Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals per pair or head as indicated.

NATIONAL FEEDER AND STOCKER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

St. Joseph, Mo.

Feb. 22

This week Last week Last year

224,300 268,300 320,300

Compared to Feb. 15, feeder cattle and calves traded unevenly steady and mostly within a range of $3 lower to $3 higher. Receipts were much lighter, early in the week because of the lower price levels and late in the week due to the huge winter storm that covered the entire central portion of the United States. Some bottom-side support was found in auction markets through Wednesday, especially on 600-800 lb. long-weaned calves and light yearlings with a condition that would allow them to perform well on any type ration whether it be in a feedlot, growing yard, or on pasture. However, pressure still looms over the market with neither buyers nor sellers content and about the only market participant satisfied is someone who sold cattle over two weeks ago and forgot to lift their hedges. Lightweight stocker calf prices were very uneven depending on local moisture conditions and the cattle's readiness for the approaching storm, but markets were predominantly higher across the Delta regions of the Southeast. Heavier yearling feeders weighing over 800 lbs. found few friends with the continued erosion of the CME cattle futures and few options to achieve affordable weight gains on these types.

The late week winter storm ground marketing to a halt with snowfall measurements of up to a foot recorded from the Texas Panhandle all the way to Nebraska and Iowa with nearly all of the Five Area Feeding Region adversely affected. Many buyers pulled out of the market by mid-week and many large volume auction markets were canceled, including Pratt and Salina, Kan., and Valentine, Neb., on Feb. 21. A very light fed cattle trade was reported early in the week in the Southern Plains feedlot areas at $123 which was steady. Northern areas continued inactive until late Feb. 22 when dressed sales were reported $2 higher at $198 with the help of the snowstorm which frequently improves packer demand. The cattle-on-feed report restored our faith in the industry analysts with the Feb. 1 inventories notched at 93.8 percent of a year ago. January placements were slightly larger than expected at 101.6 percent, but this was mostly offset by marketings that also came in above forecasts at 105.6 percent of the same time in 2012. This week's reported auction volume included 54 percent over 600 lbs and 42 percent heifers.

AUCTIONS

This week Last week Last year

167,300 219,000 259,300

WASHINGTON 1,200. 46 pct over 600 lbs. 37 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 450-500 lbs. $168.65; 600-650 lbs. $140.21. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 Pkg 470 lbs. $147.

DIRECT

This week Last week Last year

54,200 12,900 54,500

SOUTHWEST (Arizona-California-Nevada) 1,100. No cattle over 600 lbs. No heifers. Holsteins: Large 3 June 275 lbs. $165 del.

NORTHWEST (Washington-Oregon-Idaho) 1,700. 65 pct over 600 lbs. 18 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB 800-850 lbs. $132-134 early Washington; 900 lbs. $136.50 value added Idaho. Holsteins: Large 2-3 Current FOB 300-350 lbs. $112-115 Washington. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB 750-800 lbs. $128-131.50 Washington-Idaho.

NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE

(USDA Market News)

Moses Lake, Wash.

Feb. 22

This week Last week Last year

1,700 1,300 3,000

Compared to Feb. 15, feeder cattle $5-6 lower in a light test. Not enough stocker cattle reported this week for accurate trends. Trade near standstill with most of the trade happening early in the week. Demand light as most feedlots remain full while more heavy cattle keep showing up for sale. The feeder supply included 82 percent steers and 18 percent heifers. Near 65 percent of the supply weighed over 600 lbs. Prices are FOB weighing point with a 1-4 percent shrink or equivalent and with a 5-10 cent slide on calves and a 3-6 cent slide on yearlings.

Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 800-850 lbs. $132-134 early Washington; 900 lbs. $136.50 value added Idaho.

Holstein Steers: Large 2-3: Current FOB Price: 300-350 lbs. $112-115 Washington.

Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 750-800 lbs. $128-131.50 Washington-Idaho.

NATIONAL SLAUGHTER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

Oklahoma City-Des Moines

Feb. 22

Compared to Feb. 15: Slaughter cattle sold steady on a live basis. Dressed sales in Nebraska traded steady. Packer demand light. Boxed beef prices Feb. 22 averaged $181.63 up $.46 from Feb. 15. The Choice/Select spread is at $2.21. Slaughter cattle on a national basis for negotiated cash trades through Friday noon totaled about 20,000 head. The previous week's total head count was 64,398.

Midwest Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers 35-80 Percent Choice, 1200-1400 lbs. $123 Dressed Basis: Steers and Heifers: $196.

South Plains Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers 35-65 percent Choice, 1100-1400 lbs: $123.

Slaughter Cows and Bulls (Average Yielding Prices): Slaughter cows steady to $2 higher. Slaughter Bulls 1 to 3 higher.

USDA's Cutter cow carcass cut-out value Feb. 22 was $166.88 down $.38 from Feb. 15.