Cattle Chatter

Susan Littlefield
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

Join us every week as Farm and Ranch Media's Susan Littlefield takes a deep dive into the cattle markets with Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek Trading. Find more at https://www.kkvtrading.com.

  1. 1h ago

    Are Cattle Producers Losing Their Leverage? The Market Is Sending Mixed Signals

    Are we not killing enough cattle—and are producers starting to lose their leverage? On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down a cattle market full of moving pieces. Tyson plants are going offline, Ft. Morgan is coming back online, and boxed beef is showing some movement. Meanwhile, the charts have been a wreck, the cash market is trying to firm, and Kansas has now joined Colorado and Texas in going "confidential" on USDA cash cattle reporting, citing thin trading volume. So, with all these pieces moving at once, what would make Brad feel good about this cattle market? 👉 You'll have to watch all the way to the end to find out! 🐄📈

  2. Aug 13

    Heat, Dry Pastures and Cattle Supplies in Focus

    Compared with the past couple of weeks, cattle slaughter numbers have been lower, raising questions about how quickly the market can work through available supplies. On this week's Cattle Chatter, brought to you by Zoetis, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the latest slaughter numbers while looking at the impact of extreme heat, dry pastures and an uptick in video cattle sales. Was last week's cash cattle trade actually cattle purchased for deferred delivery? Open interest has also posted more down days, adding another layer of uncertainty to the market. As Labor Day approaches, the focus turns to beef demand and boxed beef movement. How does the market get the boxes turned, and what will it take to keep product moving as we look beyond the holiday and into the fall?

  3. Aug 6

    Cattle Market Volatility Continues as Border Reopening Nears 8/6/26

    Early cash trade in Kansas and Nebraska provided some initial strength to the cattle market, but the rally was short-lived as volatility continues to define the trade. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the ongoing volatility, including the lack of open interest and the challenges facing the market. He also discusses the uncertainty surrounding the Fort Morgan plant, dry pastures across parts of the West while other areas are finally receiving rain, and what those conditions could mean for cattle supplies. The scheduled reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border later this month is another factor traders are watching. But Kooima says producers shouldn't view the reopening as a quick fix. The flow of cattle coming across the border is expected to be more of a trickle than a flood, meaning the impact on overall U.S. cattle supplies will take time to develop.

  4. Jul 30

    Heat, Border News and Cash Trade Drive Cattle Markets | 7/30/26 Cattle Chatter

    News of the scheduled border reopening weighed heavily on the cattle market early in the week, contributing to Monday's sharp selloff. By midweek, however, much of that information had been absorbed by the market, allowing cattle futures to recover and post gains. The question now is whether softer cash prices will ultimately dictate the market's direction and pull futures lower. Direct cash cattle trade across the Plains remained quiet, with no established packer bids or feedlot asking prices early in the day. While buying interest is expected to increase as the week progresses, it remains uncertain whether meaningful trade will develop before Friday. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Joe Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the wave of market-moving data released late last week and discusses whether boxed beef values have begun to stabilize. He also examines whether retailers are starting to procure beef ahead of Labor Day demand and shares his long-term concerns about the lingering effects of last week's extreme heat on feedlot performance and cattle health.

  5. Jul 22

    Cattle Searching for Stability

    The cattle market remains under heavy pressure, with prices continuing to slide as traders contend with weaker cash trade, softer boxed beef values, and uncertainty over near-term consumer demand. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Joe Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek examines what has become a market in free fall. He explains the factors behind the sharp decline in both cash cattle and boxed beef, why the market is searching for stability, and what needs to happen to restore confidence. Kooima also discusses the importance of consumer beef demand during the peak of the summer grilling season and whether stronger retail movement can help provide support to a market that continues to face significant pressure despite historically tight cattle supplies.

  6. Jul 16

    Why Did Cash Cattle Collapse?

    Why did the cash cattle market collapse this week? Cash prices fell $24 from the previous week, leaving producers asking what changed in a market that continues to be supported by historically tight cattle supplies. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the factors behind the sharp decline and explains why the market came under such heavy pressure despite the bullish long-term fundamentals. Kooima discusses the ongoing challenges facing cattle producers, including deteriorating pasture conditions due to dry weather, temperatures climbing as high as 114 degrees in Montana, and continued recovery from wildfire damage in other regions. He also examines a slowdown in online video auction sales, another sign that buyers may be taking a more cautious approach. Despite the recent selloff, Kooima explains why the market continues to hold above its long-term trend line and what that could mean for the direction of cattle prices in the weeks ahead.

  7. Jul 9

    Nine Straight Down Days: What's Next for Cattle?

    For the past several weeks, we've been discussing the importance of preparing for the possibility of a lower cattle market. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down what is now the ninth consecutive day of lower August live cattle futures and what the recent price action could mean for producers. The cash cattle market and boxed beef values have both struggled, adding pressure to the futures market. Kooima also discusses Walmart's recent decision to roll back prices on select beef products and what that could signal about consumer demand and the broader beef market. The conversation also examines the USDA's announcement of up to $500 million in meat processing assistance and what those investments could mean for long-term packing capacity and competition within the industry. Finally, Kooima addresses one of the biggest questions facing the cattle business: Will the U.S. ever rebuild the national cattle herd to levels seen in previous years, or has the industry entered a new era of tighter supplies?

  8. Jul 2

    Kooima: Tight Supplies Don't Eliminate Market Risk

    The USDA has announced up to $500 million in assistance for meat processors, a move aimed at expanding packing capacity and strengthening the nation's meat supply chain. On this week's Cattle Chatter, we break down what the investment could mean for the cattle market, both in the near term and for the industry's long-term infrastructure. The cash cattle market started the week on softer footing, with Southern trade showing early signs of weakness. As the industry navigates historically tight cattle supplies, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says producers need to remain disciplined in their marketing decisions. While fundamentals remain supportive, he notes that slowing beef demand and narrowing packer margins raise important questions about how long current market dynamics can be sustained. Kooima also discusses the growing need for additional shackle space, with many in the industry suggesting reopening the border to cattle movements as one possible solution to processing capacity challenges. The conversation wraps up with answers to several viewer questions, including the ongoing review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the new beef trimming contracts set to begin July 20, the estimated number of beef-on-dairy calves entering feedyards, and whether the industry could eventually see a branded beef program—similar to Certified Angus Beef—specifically for beef-on-dairy cattle.

See All (69)

About

Join us every week as Farm and Ranch Media's Susan Littlefield takes a deep dive into the cattle markets with Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek Trading. Find more at https://www.kkvtrading.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Susan Littlefield
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Farm and Ranch Media
  • Show Website
    Cattle Chatter