 2027 218.10 ¢/lb -0.73 -0.33%
LEQ27 Aug 2027 214.40 ¢/lb -0.85 -0.39%
LEV27 Oct 2027 212.35 ¢/lb -0.93 -0.43%
LEZ27 Dec 2027 212.53 ¢/lb -0.95 -0.45%
LEG28 Feb 2028 212.58 ¢/lb -1.05 -0.49%
LEJ28 Apr 2028 212.83 ¢/lb -0.98 -0.46%
LEM28 Jun 2028 207.75 ¢/lb -1.08 -0.51%

Feeder Cattle

GFX26 Nov 2026 332.03 ¢/lb -2.50 -0.75%
GFF27 Jan 2027 325.73 ¢/lb -2.65 -0.81%
GFH27 Mar 2027 320.85 ¢/lb -3.13 -0.96%
GFJ27 Apr 2027 319.40 ¢/lb -3.13 -0.97%
GFK27 May 2027 317.38 ¢/lb -3.03 -0.94%
GFQ27 Aug 2027 318.40 ¢/lb -2.78 -0.86%
GFU27 Sep 2027 316.18 ¢/lb -2.85 -0.89%
GFV27 Oct 2027 313.20 ¢/lb -2.78 -0.88%
GFX27 Nov 2027 310.45 ¢/lb -2.78 -0.89%

Lean Hogs

HEZ26 Dec 2026 57.55 ¢/lb -1.05 -1.79%
HEG27 Feb 2027 62.30 ¢/lb -1.23 -1.93%
HEJ27 Apr 2027 68.33 ¢/lb -1.05 -1.51%
HEK27 May 2027 74.95 ¢/lb -1.25 -1.64%
HEM27 Jun 2027 83.93 ¢/lb -1.35 -1.58%
HEN27 Jul 2027 87.15 ¢/lb -1.40 -1.58%
HEQ27 Aug 2027 88.10 ¢/lb -1.50 -1.67%
HEV27 Oct 2027 77.35 ¢/lb -1.88 -2.37%
HEZ27 Dec 2027 70.95 ¢/lb -1.58 -2.17%
HEG28 Feb 2028 74.40 ¢/lb -1.35 -1.78%
HEJ28 Apr 2028 78.05 ¢/lb -1.35 -1.70%

FAQs

What futures matter most to grain farms?

For most grain operations, start with revenue markets and the input markets that drive costs.

  • Revenue: Corn, Soybeans, Wheat (Chicago/SRW, Kansas City/HRW, Minneapolis/HRS). Canadian growers should also track Canola.
  • Key inputs (costs): ULSD (diesel) for fuel, Propane for grain drying, and Fertilizer (Urea, DAP).
  • Also useful: Natural Gas (fertilizer feedstock), Crude/Refined products (broader energy trend), and USD/CAD if you sell or buy across the border.

How do I use futures to estimate cash price?

Use your local basis to translate board price to a farmgate estimate.

Formula: Estimated Cash = Futures + Basis

  • Pick the delivery month your buyer is quoting.
  • Find the current futures price for that month.
  • Add your local basis (it can be negative or positive).

Example: If Dec Corn = $5.20 and your basis is –$0.25, estimated cash ≈ $4.95.

Tip: Basis changes over time—always check posted bids for actual offers.

What affects basis in my area?

Basis = local reality. Common drivers:

  • Local supply & demand: harvest pressure, on-farm/storage availability, end-user needs.
  • Logistics: rail/barge capacity, river levels, truck availability, diesel costs.
  • Buyer competition & margins: ethanol/crush plants, mills, exporters.
  • Quality & specs: moisture, protein, damage.
  • Seasonality & weather: storms, freeze/thaw, road bans.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD/USD) shifts can move cross-border basis.

Should I track diesel/propane alongside grain prices?

Yes. They’re big, volatile input costs. Watching ULSD (diesel) and Propane next to grain helps you:

  • Budget and lock in fuel/drying costs when prices dip.
  • Protect margins by timing purchases relative to crop price moves.
  • Plan harvest/drying with fewer surprises.

Which months are “new-crop” vs “old-crop”?

“Old-crop” = grain already in the bin/current marketing year. “New-crop” = the upcoming harvest. Typical references:

  • Corn: Dec = new-crop; Mar/May/Jul = old-crop.
  • Soybeans: Nov = new-crop; Jan/Mar/May = old-crop.
  • Wheat:
    • Chicago SRW & KC HRW: Jul = new-crop; Sep/Dec/Mar/May = old-crop.
    • Minneapolis Spring Wheat (HRS): Sep = new-crop; Dec/Mar/May/Jul = old-crop.
  • Canola (ICE): Nov = new-crop; Jan/Mar/May = old-crop.

Note: Local harvest timing and buyer conventions can vary—match the month your buyer uses.

Reports

Thu5 Export Sales Tomorrow · 8:30 am ET
Mon9 Crop Progress Mon, Nov 9 · 4:00 pm ET
Tue10 Crop Production Tue, Nov 10 · 12:00 pm ET
Tue10 WASDE Tue, Nov 10 · 12:00 pm ET
DISCLAIMER: The grain price information provided on Farmbucks.com is for informational purposes only and is subject to change at any time. Prices are sourced from participating grain companies, verified farmer reports and our trusted partners such as Barchart and DTN. While we work to ensure accuracy, discrepancies may occur between the prices listed on this website and those provided by grain buyers. Users are responsible for contacting the purchaser directly to confirm current prices and selling instructions. Farmbucks does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the prices displayed and assumes no liability for decisions made based on this information.

Futures Market Data: Futures price data on Farmbucks is provided by DTN, CME Group, and ICE. This data is for informational purposes only and may be subject to delays or inaccuracies. Please consult official exchange sources or your broker for trading decisions.

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