Box beef prices fell sharply after the Fourth of July, while fed and feeder cattle also eased, extending a midsummer pullback across cattle markets.
OSU livestock specialist Derrell Peel said unusually hot weather has temporarily stifled beef demand, but tightening cattle inventories and constrained beef production still support the broader uptrend.
Rain has eased drought in Oklahoma and elsewhere, yet forage ratings remain slow to recover after a dry start, and hay output may still finish slightly below normal.
Prices remain above year-ago levels, and Peel expects markets to regain momentum in the second half of 2026 if demand holds, with producers advised to stick to long-term herd and marketing plans.