Episodes
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11/12/26 Cattle Chatter: Are Feeder Cattle Breaking Away From Live Cattle?
Are feeder cattle beginning to divorce themselves from the live cattle market? And what does that mean for hedgers as they evaluate current basis opportunities? On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the disconnect between feeder and live cattle futures,...
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11/5/26 Cattle Chatter: Heavy Weights, Falling Offers and the Search for a Market Bottom
The need to move cattle in the northern market remains a key factor, with weights running heavy and offers continuing to decline. This week on Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses the fundamentals influencing cattle movement and the leverage building in the market. As…
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10/29/26 Cattle Chatter: Cash Cattle Standoff
Cash cattle trade ended last week in a standoff, and that uncertainty has carried into this week’s market. On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses the latest developments, including increased cattle availability and what it means for packers and feedlots....
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10/22/26 Cattle Chatter: Tighter Supplies, Cash Market Hopes and a Look at What’s Next
Will the cash market wait until after Friday’s Cattle on Feed report, or will stronger prices show up this week? On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down tighter supplies, heavier cattle, heifer retention and stronger sale barn prices. He also answers…
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10/15/26 Cattle Chatter: Cattle Chatter: Cash Trade Outlook Hinges on Southern Supplies and Northern Weights
Southern cash cattle trade saw some early movement this week, but numbers remained light. On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses the potential for stronger cash movement as cattle supplies tighten in the South while heavier cattle remain in the North. Moving...
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10/8/26 Cattle Chatter: Is the Cattle Market Setting Up for a Sideways Chop?
Is the cattle market setting up for a period of sideways trade? On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek takes a closer look at the fundamentals and explains why he’s not particularly friendly toward the market right now. He discusses what happens when slaughter…
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10/1/26 Cattle Chatter: Cattle Market Caught Between Rally Hopes and Growing Red Flags
The cattle market is facing a daily conundrum as traders weigh the potential for another rally against growing concerns about the market's underlying fundamentals. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek looks at why the market continues to want to push higher, while…
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9/24/26 Cattle Chatter: Waiting on Cash as the Market Goes Blah
The cattle market has been all over the board this week, but as the week winds down, the trade has taken on a bit of a blah feel—much like the rainy Midwest weather. On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Joe Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the biggest questions facing the market: Where’s the...
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Cattle Can't Hold the Green: What's Moving the Market? 9-17-26
Cattle can’t hold the green, and the board continues to struggle to attract bids as the market receives mixed signals. Is money flow adding to the pressure? Are livestock fundamentals shifting? And how much weight should traders put on the latest headlines? The market already knew another…
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Cattle Charts Are Turning Heads Is the Market Finally Finding Its Footing | 9/10/26 Cattle Chatter
These are some of the best-looking cattle charts we’ve seen in a while. After some solid movement on Day 3 of the Goldman Sachs roll and last week’s Saturday cattle buying, there’s plenty to watch in the market. On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the...
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Cattle Rebound: Is a Bottom Taking Shape?
The cattle market staged a positive correction Thursday, posting a solid jump and strong close. On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the nearly $7 jump in feeder cattle and how an overbought corn market helped give cattle some support. Meanwhile, USDA...
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The North Blinked First What Does It Mean for Cattle Producers | 8/27/26 Cattle Chatter
Specialty buying, short covering and some bargain hunting are adding another layer to this week’s cattle trade. But the big surprise came in the cash market, as the North blinked first while the South continues to hold out. On this week’s Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek...
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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...
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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...
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Cattle Market Volatility Continues as Border Reopening Nears
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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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Kooima: Infrastructure Will Shape the Next Era of Beef
As the cattle industry awaits this month's Cattle on Feed report and looks for direction from the cash market, questions continue to swirl around supply, demand, and the long-term outlook for the beef business. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses why he...
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Border Concerns, Screwworm Fears, and Market Volatility | 6-11-26 Cattle Chatter
It's been a week filled with head-scratching price action and volatility in the cattle market. According to Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek, the market has become increasingly difficult to read on a day-to-day basis. Much of the uncertainty stems from ongoing rumors of plant closures…
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Screwworm Fears Fade as Cash Cattle Fuels Rally
The cattle market reacted swiftly to confirmation of New World screwworm in a three-week-old calf, but the initial selloff was short-lived. Futures traded lower for only a few minutes following the opening bell before reversing course, with feeder cattle eventually closing the session limit up.…
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From Macro to Market: Kooima Unpacks Key Drivers Behind This Week's Cattle Action
There was plenty of macro influence in last week's cattle trade. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek looks back at the major market movers and discusses how much of Friday's Cattle on Feed report had already been factored into the trade. The industry also saw...
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Plant Shutdown, Cash Strength, and COF Ahead of Holiday Trade
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Cash Cattle Push Into Uncharted Territory
The cattle market is entering uncharted territory, with cash trade surging $7 higher in the North and $3 to $5 higher in the South, with some northern sales reported as high as $265. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the latest price movement and...
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Brazil Beef Access and Summer Demand in Focus
The Brazilian beef industry is urging Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to push for expanded access to the U.S. market during talks with Donald Trump, arguing that the current quota system limits Brazil's lower-tariff access and raises duties to more than 26% once quotas are filled. On this week's Cattle...
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Cash Cattle Surge as Tight Supplies Fuel Bull Market
Strong Plains cash cattle trade is taking center stage this week, running $12 higher than last week, with May supplies expected to stay tight. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says heavier cattle continue to come to market, while the industry holds in a…
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Border Uncertainty and Cash Standoff Keep Cattle Trade on Edge
The market is still searching for clarity on border developments, especially after Brooke Rollins canceled her planned Friday visit to Arizona. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima at Kooima Kooima Varilek looks at how that uncertainty is adding to an already quiet tone in the cash market,...
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Top or Pause? Cattle Market Faces Key Questions
Has the cattle market found a top, or is this just a temporary pause in the rally? On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek compares current prices to a year ago, highlighting the stronger profitability producers are seeing today. The conversation also dives into…
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Bigger Cattle in Focus as Cash Strength Builds
This week is bringing stronger cash potential to the cattle market, but questions remain about the role of heavier cattle in today's trade. Are bigger cattle an asset—or a drawback? Concerns are surfacing about potential discounts, lost product, or even cattle being turned away due to size, along...
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Cattle Rally Continues as Market Sentiment Shifts 4/2/26 Cattle Chatter
The cattle market continues its upward momentum, posting a sixth straight day of gains. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses the shift in market personality, including why June cattle futures are trading at a premium to April. In the cash market, bids...
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Cattle Wait on Cash as Demand and Policy Take Center Stage | 3/26/26
The cattle market is still waiting on full cash trade, with futures reacting to ongoing outside market pressure and broader uncertainty. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Joe Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down how those outside factors are tying back into the cattle complex, while also...
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Cattle Market Faces Resistance as Trade Awaits Key Signals
The cattle market is running into some technical resistance in the trade, even as strong growing conditions over the past 12 months continue to show up in heavier cattle weights. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses the ongoing Greeley strike and its...
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Lower Cash Trade Surfaces Early | 3/12/26 Cattle Chatter
The boxed beef market took another jump as the week comes to a close. However, lower cash trade surfaced early, with sales reported at $235 and $236—about a $5 drop from the previous week. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek discusses why those early sales showed...
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Cash Trade Quiet as Industry Watches Leverage Battle
Limited cash movement is being seen as the week winds down. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek takes a closer look at who may ultimately win the leverage battle between packers and producers. Packer margins have started to improve, even as the market contends…
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Market Does as the Market Does
The cash cattle market is showing signs of deterioration, and some traders believe the complex may be technically overbought. From a chart perspective, markets are not in a favorable position, adding to the cautious tone. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek...
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Cash Still Wears the Crown | 2/19/26 Cattle Chatter
Cash is still king in the cattle market, with Northwest Iowa seeing trades at $250, reinforcing the strength of negotiated cash. Attention now turns to Friday, which brings two potential market movers: the latest Cattle on Feed report and another vote at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colorado. On…
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Cattle Trade Turns Choppy as Momentum Wavers
Choppy trade defined the cattle market this week, highlighted by a midweek boost on Wednesday before momentum faded again. As we begin to move into the seasonal strength period for boxed beef, attention is also turning to how that demand trend may influence cash and futures in the weeks ahead. On...
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Greeley JBS Plant Moves Market | 2/5/26 Cattle Chatter
Markets turned jittery Thursday after news broke that workers at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colorado, voted to strike, sending an early ripple through the cattle complex as traders worked to price in the risk of disruption at one of the nation's largest beef processors. When a major plant faces...
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Cash Market So Far MIA | 1/29/26 Cattle Chatter
Cash cattle are waiting for someone to make the first move, with the South especially quiet. Traders are asking how much of the recent weather and sale barn cancellations are being priced in. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the dynamic of higher...
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Cash Cattle Struggles to Ignite. 1/22/26
Cash Cattle Struggles to Ignite as the Market Pushes Toward Friday. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the softer feeder index, weather that may not yet be fully priced in as snow and colder temperatures arrive late this week, and what Friday's…
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Feedlot has the Leverage | 1/15/26 Cattle Chatter
Feedlots are holding out for cash this week, raising the question of whether Wednesday's trade was simply a bull-market correction. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek digs into the potential ramifications of the Tyson plant in Lexington, Nebraska closing next...
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Feeders Find Another Gear at the Sale Barns |1/8/26 Cattle Chatter
Feeder cattle continue to impress, with strong signals coming out of recent sale barn runs. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down what's driving the market — from the Choice-Select spread and shifting cash movement to how the newly released dietary...
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Calendar Turns, Cattle Don't: Heavy Markets Carry 2025 Themes Forward
As the calendar turns, the cattle market isn't hitting reset. Heavy cattle and familiar headlines are carrying 2025 themes straight into the new year. The big question now—can cash feeders hold into 2026? Heavyweights are expected to remain a factor, and on this week's Cattle Chatter, Scott…
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Outside Noise for Cattle | 12/24/25 Cattle Chatter
We're in full holiday mode across the markets, but there's still some outside noise grabbing the cattle trade's attention. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the lack of buying interest as the market waits on clarity around a possible border…
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Markets Moving into Holiday Mode 12/18/25 Cattle Chatter
The cattle market saw a $4 jump in midweek cash trade, led by strength out of the North. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek explains that the trade is already shifting its focus toward the upcoming holiday demand window. Fund participation in cattle has been...
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Cash Pushing the Trade | 12/11/25 Cattle Chatter
Last week on Cattle Chatter, the discussion pointed toward the potential for a bullish run — and that's exactly what unfolded. On this week's program, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the stronger trade, including $12 higher cash cattle in Nebraska and continued short…
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Cattle Finding New Gears | 12/4/25 Cattle Chatter
Cattle finding new gears in a bullish trade today, with cash once again proving to be king. Sale barns are seeing rocket-fueled bidding as packers hunt for inventory. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek talks about bids floating around $218 live in Kansas and…
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Tyson Casts a Dark Cloud Over the Cattle Market 11/26/25
A Dark Cloud Over Cattle Country: Tyson Decision Hits the Market Hard 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…
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About this show
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.
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