Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael

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Whether you trade cattle once a year or every day, Cattle Current with Wes Ishmael helps you stay in the market with a daily morning snapshot of the previous day's market action and news shaping the market ahead. Cattle market highlights and commentary include: market news; cash calf and feeder catt…

Wes Ishmael: cattle business analyst and journalist


    • Mar 23, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 6m AVG DURATION
    • 1,482 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 24, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2026 8:18


    Cattle futures extended gains on Monday, helped by more bullish outside markets, and despite more placements than expected in Friday's monthly Cattle on Feed report.Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 84¢ higher, except for 45¢ lower in the back contract. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.70 higher. Negotiated [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 23, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2026 6:03


    Cattle futures were higher Friday, helped along by steady cash fed cattle prices. Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.34 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.60 higher. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $3.46 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $6.96 higher. [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 20, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 5:43


    Cattle futures were lower Thursday, weighed down by bearish outside markets, tied to escalating energy prices and uncertainty stemming from the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.25 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.54 lower ($3.05 to $6.42 lower). Negotiated cash fed cattle [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 19, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 5:47


    Live Cattle futures eased higher on Wednesday, bolstered by thoughts that negotiated cash fed cattle prices could increase this week, and despite bearish outside markets. Feeder Cattle futures wobbled, though, with resurgent Corn futures and perhaps positioning ahead of Friday's Monthly Cattle on Feed report. Broadly, analysts see February placements on par year over [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 16, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2026 8:11


    Cattle futures wobbled Friday with uneven outside markets and wonderment about the potential strike at the JBS plant in Greeley next week. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 42¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were mixed, from an average of 64¢ lower to an average of 68¢ higher. Week to week on Friday, Live [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 13, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 5:58


    Cattle futures firmed Thursday, helped by rising wholesale beef values and the cash premium to futures. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.40 higher, except for 95¢ lower in the back contract. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 61¢ higher, except for 5¢ lower in spot March and $2.57 [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 12, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 4:58


    Cattle futures lost ground Wednesday, as bearishness increased in outside markets. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.97 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.19 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on moderate demand in Nebraska through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 11, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 5:57


    Cattle futures gained Tuesday, helped by the decline in Crude Oil futures and the continued increase in wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.49 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.27 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on moderate demand in Nebraska [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 10, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2026 6:07


    Cattle futures were sharply lower again Monday, but off sessions lows, pressured by a range of factors, including last week's lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices, news that the JBS plant in Greeley, Colo. was cancelling slaughter at the plant this week ahead of the potential strike, and spiking Crude oil futures pressuring outside [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 9, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2026 9:49


    Cattle futures were sharply lower Friday, pressured by bearish outside markets and another week of lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Also on Friday, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, which represents workers at the JBS plant, gave notice that it was cancelling its extension agreement effective 11:59 p.m., March 15. So, [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 6, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 5:17


    Cattle futures were mixed on Thursday.   Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 34¢ higher on continued fundamental strength. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.31 lower with likely profit taking from the previous session's sharp gains. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 5, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 4:25


    Recently surging wholesale beef values and more positive outside market helped Cattle futures rally higher Wednesday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $4.11 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $6.96 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 4, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2026 5:17


    Cattle futures were mostly able to hold the previous session's gains on Tuesday after early pressure tied to declining outside markets. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 64¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from unchanged to an average of 72¢ lower in three contracts (2¢ to $1.97 lower) [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 3, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2026 8:40


    Cattle futures were under early pressure Monday from lower outside markets tied to uncertainty about the impact of the U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran. Ultimately, though, Cattle futures trended mainly higher. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.23 higher (65¢ to $1.57 higher), except for $1.42 lower in the back contract. [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—March 2, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2026 9:04


    Cattle futures plumbed lower Friday, with continued concern about a potential strike at the JBS packing plant in Greeley, Colo., lower cash fed cattle prices, bearish outside markets, as well as month-end profit taking and technical selling. Live Cattle futures were an average of $3.49 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $7.51 [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 27, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 7:15


    Cattle futures stepped lower Thursday, pressured by wariness over a potential strike at the JBS packing plant in Greeley, CO and softer early cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.84 lower, except for unchanged in expiring Feb. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.05 lower. [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 26, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 4:29


    Cattle futures continued higher Wednesday, helped along by another day of higher wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.19 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.99 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Wednesday [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 25, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 4:25


    Cattle futures firmed and crept higher Tuesday without the previous day's pressure from outside markets and supported by higher wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 36¢ higher, except for 7¢ lower in near Apr. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 59¢ higher, except for an average [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 24, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 7:59


    Cattle futures closed lower again Monday, pressured by bearish outside markets and despite Friday's neutral-to-friendly Cattle on Feed report. Uncertainty also lingered about the potential strike at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colo. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.59 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.16 lower. [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 23, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2026 10:21


    Cattle futures closed lower Friday, pressured by the lack of direction from negotiated cash fed cattle trade before the close, the Cattle on Feed report (see below) issued after the close of trade and wariness over the union at the JBS plant in Greeley voting whether to strike. Live Cattle futures were an average [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 20, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2026 4:08


    Cattle futures meandered in two-sided trading with thoughts of steady to stronger cash fed cattle prices this week and likely positioning ahead of Friday's monthly Cattle on Feed report. Depending on the estimates, analysts peg January feedlot placements 4% less, January marketings 13% less and the Feb. 1 inventory of cattle on feed down [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 19, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 5:57


    Cattle futures mostly edged higher Wednesday, maintaining the previous session's strong gains and expectations for steady to stronger cash fed cattle prices this week. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 11¢ higher, except for unchanged to an average of 15¢ lower in two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 18, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 5:02


    Cattle futures closed higher Tuesday, supported by last week's stronger cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were $1.96 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.01 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon, according to the [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 17, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 4:29


    Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Last week, FOB live prices were mostly $3 higher in the Southern Plains at mainly $248/cwt., mostly $5 higher in Nebraska at mainly $345 and $3-$4 higher in the [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 16, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2026 7:39


    Cattle futures eased mostly lower Friday, awaiting full development of the week's cash fed cattle trade. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 21¢ lower, except for 57¢ higher in spot Feb. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 33¢ higher, except for 27¢ lower in three contracts. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 13, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 7:13


    Cattle futures eased lower Thursday, awaiting the week's cash fed cattle direction and more bearish outside markets. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 13¢ lower to an average of 23¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 63¢ lower, except for 10¢ higher in one contract. [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 12, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 7:07


    Cattle futures rose Wednesday with expectations of steady to higher cash fed cattle prices again this week. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.08 higher ($3.45 higher near the front to $1.17 higher at the back). Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.11 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 11, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 6:40


    Cattle futures eased lower Tuesday amid two-sided trade and waiting this week's cash fed cattle direction. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 55¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.06 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 10, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 7:21


    Cattle futures mostly extended gains Monday, buoyed by last week's stronger cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 68¢ higher, except for 47¢ lower and unchanged in the back two contracts.   Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 92¢ higher, except for $1.02 lower in the [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 9, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2026 10:14


    Cattle futures closed higher Friday, supported by steady to stronger cash fed cattle prices, recovering from the previous session's sell-off tied to news union workers voted to authorize a strike at the JBS beef packing plant in Greeley, Colo., though no timetable was set for the strike. Live Cattle futures closed an average of [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 3, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2026 7:45


    Cattle futures closed higher Monday, buoyed by last week's stronger cash fed cattle prices and the friendly Cattle inventory report (see below). Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.72 higher.  Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.67 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 2, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 8:27


    Cattle futures closed lower at the end of a volatile session Friday. Although cash fed cattle prices improved, wariness remained ahead of the semiannual Cattle inventory report (see below), while traders squared books for end of the week and month. Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.11 lower (47¢ to $2.57 lower), except [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 30, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026 5:37


    Cattle futures eased mostly lower Thursday with likely profit taking, the lack of direction in weekly cash fed cattle trade and positioning ahead of USDA's Cattle report due to be published on Friday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.o5 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.27 lower, [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 29, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 6:28


    Cattle futures were higher Wednesday, helped by early cash fed cattle bids on the upper end of last week's range. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.10 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.93 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in all [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 28, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 4:32


    Cattle futures meandered Tuesday, awaiting weekly cash direction. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 24¢ lower, except for an average of 2¢ higher in the back two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 29¢ lower in five contracts to an average of 19¢ higher. Negotiated [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 27, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2026 6:43


    Last week's stronger cash fed cattle prices helped Cattle futures continue higher on Monday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.10 higher.  Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.35 higher Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light to moderate demand in all cattle feeding regions through [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 26, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2026 8:37


    Cattle futures closed higher Friday with stronger negotiated cash fed cattle prices and wholesale beef values' continued gains. Reaction to the latest Cattle on Feed report could vary (see below). Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.18 higher (67¢ higher toward the back to $2.52 higher in spot Feb). Feeder Cattle futures were [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 23, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 5:11


    Cattle futures were narrowly mixed Friday, awaiting the week's cash fed cattle direction and likely positioning ahead of Friday's monthly Cattle on Feed report. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 18¢ lower, except for unchanged to an average of 3¢ higher in three contracts.  Feeder Cattle futures were an average [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 22, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026 5:11


    Cattle futures continued higher Wednesday, supported by more bullish outside markets, recently higher wholesale beef values and likely positioning ahead of Friday's monthly Cattle on Feed report, which many expect to be bullish. Estimates ahead of the report see December placement down about 5%, December marketings about 2% more due to an extra marketing [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 21, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026 3:59


    Cattle futures firmed Tuesday and regained some of the steep losses from the previous session, which was tied to the unfounded rumor of New World screwworm in the U.S. Gains to start the week were likely limited to bearish outside markets (see below). Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.17 [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 20, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026 4:38


    Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon. Last week, FOB live prices were $233/cwt. in Kansas, mostly $233 in Nebraska and mostly $232 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were mostly $365 in Nebraska and $363-$365 in the western Corn [...]

    Cattle Current PodcastJan. 19, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2026 10:06


    Cattle futures closed lower Friday with likely technical selling and profit taking ahead of the three-day weekend magnified by confirmation of more cases of New World screwworm (NWS) near the Texas border and an unconfirmed rumor of a case discovered on this side of the U.S. border. Live Cattle futures closed an average of [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 16, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026 6:46


    Cattle futures resumed higher Thursday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.62 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.76 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Last week, FOB [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 15, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 3:40


    Cattle futures softened Wednesday ahead of the week's negotiated cash fed cattle trade. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.28 lower.  Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.17 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Wednesday afternoon, according [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 14, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 3:10


    Cattle futures closed strongly higher Tuesday. Support included the sharp decrease in Corn futures, higher wholesale beef values and increasing optimism about higher cash fed cattle prices this week. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.36 higher.  Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.42 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 13, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 8:25


    Cattle futures were higher Monday helped by the plunge in Corn futures, which was tied to the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (see below). Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 82¢ higher (30¢ to $1.65 higher). Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.50 higher. Negotiated cash fed [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 12, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2026 7:30


    Cattle futures closed lower Friday on likely week-end profit taking. Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.06 lower (65¢ lower at the back to $1.55 lower in spot Jan). Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $3.74 lower. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.12 higher (5¢ [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 9, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2026 4:56


    Cattle futures eased higher Thursday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.35 higher.   Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.51 higher (67¢ higher toward the back to $2.95 higher in spot Jan). Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from inactive on light demand in Kansas to light on [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 8, 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 5:37


    Cattle futures eased lower Wednesday with likely profit taking and awaiting the week's cash fed cattle trade. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.56 lower ($2.10 lower toward the front to 65¢ lower at the back. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.19 lower ($2.47 to $4.50 lower). Negotiated [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 7, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 6:00


    Cattle futures expanded gains Tuesday, led by Feeder Cattle and strong cash. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average 80¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.31 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Tuesday afternoon, according to the [...]

    Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 6, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026 7:14


    Cattle futures continued higher Monday, following the significant bounce higher during the previous session and supported by last week's higher negotiated cash fed cattle prices and the recent bounce in wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average $1.14 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.82 higher. Negotiated [...]

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