IAS Market Talk

IAS Market Talk with David Rueber – 07/01/26

Cash cattle continue to hold historically strong levels, with trade last week coming in around $258–$260. While there’s a slightly softer undertone developing in the market, tight supplies and solid beef demand are still providing support underneath the surface. This week, Dave Rueber discusses the growing gap between cash cattle prices and futures markets, seasonal demand trends heading into summer, and what producers should watch as the industry heads deeper into the second half of the year. He also shares insight on feeder cattle values, cost of gain, and why strong closeouts continue to support producer optimism despite ongoing market volatility. In this episode: * Cash cattle trade and current market direction * The widening spread between cash and August futures * Seasonal demand considerations and holiday beef consumption * Tight feeder cattle supplies supporting prices * Corn market trends and cost of gain implications * Fall calf market strength and video auction activity * Feedlot break-even considerations * What current closeouts are telling us about profitability * Key signals producers should watch moving forward Make a real impact! IAS Operations roles offer hands-on work, training, growth, and competitive pay—helping fuel the future of agriculture. Join the operations team and grow with IAS! Apply today at https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings [https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings]. Tune in for straight talk, local insight, and the information you need from people you know. 👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

IAS Market Talk with David Rueber – 06/25/26

Cattle markets continue to show underlying strength, even as volatility and seasonal pressures remain in play. Tight supplies and strong demand are supporting prices, but rising feeder costs and heat stress risks are creating new considerations for producers heading into summer. In this week’s episode, Dave Rueber shares straight talk from the field on what’s driving the current market and what it could mean for your operation in the weeks ahead. In this episode, Dave covers: * Cash cattle trade and late-week strength * Feeder cattle markets pushing to new highs * Cost of gain estimates and break-even pressure * Limited hedging opportunities in current futures markets * Strong beef demand tied to seasonal trends * Heat stress management and summer feeding considerations Make a real impact! IAS Operations roles offer hands-on work, training, growth, and competitive pay—helping fuel the future of agriculture. Join the operations team and grow with IAS! Apply today at https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings [https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings]. Tune in for straight talk, local insight, and the information you need from people you know. 👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

IAS Market Talk with David Rueber – 06/19/26

Cattle markets continue to show resilience as tight supplies and steady demand keep prices historically strong—even with some disruption across the industry. This week, Dave Rueber breaks down the underlying strength in both cash and feeder markets, while also highlighting rising costs and management pressure producers should continue to monitor. In this episode, Dave covers: * Cash cattle outlook and expected trade levels this week * Impact of recent plant closures on regional supply and packer demand * Feeder cattle prices pushing higher across all weight classes * Tight cattle supplies continuing to support the market * Cost of gain trends and feed input considerations * Seasonal demand heading into peak grilling season * Animal health and management reminders Make a real impact! IAS Operations roles offer hands-on work, training, growth, and competitive pay—helping fuel the future of agriculture. Join the operations team and grow with IAS! Apply today at https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings [https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings]. Tune in for straight talk, local insight, and the information you need from people you know. 👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

IAS Market Talk with David Rueber - 6/10/25

The cattle market continues to hold at historically strong levels, with solid seasonal demand providing support. At the same time, there are a few pressure points starting to surface—from animal health concerns to heat stress and shifting input costs—that could influence decision-making in the weeks ahead. In this week’s IAS Market Talk, Dave Rueber shares timely market insight on where the market stands today, what signals are starting to show underneath the surface, and what it could mean for your operation as we move into early summer. This week’s topics: * Fed cattle prices holding mostly steady in the upper $250s * Limited trade activity and a cautious tone in the market * Continued tight supplies supporting price levels * Animal health concerns, including increased screwworm activity in southern regions * Regional movement considerations and cattle flow * Strong seasonal demand heading into the July 4th window * Feeder cattle values across weight classes * Cost of gain considerations and feed price movement * Early summer heat and humidity impacting cattle performance * Break-even awareness and managing through current conditions Make a real impact! IAS Operations roles offer hands-on work, training, growth, and competitive pay—helping fuel the future of agriculture. Join the operations team and grow with IAS! Apply today at https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings [https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings]. Tune in for straight talk, local insight, and the information you need from people you know. 👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

IAS Market Talk with David Rueber – 06/04/26

The cattle market is still holding at historically strong levels— but this week showed signs of that tone starting to shift. Cash trade softened slightly, and there are a few signals underneath the surface that producers should be watching closely.  In this week’s IAS Market Talk, Dave Rueber breaks down where the market is steady, where pressure is starting to build, and what it could mean as we move further into summer.  This week’s topics:  * Cash cattle trade trending slightly lower week-over-week  * Continued volatility in the future markets  * Boxed beef demand needing stronger support  * Feeder cattle pressure showing up in parts of the market  * Cost of gain considerations and corn market influence  * Break-even levels holding in the mid-to-upper $240’s  * Outside factors like inflation and fuel costs  * Why timing and steady marketing decisions matter right now  As always, this is straight talk from the field to help you stay informed and make confident, practical decisions.  Make a real impact! IAS Operations roles offer hands-on work, training, growth, and competitive pay—helping fuel the future of agriculture. Join the operations team and grow with IAS! Apply today at https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings [https://www.innovativeag.com/careers/job-openings]. Tune in for straight talk, local insight, and the information you need from people you know. 👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast