Markets Now Early - 4/6 Cattle Up W/Cash, JBS Strike Ends, Await MX Border News: Hogs Soar on China

Why It Matters

Stronger cash cattle and the Greeley restart tighten U.S. beef supplies and support higher wholesale and futures prices, while any permanent reopening to Mexican kill capacity could cap U.S. prices and reshape North American beef flows. Ongoing packer margins and export demand—especially from China for hogs—will determine how sustained the rally is.

Summary

Cattle futures pushed to new contract highs this week after sharply stronger cash trade, with bids rising from roughly $235 to about $245–246 and traders eyeing $250–260. The JBS Greeley strike appears largely resolved as union workers agreed to return, allowing the plant to restart and potentially ramp toward ~4,800–5,000 head within a couple weeks. Feeder cattle showed mixed weakness amid technical profit-taking and renewed debate over reopening the U.S.-Mexico border to Mexican slaughter capacity after screw‑worm concerns, which could keep near‑term volatility. Hogs were firmer, lifted by demand signals from China, while packer leverage remains a key variable for future price direction.

Original Description

Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek