Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 6-26-2026

Cattle futures swung in two opposite directions in just 48 hours — and New World Screwworm detections are actively climbing across the southern tier. Both stories carry serious implications for cattle producers heading into the second half of 2026. This week's episode breaks down what's driving the volatility and what producers need to do right now. Brock and Jim open with a detailed market snapshot showing feeder steer prices have softened $14–$17 per hundredweight over the past month, with a notable basis gap between cash markets and front-month futures sitting near $360. Predictive model forecasts suggest a brief short-term lift before a pullback at the four-week mark — making timing decisions on cattle sales critical right now. From there, the conversation turns to the forces behind this week's futures whiplash: tight Cattle on Feed numbers providing supply-side support, offset by growing investor concern over consumer affordability. That demand concern connects directly to new data showing 4.7 million Americans have lost food stamp benefits, with food pantry demand hitting record levels — a meaningful headwind for beef demand at already-elevated price levels. The episode closes with an urgent biosecurity alert on New World Screwworm, where four new confirmed detections were reported in a single cycle. Jim shares a firsthand account from a 1993 flare-up as a reminder that this pest exploits any lapse in vigilance.