The Ranch Closing Markets — Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026
Grain futures finished sharply higher Wednesday, led by a limit-up move in Chicago wheat. Livestock ended mixed, with live cattle slightly lower, feeder cattle higher and lean hogs rebounding.
Corn: December 2026 corn settled at $5.36 1/2, up 13 cents. Corn pushed to a new contract high as technical buying continued and traders added risk premium to the grain complex.
Soybeans: November 2026 soybeans settled at $12.66, up 28 1/4 cents. Strong technical buying, firm meal and renewed export optimism helped drive beans to a contract high.
Chicago Wheat: December 2026 soft red winter wheat settled at $7.48 1/4, up the daily limit of 45 cents. Wheat surged as Black Sea tensions escalated and traders added geopolitical risk back into prices.
Kansas City HRW Wheat: December 2026 hard red winter wheat settled at $8.08 3/4, up 38 cents. Hard red winter wheat followed the broader wheat rally and also reached a new contract high.
Live Cattle: October 2026 live cattle settled at $210.78, down about 18 cents. Futures remained under pressure from weak technical action and continued uncertainty tied to beef imports and southern border cattle flows.
Feeder Cattle: November 2026 feeder cattle settled at $307.50, up $1.80. Feeders recovered from early weakness and finished stronger despite continued volatility across the cattle complex.
Lean Hogs: October 2026 lean hogs settled at $80.90, up 45 cents. Hogs bounced after recent weakness, though the broader technical trend remains under pressure.
Market data reflects Wednesday’s settled futures and is subject to exchange revisions.