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

LEV26 Oct 2026 225.48 ¢/lb +1.58 +0.70%
LEZ26 Dec 2026 226.68 ¢/lb +1.55 +0.69%
LEG27 Feb 2027 228.73 ¢/lb +1.30 +0.57%
LEJ27 Apr 2027 229.78 ¢/lb +1.03 +0.45%
LEM27 Jun 2027 224.38 ¢/lb +0.90 +0.40%
LEQ27 Aug 2027 221.08 ¢/lb +0.98 +0.44%
LEV27 Oct 2027 219.48 ¢/lb +0.90 +0.41%
LEZ27 Dec 2027 219.43 ¢/lb +0.48 +0.22%
LEG28 Feb 2028 219.55 ¢/lb +0.55 +0.25%
LEJ28 Apr 2028 219.08 ¢/lb -0.30 -0.14%

Feeder Cattle

GFX26 Nov 2026 340.48 ¢/lb +2.03 +0.60%
GFF27 Jan 2027 336.10 ¢/lb +2.50 +0.75%
GFH27 Mar 2027 332.15 ¢/lb +2.75 +0.83%
GFJ27 Apr 2027 331.15 ¢/lb +2.70 +0.82%
GFK27 May 2027 329.33 ¢/lb +2.68 +0.82%
GFQ27 Aug 2027 330.60 ¢/lb +2.78 +0.85%
GFU27 Sep 2027 327.25 ¢/lb +1.90 +0.58%
GFV27 Oct 2027 324.25 ¢/lb +2.10 +0.65%

Lean Hogs

HEZ26 Dec 2026 66.10 ¢/lb +0.03 +0.04%
HEG27 Feb 2027 67.88 ¢/lb +0.03 +0.04%
HEJ27 Apr 2027 72.88 ¢/lb -0.18 -0.24%
HEK27 May 2027 78.40 ¢/lb -0.30 -0.38%
HEM27 Jun 2027 87.30 ¢/lb -0.35 -0.40%
HEN27 Jul 2027 89.73 ¢/lb -0.38 -0.42%
HEQ27 Aug 2027 90.03 ¢/lb -0.48 -0.52%
HEV27 Oct 2027 78.15 ¢/lb -0.73 -0.92%
HEZ27 Dec 2027 72.18 ¢/lb -0.65 -0.89%
HEG28 Feb 2028 76.40 ¢/lb -0.05 -0.07%
HEJ28 Apr 2028 81.60 ¢/lb — 0.00%

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

Fri16 Export Sales Tomorrow · 8:30 am ET
Mon19 Crop Progress Mon, Oct 19 · 4:00 pm ET
Tue20 Outlook for Principal Field Crops Around Tue, Oct 20 · AAFC
Thu22 Export Sales Thu, Oct 22 · 8:30 am 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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