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Outside factors will continue to impact cattle markets

A livestock economist says there is a lot of volatility in the cattle markets ahead.

Josh Maples with Mississippi State University says the talks of tariffs and the resumption of live cattle imports from Mexico put a lot of pressure on the markets last week.  “But, one of the things we’re most certain about is the supply,” he says. “That’s the baseline here that is supporting cattle markets. But it’s this uncertainty that makes it really difficult for traders trying to figure out where this thing is going, at least in the short term.”

Maples tells Brownfield there is a temporary halt on the tariffs.  “We’re going to continue to have these discussions and even whenever you start talking about retaliatory tariffs,” he says.  “It’s still not going to be clear exactly what that is.”

He says the uncertainty will create ongoing volatility across all commodity markets. “That is, and will be one of the big concerns moving forward is what happens,” he says.  “I think that’s anybody’s guess right now.”