Records were smashed for a second consecutive year at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Jr. Sale of Champions. Since the 2020 auction, the Jr. Sale of Champions revenues have increased by more than 35%.

Counsel for the Arizona rancher held in the shooting death of a Mexican migrant claims self-defense, asks the court to reduce or eliminate bond.

Tighter inventories of market-ready cattle are leaving packers little alternative to placing higher bids. Last week’s 5-area average price was the highest in nearly eight years.

Feedlots inventories should continue to tighten, and cattle slaughter should decline in the coming weeks, although continued drought conditions may slow the rate of decrease if more animals are liquidated.

With extremely tight cattle numbers, how quickly can producers expand their herds - if at all. Drought and slim margins mean expansion will be a rather slow-go with many ranchers taking a wait and see approach.

A cattle rally is under way and attempts by packers to ignore it are having little effect. Cash cattle prices ticked up as front-end supplies continue to tighten.