On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the charts and shares what he’s telling customers right now.

He also looks at the jump in crude oil and what higher fuel costs could mean for transportation costs to and from the sale barn. Plus, Brad weighs in on how he’s interpreting the latest headlines—and what they could mean for cattle markets.

And we’re taking your questions, including heifer retention and current wholesale beef prices.

Meanwhile, USDA headlines continue to create plenty of questions. An announcement on beef labeling is expected by the end of the week, while reports suggest Congress is considering a government loan program to help producers with herd retention.

That follows earlier talk of a heifer retention program, leaving many producers with more questions than answers about what these programs could ultimately mean for the cattle industry.

Brad also takes a closer look at the wholesale beef market, comparing this past Tuesday’s prices with the same period last year. The difference is striking—nearly 25%.

📈 Cattle bounced. Feeders jumped. Policy headlines are building.

So, is the cattle market finally starting to turn the corner?

🎙️ Brad Kooima breaks it all down on this week’s Cattle Chatter.

On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down why it was so unusual to see Northern cattle trade ahead of the Southern market and what that could mean for cattle producers.

Brad also looks at plant closures, including Joslin, and how changes in processing capacity can work their way back into the cash cattle market. We also take a look at the border reopening this week, comparing cattle and futures prices from May 11, 2025, with where the market stands this week.

And with Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announcing that officials are looking at Nogales as another potential crossing point, the border story continues to be one cattle producers are watching closely. What does all of this mean for cash cattle and the leverage of the cattleman? Tune in to this week’s Cattle Chatter!

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! 🐄📈

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses why he remains bullish on the cattle market in the short term despite recent pressure in boxed beef values. He notes that while beef demand has remained resilient, U.S. agriculture has often found itself reacting to challenges rather than staying ahead of them.

Kooima also shares his thoughts on the future of beef industry infrastructure and what he's hearing from Mexican cattle and beef producers. According to Kooima, Mexico continues to invest in strengthening its own processing and production infrastructure, with a growing focus on becoming less dependent on the United States. Those investments could have long-term implications for North American beef trade and the competitive landscape of the industry.

The conversation examines how infrastructure, market access, and shifting global dynamics may shape the future of the cattle business for years to come.

Meanwhile, the cash cattle market continues to show signs that available inventory is being worked through, which could increase pressure on packers to step into the market and secure additional supplies.

Kooima also shares his perspective on border closures and the impact they could have on the movement of U.S. beef. Looking ahead, he believes the beef industry's infrastructure may never look the same as it has in the past, as producers, processors, and policymakers adapt to evolving challenges.

The conversation also highlights a fact that often surprises consumers: despite being one of the world's largest beef producers, the United States is also the world's largest importer of beef, underscoring the complexity and global nature of today's beef supply chain.

On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses one of the fastest market selloffs and recoveries in recent memory, noting that much of the fear surrounding a screwworm confirmation had already been priced into the market. He also examines what an export containment and quarantine strategy could look like for Texas moving forward.

From a consumer standpoint, the reaction has been far different than past livestock-related events such as swine flu or the "pink slime" controversy. Kooima believes today's consumers have greater access to information and fact-checking through the internet, helping reduce some of the uncertainty and fear that accompanied previous industry challenges.

Supporting the market was another strong week in the cash cattle trade, which provided the momentum needed to push futures higher and helped offset concerns surrounding the screwworm news.

Those in the cattle industry have been aware for the past four weeks that the Cargill beef processing facility in Fort Morgan, Colorado, has been dark. However, news of a labor lockout grabbed the attention of trading algorithms this week, adding pressure to cattle futures despite the situation being well known within the industry.

On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses the impact of the plant shutdown, the continued strength in the cash cattle market, and even the outside pressure created by President Trump's social media comments about addressing the nation's beef shortage.

Attention now turns to Friday afternoon's USDA Cattle on Feed report. There is a growing sense among traders that the report could set the tone for market direction when trading resumes Tuesday following the three-day holiday weekend.

Brad also answers a viewer question regarding the increase in the percentage of cattle grading as "4s" and whether that could be a sign the industry has fallen behind on marketings and, in turn, surrendered some of its leverage in the marketplace.

Markets are also keeping a close eye on trade developments with China, including questions surrounding why nearly 400 packing licenses were approved and then later pulled back. At the same time, worsening drought conditions are prompting more cattle to move to market, though producers appear committed to holding onto their cow herds—signaling continued confidence in long-term fundamentals.

On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek takes a closer look at Thursday's meeting between the two presidents and discusses how the cash cattle trade is continuing where last week left off, with packers still considered short bought. The conversation also turns to beef demand and where consumer interest could head as the industry moves into the summer grilling season.

Despite concerns about large speculative long positions, the overall tone of the market remains strong—highlighting what continues to be an impressive bull run in the cattle complex.

For now, cattle weights aren't raising major concerns, while attention is starting to turn toward seasonal demand. With one of the biggest grilling occasions of the year—Mother's Day on May 10—just around the corner, there's optimism that boxed beef values could see improvement in the weeks ahead.

In addition, the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service has launched a new National Feeder and Stocker Cattle dashboard, offering producers more timely and detailed market data. Kooima explains what this tool could mean for cattle producers moving forward. Meanwhile, comments from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on March 28th hinted at a potential border reopening announcement in the coming weeks—another factor the market will be watching closely.

On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down how those algorithms contributed to a choppy, exaggerated open and why futures can overshoot in moments like this before settling back into a more rational range. Broadcasting from the floor of #CattleCon26, we also took questions straight from cattle producers and industry partners about the issues weighing on their minds. Drought concerns heading into spring remain top of mind for cow/calf operators trying to plan grazing and manage input risk, while beef-on-dairy continues to be a hot topic as producers debate whether it represents a long-term structural shift in supply. And of course, there was no shortage of discussion around last week's $240 cash trade, with many asking whether that level signals a new baseline or a seasonal spike. This special edition of Cattle Chatter from the trade show floor at CattleCon26 is brought to you by Corteva.

Tyson's announcement continues to cast a heavy shadow over cattle country. After a stunning $15 drop in the north and $9 in the south, Wednesday's trade finally showed a little cash firmness — but the market mood remains shaken.

On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down how the plant closure is set to weigh on the trade in the weeks ahead. Cattle weights remain elevated, though the incoming Arctic blast may finally trim some pounds. Brad also dives into the formula trade, what this shutdown means for leverage, and why history may be repeating itself — echoing the plant closure challenges we saw back in 2015.

Looking toward December, the market stays tense, emotional, and very much on edge.

Was Monday's limit-up cattle trade a fluke? The market right now could best be described as fragile. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the leverage lost in the trade, the tough go for feeders, and how markets continue to chase headlines. Cash cattle? Brad says it's like catching a falling piano.

He also takes a look at how current the South is, whether calves will start heading to feedlots soon, and why getting past Thanksgiving may be the key for this market to stabilize.

On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima, Kooima, Varilek breaks down the liquidation pressure on short positions, interesting movement in the back months, and why leverage remains firmly on the producer's side. Is the long-awaited rally finally here? Could this be the start of a Labor Day push?

The Mexican border is set to reopen next week, raising key questions for the U.S. cattle market: Will we see an influx of slaughter-ready cattle? And what does that mean for trade dynamics going forward? On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the July and August cattle supply outlook and takes a closer look at current cattle weights—comparing Iowa's numbers to those in Kansas.

This weeks Cattle Chatter with Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the whys we have seen this week.