
Episode #78
Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 9-29-2026
Feeder steer prices are surging on heavy volume, with 500-549 lb steers at $401.79/cwt, up $21.89 from a month ago. Meanwhile, negotiated cash trade has shrunk to just 17.8% of cattle purchases, and feeder supplies are tightening into 2027. In this Tuesday Market Update for September 29, Brock and Jim break down the latest cattle prices and model forecasts, which show a small pullback next week before a push higher. Six hundred to 649 lb steers are at $362.11, and the heavy trading volume adds weight to the rally. The deep dives cover futures volatility as tight U.S. inventories collide with packer processing disruptions, and why the shrinking negotiated cash market matters for price discovery and producer bargaining power. They also review the September Cattle on Feed report, where feedlot inventory rose 0.7% to 11.16 million head even as placements and marketings declined, and August marketings hit a series low. Finally, they examine the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, border crossing reopening, which handles 43% of Mexican cattle imports, and the New World screwworm risk after a detection in Grant County, New Mexico. Jim shares stories from 1999 and 2003 on how market structure and border decisions move prices. Producers get practical takeaways on pricing mechanisms, replacement costs, and risk management.

