284: What the Strong Cattle Market Tells Us Right Now and Why the JBS Shutdown Matters

Lauren sits down with John Campbell to talk through what we’re seeing in the cattle market right now after another strong week of sales across the region. John shares updates from the sale barns, explains why demand for stocker and feeder cattle is holding strong despite volatility in the futures market, and answers questions he’s been hearing from producers about where the market may be headed. The conversation also dives into the shutdown of the JBS packing plant in Greeley, Colorado, what led up to the labor dispute, and what the closure could mean for packer capacity and the broader cattle industry.

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Takeaways

• Strong demand helped keep cash cattle prices steady despite volatility in the futures market

• Winter Livestock’s anniversary sale in La Junta saw strong prices across calves, stockers, and feeder cattle

• Supply and demand dynamics are very different from last fall, helping support stronger prices this spring

• Buyers are still actively looking for cattle to place on grass as grazing season approaches

• The JBS packing plant in Greeley, Colorado shut down after a labor dispute with union workers

• The plant processes roughly 30,000 head of cattle per week

• Some of that capacity may be absorbed by other packing plants currently running slower rail speeds

• Contract cattle may need to be shipped to other plants, which could affect freight costs and carcass yield

• The situation highlights ongoing concerns about consolidation and market power among major packing companies

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and episode overview

01:03 John Campbell joins the podcast

01:30 La Junta market recap and anniversary sale results

04:20 Regional cattle market updates

09:00 Why demand stayed strong despite futures volatility

11:30 How supply and demand dynamics differ from last fall

14:30 Breaking down the JBS Greeley plant shutdown

18:00 What the closure could mean for producers and packers

22:00 Weather outlook and spring grazing conditions

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