BarnX Daily
BarnX Daily
Feed, livestock and market intelligence for operational decisions.
Edition date
August 17, 2026
Coverage window
August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. to August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT (America/Vancouver)
Last verified
August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT (America/Vancouver)
Today in one minute
- 01
U.S. processor-feed markets ended the week unevenly: reported DDGS values spanned a wide regional range, Min-Dak canola meal strengthened, and some wheat-middlings markets rose.
- 02
U.S. nonfat dry milk posted the largest weekly move among the main dairy cash products, while USDA’s 2026 all-milk price projection was trimmed to US$19.85/cwt.
- 03
U.S. cattle slaughter remained materially below 2025 year-to-date, while young-chicken slaughter was above last year, pointing to different feed-demand signals by species.
- 04
Rain was forecast across the central and northern High Plains and much of the northern and central Great Plains, but lighter precipitation remained likely in the central and southern Plains and most Pacific Coast states.
- 05
The Canadian dollar strengthened on Friday, reducing the one-day CAD cost of U.S.-dollar purchases before supplier spreads, freight and hedging.
Editor’s view
This is a market in which averages conceal the operational decision. Feedstuff prices are separating by region and product, dairy values are sending mixed component signals, and livestock throughput differs sharply by species. Weather may relieve some crop areas without resolving southern or western dryness. Buyers should compare delivered alternatives by nutrient value and location, not assume the post-WASDE grain rally moved every ingredient equally.
Lead development
Processor feedstuff values diverge by ingredient and region
Geography: United States, with cross-border relevance for Canadian and Mexican buyers
- What changed
- USDA’s weekly processor-feedstuff reporting for August 10–14 showed a wide range in corn DDGS values across producing regions, while Min-Dak canola meal was reported at US$345 per short ton and some wheat-middlings markets rose by as much as US$20 per ton. California San Joaquin Valley cottonseed hulls held at US$475 per ton, above the cited year-earlier average.
- Why it matters
- Co-products did not move as a single complex despite stronger grain futures at the Friday close.
- Who may be affected
- Feed mills, nutritionists, ethanol and oilseed processors, dairy and beef operations, and ingredient brokers.
- What to watch next
- Regional basis, rail and truck availability, ethanol operating rates, crush margins and whether Friday’s grain rally carries into physical feed bids.
- Evidence note
- USDA’s primary report describes voluntary bids and trades; selected values were corroborated by a secondary summary of the August 14 release and may not represent every location.
Other developments
Nonfat dry milk strengthens as USDA trims its 2026 all-milk price outlook
Geography: United States, with North American dairy-market relevance
- What changed
- USDA Dairy Market News reported a weekly CME Grade A nonfat dry milk average of US$1.6570/lb, up 8.95 cents, while the 40-pound block cheese average rose 5.90 cents to US$1.6050/lb and butter averaged US$1.4755/lb, down 2.75 cents. The August outlook placed the 2026 all-milk price at US$19.85/cwt, down from US$20.00 in July, while Class III was raised to US$16.25/cwt and Class IV lowered to US$18.15/cwt.
- Why it matters
- The split between powder, cheese and butter changes processor value and the relationship between milk classes.
- Who may be affected
- Dairy producers, processors, nutritionists, risk managers and ingredient buyers.
- What to watch next
- August 20 Milk Production, spot milk availability, component prices and whether NDM strength persists.
- Evidence note
- Confirmed by USDA AMS official weekly market reporting and USDA’s August supply-and-demand estimates; cash data are delayed observations, not live quotations.
Cattle slaughter remains below 2025 while chicken throughput stays higher
Geography: United States
- What changed
- USDA estimated 2026 year-to-date cattle slaughter through August 14 at 16.783 million head, 8.1% below the same point in 2025. Hog slaughter was 77.472 million head, down 0.6%, while young-chicken slaughter reached 5.960 billion head, up 1.3%. Week-to-date cattle slaughter was 416,000 head versus 450,200 a year earlier.
- Why it matters
- Processing throughput provides a delayed but useful signal on animal numbers, marketings and feed-demand intensity.
- Who may be affected
- Feed manufacturers, livestock producers, processors, commodity buyers and production planners.
- What to watch next
- Cattle on Feed placements and marketings, poultry placements, hog weights and plant operating schedules.
- Evidence note
- Confirmed by USDA AMS official daily estimates; year-to-date comparisons are not a direct measure of current feed consumption.
Rain targets northern crop regions while southern and western dryness persists
Geography: United States High Plains, Great Plains, Great Lakes and Pacific Coast
- What changed
- The U.S. Drought Monitor outlook called for more than one inch of rain in parts of the central and northern High Plains, northern Rockies and much of the northern and central Great Plains during August 13–17. Lighter precipitation was expected in the central and southern Plains, most Pacific Coast states, northern Minnesota and parts of the lower Mississippi Valley.
- Why it matters
- Rain can stabilize late grain fill, pasture condition and fire risk in receiving areas, but uneven coverage preserves regional yield and forage uncertainty.
- Who may be affected
- Grain and forage growers, feed mills, cattle operations, insurers and transport planners.
- What to watch next
- Observed rainfall, heat after the front, crop-condition changes and drought-class revisions.
- Evidence note
- Official, science-based forecast and drought assessment; precipitation amounts and locations remain uncertain until observed.
- Sources
Canadian dollar strengthens into the weekend
Geography: Canada–United States
- What changed
- The Bank of Canada’s indicative daily average moved from C$1.3938 per US$1 on August 13 to C$1.3875 on August 14, a 0.45% strengthening of the Canadian dollar. The rate is an average reference, not a transaction quote.
- Why it matters
- A stronger Canadian dollar modestly reduces the CAD equivalent of U.S.-dollar feed ingredients, additives and equipment.
- Who may be affected
- Canadian mills, importers, purchasers and livestock producers buying U.S.-priced inputs.
- What to watch next
- Monday’s currency move, supplier spreads and whether grain-price gains offset the FX benefit.
- Evidence note
- Confirmed by official Bank of Canada indicative daily averages.
- Sources
Market and ingredient watch
Livestock and biosecurity watch
No distinct new North American livestock outbreak, movement restriction or biosecurity order meeting the publication threshold was verified during the weekend coverage window. The slaughter data show divergent production signals by species but do not constitute a disease event.
Mill, safety, and logistics watch
Next to watch
August 17, 4:00 p.m. ET
USDA Crop Progress
Condition and maturity readings will show whether weekend rain changed crop risk. [8]
August 18
AAFC National Agroclimate Risk Report
The update will clarify Canadian drought, excess-moisture and wildfire risks affecting crops and forage. [9]
August 19, 10:30 a.m. ET
EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report
Ethanol production and stocks will update corn-grind and DDGS direction. [10]
August 20, 8:30 a.m. ET
USDA Weekly Export Sales
New commitments will test export demand after the August supply reset. [11]
August 20, 3:00 p.m. ET
USDA Cattle on Feed and Milk Production
Placements, marketings, cow numbers and milk per cow will refine feed-demand expectations. [8]
Source ledger
- 1
National Grain and Oilseed Processor Feedstuff Report
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/viewReport/3511- Published:
- August 14, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 2
USDA Feedstuff Market Data: August 14, 2026
IndexBox
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/usda-feedstuff-market-data-august-14-2026/- Published:
- August 14, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Credible secondary reporting
- 3
Dairy Market News Weekly Report
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/dywweeklyreport.pdf- Published:
- August 14, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 4
Daily Livestock and Poultry Slaughter
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_3208.pdf- Published:
- August 14, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 5
Current Map
U.S. Drought Monitor, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/- Published:
- Outlook for August 13–17, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 6
Daily Digest
Bank of Canada
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/daily-digest/- Published:
- August 14, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 7
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: August 14, 2026
Brownfield Ag News
https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/market-news/closing-grain-and-livestock-futures-august-14-2026/- Published:
- August 14, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Credible secondary reporting
- 8
Publications — Report by Date
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Calendar/reports_by_date.php- Published:
- Dynamic August 2026 calendar
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 9
National Agroclimate Risk Report
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/weather/national-agroclimate-risk-report- Published:
- July 27, 2026; next update August 18, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 10
Weekly Petroleum Status Report
U.S. Energy Information Administration
https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/supply/weekly/- Published:
- August 12, 2026; next release August 19, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 11
Weekly Export Sales
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/weekly-export-sales- Published:
- Dynamic weekly release page
- Accessed:
- August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data