The Cattle Market Guys Podcast

Cattle Market Guys by Herd Advisor
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Brock and Jim break down the week’s cattle market news, trends, and forecasts with a mix of data-driven insight and 40 years of ranching wisdom. Published three times a week by Herd Advisor, each episode blends hard numbers and real-world experience to help cow-calf producers make smarter, more profitable marketing decisions.

  1. 4d ago

    Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 7-31-2026

    Cattle futures just snapped a brutal 15-day losing streak, feeder cattle prices are sliding fast on lighter weights, and the US-Mexico border is finally set to reopen for cattle trade after screwworm shutdowns. This week's Cattle Market Guys breaks down whether the worst is over—or just beginning. Brock and Jim dive into a volatile week for the cattle market, starting with feeder cattle cash prices that dropped sharply across multiple weight classes, though prediction models point to a rebound in the coming weeks. They unpack USDA's phased reopening of the Douglas, Arizona and Santa Teresa ports of entry, backed by a $25 million investment in sterile fly dispersal to combat screwworm, with Jim drawing on his firsthand experience from the 1987 border shutdown to explain what producers can expect this time around. The conversation then turns to the wild swings in live cattle and feeder cattle futures, including a four-month low followed by a sharp short-covering rally, with Jim recalling a similar trainwreck-turned-recovery from 1996. Finally, Brock and Jim break down a stack of fresh USDA reports—Cattle Inventory, Cattle on Feed, Red Meat Production, and Cold Storage—revealing a supply picture that's tighter than headline numbers suggest, with shrinking beef inventories and declining production even as cattle on feed ticks up. Whether you're marketing calves, watching the border, or trying to make sense of feedlot data, this episode delivers the numbers and the perspective to navigate a fast-moving cattle market.

  2. Jul 28

    Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 7-28-2026

    Cattle futures just hit a four-month low, feeder cattle prices are sliding on thin volume, and now USDA drops a bombshell: the US-Mexico border is reopening to cattle trade after more than a year of screwworm-driven shutdowns. Brock and Jim break down why this Tuesday's numbers matter more than most. On this episode of Cattle Market Guys, Brock and Jim dig into the latest feeder cattle price data, where 500-549 weight steers and 600-649 weight steers both softened week-over-week, while futures markets swung sharply before stabilizing ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. The pair then shift to the biggest story of the week—USDA's phased reopening of southern livestock ports starting with Douglas, Arizona on August 24th, plus a promising biological breakthrough in Panama using NovoFly genetic technology to fight New World Screwworm. Jim shares firsthand memories of the 1980 screwworm outbreak that shaped border policy for decades. The conversation also covers global beef trade, including a troubling 17.2% year-over-year drop in US beef exports, new market access wins with Chile, Ecuador's fresh trade deal with Canada, and the Meat Institute's cost analysis on mandatory country-of-origin labeling. Jim recalls the 2003 mad cow crisis and how long it took to rebuild lost export relationships. Finally, Brock and Jim unpack this week's cattle futures volatility, a four-month low in live cattle, and what the newest Cattle on Feed report signals for producers heading into August.

  3. Jul 24

    Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 7-24-2026

    Live cattle futures just suffered fifteen straight losing sessions in July, dragging prices to a four-month low before finally stabilizing—but is this a genuine fundamental breakdown or just the board working through paper losses? Brock and Jim break down why cash cattle weakness and summer demand seasonality sparked the slide, and why USDA's WASDE report still projects firm prices for the back half of 2026. This week's Cattle Market Guys covers the full feeder cattle snapshot, with lighter-weight steers sliding sharply while heavier weight classes show mixed signals amid heavy trading volume. Brock and Jim dig into shifting global trade flows, as U.S. beef exports fall over 17% year-over-year while imports climb nearly 10%, with Argentina capitalizing on booming shipments and Brazil facing new tariff exemptions alongside declining export volumes tied to Chinese quota limits. The episode also examines deteriorating corn and pasture conditions across the Plains, even as overall drought coverage improves, raising questions about stocker cattle economics and potential fall culling decisions. Throughout the episode, Jim draws on decades of market experience, sharing stories from 1993's futures slump, the 1999 trade imbalance debate, and the devastating 1988 drought, offering historical context for today's volatile conditions. Brock and Jim close with practical takeaways for producers navigating a turbulent market: watch your basis, don't panic on board weakness alone, and keep an eye on how tightening pasture conditions could reshape calf supplies heading into next year.

  4. Jul 17

    Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 7-17-2026

    Cattle futures just hit their lowest close since March, and it's not from one bad day — it's three straight sessions of chart-driven selling stacked on weak cash trade and sagging wholesale beef prices. Brock and Jim break down why the board lost roughly eight dollars in under a month, and why hog futures climbing at the same time proves this is a cattle-specific correction, not a broad protein demand collapse. This week's Cattle Market Guys episode opens with a full data snapshot: five-hundred to five-forty-nine weight steers show a clear three-week price slide, while six-hundred to six-forty-nine weight cattle have actually gained ground over the past month despite recent softness. Brock and Jim dig into the forecasts for both weight classes, then pivot into a deep dive on the futures decline, referencing reporting from The Cattle Site and Beef Magazine's "Recency Bias and Things That Never Happen" piece on cowherd expansion. Jim shares a real-world comparison to the 1993 summer market pullback, offering perspective on why producers shouldn't panic on chart-driven weakness — but shouldn't ignore it either. The episode closes with a look at regulatory and land-use pressures facing ranchers, including a New Zealand study linking farm nitrate pollution to premature births even below legal limits, the FAO's involvement in Canada's International Year of Rangelands tour, and a third, more sobering land-use story. It's a wide-ranging Friday wrap covering cash cattle prices, futures trends, cattle market analysis, and the policy conversations shaping the beef industry heading into next week.

  5. Jul 14

    Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 7-14-2026

    Cash cattle prices tumbled seven dollars this week, but feeder and stocker marketings ran nearly 40% below the three-year average—creating the kind of thin, choppy market that can swing hard in either direction. Add in a stunning USDA export data error that slashed beef sales figures by 90%, and producers have a lot to untangle this week. Brock and Jim break down the latest cash and futures data, noting a split market where lighter steers are sliding while heavier weights creep up. They dig into why marketings are running so far below normal, with Jim drawing parallels to the 1996 drought-driven liquidation in West Texas and sharing a firsthand story about how timing flexibility made a real difference in per-head pricing. The conversation also covers the July WASDE report's surprisingly bullish Q3 revision despite short-term cash weakness. On the trade front, they unpack USDA's dramatic export data correction involving Chile and Italy, rising beef imports, and what this means for trust in federal reporting. A look at South Africa's shifting FMD vaccine policy highlights how global disease management ties into U.S. export competitiveness. Finally, Brock and Jim cover USDA's expanded metals testing requirements taking effect July 20th and the $80 million in federal support aimed at helping small processors manage rising compliance costs.

  6. Jul 10

    Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 7-10-2026

    Cattle inventories just hit their lowest levels since the 1950s, yet Walmart slashed ground beef prices 12% after political pressure — and cattle futures have now fallen for seven straight sessions. Brock and Jim break down how tight supply, soft retail pricing, and volatile feed costs are colliding to create a confusing market picture for producers heading into summer. In this Friday wrap for the week of July 10th, Brock and Jim dig into feeder cattle price data across weight classes, noting strength in the 600-649 category alongside softening in lighter 500-549 weight steers. They unpack the disconnect between Walmart's politically-driven price cut and actual farm-gate values, referencing reporting from the Cattle Site, Beef Magazine, and CoBank showing beef demand staying firm despite broader food inflation. Jim draws on his 1996 experience with feedyard margins during a corn price spike to explain why today's combination of falling cattle futures and rising feed grain costs demands caution on placements. The episode closes with a look at global trade dynamics, including rising US beef export value despite lower volume, improving access in Taiwan and Korea, and Brazil's record beef export growth capturing Chinese demand. Jim recalls the 2003 BSE case and its impact on export markets as a warning against assuming trade access stays constant. Domestic processing expansion news rounds out a discussion on quality, competition, and long-term market resilience in the cattle industry.

  7. Jul 7

    Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 7-7-2026

    Packer losses have deepened to a staggering $295 per head as corn futures surge and boxed beef values soften — and that squeeze from both directions is putting hedging strategy front and center for cattle producers right now. Meanwhile, Brazil just raised its full-year trade surplus forecast to $90 billion, fueled by record beef exports that are eating into US market share. In this Tuesday market update, Brock and Jim break down the latest feeder cattle cash prices, including five to six weight steers holding steady near $457 per hundredweight and six-weight steers easing to $415.87. They dig into live cattle futures volatility tied to rising corn costs and softening cash trade, with Jim drawing on his 1996 experience with margin calls and over-hedged positions to explain why liquidity matters as much as price protection. The conversation then shifts to global beef trade, covering Brazil's record export surge, tightening antimicrobial inspection rules ahead of an EU deadline, and a political push to suspend proposed US tariffs tied to Brazil's October election. Domestic policy developments, including new tariff-rate quota legislation for imported beef, cattle, and lamb, round out the trade discussion. Finally, Brock and Jim examine the tightening US cattle supply picture, with total beef production projected down 4.5 to 5 percent year-over-year and cold storage reserves shrinking. Drawing parallels to the mid-1990s herd liquidation era, they explain why today's tight supply numbers may not fully hit cash prices for months, and why producers should be watching futures, trade, and production trends together rather than in isolation.

  8. Jul 3

    Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 7-3-2026

    The Trump administration just dropped a bombshell: USMCA will not be extended, triggering a 10-year wind-down clock that has farm groups sounding alarms across the agricultural sector. With feeder cattle prices hitting historic highs and the cattle herd now the tightest since the 1950s, this week's Cattle Market Guys breaks down why the market is bracing for impact before the data even arrives. Brock and Jim open with a deep look at current feeder steer pricing, showing steady climbs across weight classes and a sharp jump in futures contracts over just five weeks. They then dive into the USMCA wind-down announcement, examining the fractured US-Mexico-Canada dynamics and new tariff-rate quota legislation targeting live cattle, beef, and lamb imports. Jim draws a compelling parallel to the 1994 NAFTA rollout, reminding producers that fear-driven herd decisions often backfire before real trade data emerges. The second half tackles supply fundamentals, unpacking the June Cattle on Feed report showing feedlot inventories rising for a second straight month, even as total beef production is projected to fall 4.5-5% in 2026. Brock and Jim explain why more cattle in feedlots doesn't mean more beef supply, and how the tightest cattle herd since the 1950s is squeezing everyone from jerky producers to retail meat counters. It's a data-driven, historically grounded conversation about navigating uncertainty without panic—essential listening for cattle producers watching both trade policy and herd economics collide this summer.

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About

Brock and Jim break down the week’s cattle market news, trends, and forecasts with a mix of data-driven insight and 40 years of ranching wisdom. Published three times a week by Herd Advisor, each episode blends hard numbers and real-world experience to help cow-calf producers make smarter, more profitable marketing decisions.

Information

  • Creator
    Cattle Market Guys by Herd Advisor
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Cattle Market Guys Podcast

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