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 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!