By Derrell Peel
Beef Producer
August is a tough time for fed cattle markets to move higher, but the market seems poised to break out from the constraints of the first half of the year as we move into the last part of the third quarter. Meanwhile, auction calf and stocker prices have moved counter-seasonally higher in July-August while feeder cattle markets, which typically increase through the summer have shown a strong seasonal price increase over the summer. Cull cow prices have pulled back from summer peak prices, moving into fall seasonal declines, but remain above year ago levels.