Placements were up in every weight category compared to year-ago.
Feedlots placed significantly more cattle on feed than expected last month.
USDA's Cattle on Feed and Cattle Inventory Reports reflected building supplies.
Report signals beef demand was greater than expected during 'Beef Month.'
Cattle futures softened as all categories came in higher than expected.
Our MarketWatch table features monthly and quarterly price outlooks, along with weekly prices for a wide range of ag markets.
Corn ended the day near its lows, while cattle closed high-range.
Forecast calls for above-normal temps west of the Rockies, with cooler-than-normal temps from the Gulf region to the southern edge of the Midwest.
Purdue University ag economist Chris Hurt says we have exited the 'Grain Era' and are ushered into a multi-year 'Livestock Era.'
Range of guesses wide for Placements, but all expect the figure above year-ago levels.
But says profitability from the producer side is rebuilding industry.
Last day for production is early April, 2014.
Report expected to show all cattle and calves at 98.6% of year-ago.
Report expected to show On Feed and Placements below year-ago.
Cattle industry has since seen a long recovery.
USDA says safeguards in place to guard against FMD.
Key will be if futures find followthrough next week.
Says consumers desire labeling and believe the product is safe.
Report showed On Feed at 92% of year-ago.
Beef exports were bolsters by a resurgence of shipments to Taiwan.
Audio cattle commentary from Julianne Johnston.
The report showed ON Feed and Placements below expectations.
Merck says benefits and safety of Zilmax are "well documented."
Further assistance made through grazing or haying CRP.
The drought areas of Iowa increased by eight percentage points from last week.
Report expected to show all categories below year-ago levels.
But a large drought footprint will remain in place across the western states.
As a result, beef supplies will be reduced for several years.
Still reflects more than half of continuous U.S. covered by drought.
Forecast raises concerns about planting delays.
While drought improved in many areas, the Southern Plains saw slight expansion.
Traders look for On Feed to come in below year-ago levels.
Seasonal Drought Outlook calls for some drought improvement across areas of the Plains.
Texas moves backwards, with 12.88% of the state covered by exceptional drought.
Normal precip expected across most of the Corn Belt.
Forecast calls for below-normal precip for bulk of Corn Belt.
Drought Monitor reflects 60.21% of the nation still covered by some form of drought.
Drier conditions expected in the western Corn Belt, while wet condition to continue in the eastern Belt.
Cooler-than-usual conditions to linger into month's end.
All categories seen below year-ago levels.
Seasonal Drought Outlook a broken record for Southern Plains.
But a majority of the country is still covered by some form of drought.
Rains the next two months set the stage for grazing season.
Drought monitor notes that 34.96% of contiguous U.S. is drought-free -- little changed from last week.
Meteorologist Gail Martell provides her weather insight.
Cattle on Feed Report is expected to show On Feed at 93.5% of year-ago levels.
But western Corn Belt not included in forecast for above-normal precip.
Temps expected to be 10 to 15 degrees below normal over the near-term.
July Cattle Report is on the list...
But warns higher prices could impact purchases.