IAS Market Talk | Cattle Market Update – February 18, 2026

Cattle markets are holding strong, but how long can the rally last?

In this week’s IAS Market Talk, Dave Rueber shares the latest beef market commentary for February 18, including:

• Limited negotiated trade and light local volume
• Southern markets trending higher than the North
• Pressure on packer margins
• Record-setting feeder cattle prices
• What grass season means for calf and yearling demand
• Cost of gain outlook and profitability considerations

Dave also opens with thoughts and prayers for wildfire victims impacting cow-calf and stocker operations in the Panhandle and western regions.

Feeder prices continue to set records, fed cattle are trending higher, and the board remains mixed. The big question now is sustainability and how long this strength can last.

Tune in for straight talk, local insight, and the information you need from people you know.

👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

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.

IAS Market Talk | Cattle Market Update – February 11, 2026

In this week’s IAS Market Talk, Beef Production Specialist Dave Rueber shares the latest cattle market insights and what they mean for producers across Northeast Iowa and Southwest Wisconsin. Live cattle markets continue trending higher, with strong asking prices and continued momentum in feeder cattle values.

Dave also discusses the growing pressure on packer margins, current cost-of-gain considerations, and why feeder cattle demand remains strong as we move toward spring. Whether you're marketing cattle now or planning ahead, this update provides timely perspective to help you make informed decisions.

Tune in for straight talk, local insight, and the information you need from people you know.

👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

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.

IAS Market Talk | Cattle Market Update – February 4, 2026

This week on Market Talk, Dave Rueber, Beef Production Specialist with Innovative Ag Services, shares the latest cattle market outlook and what it means for producers across Northeast Iowa and Southwest Wisconsin.

Fat cattle markets continue to push higher, with bids climbing toward the 240 range. Box beef is showing some strength, feeder cattle prices are rallying, and break-evens are tightening. Dave walks through what to watch, how futures are trending, and where opportunities for protection may exist.

If you’re buying feeders, finishing cattle, or managing risk this season, this update helps you make informed decisions with confidence.

Tune in for straight talk, local insight, and the information you need from people you know.

👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

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.

IAS Market Talk | Cattle Market Update – January 28

Cold weather made its presence known last week, and the cattle markets felt it. In this week’s IAS Market Talk, Dave Reber shares how extreme temperatures helped spark a late-week rally in fed cattle, where negotiated trade is landing locally versus the South, and what he’s watching next with box beef and the board.

Dave also breaks down feeder cattle trends following weather-related sale cancellations, current price ranges by weight class, and how cold conditions are impacting performance, weights, and cost of gain. If you’re managing cattle through winter conditions, this is a timely update with practical insight straight from someone who works with producers every day.

👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

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.

Markets don’t like rumors and neither do producers.

In this week’s IAS Market Talk, Beef Production Specialist Dave Reber breaks down what really moved the cattle markets after last week’s volatility. From unsubstantiated screw worm chatter to steady cash trade, improving boxed beef prices, and the ripple effects of the Tyson Lexington plant closure, Dave cuts through the noise and explains what actually matters.

He also shares what to watch as harsh winter weather rolls in, including practical cattle care reminders and how weather could influence leverage in the coming weeks. If you’re managing cattle through cold conditions and keeping an eye on market direction, this episode delivers timely perspective you can use.

Listen now for a clear, grounded update on where the cattle market stands and what may come next.

👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

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.

Getting a lot of mixed messages in the cattle markets this week.

In this episode of IAS Market Talk, Dave Reber, Beef Production Specialist with Innovative Ag Services, breaks down what’s driving today’s cattle markets and where the risks are starting to show. Feeder cattle prices continue to climb at record levels, raising concerns around tight break-evens and limited downside protection. At the same time, the fat cattle market is sending conflicting signals as box beef prices struggle to gain momentum and packer margins remain under pressure.

Dave also touches on rising cost of gain, seasonal demand patterns, export dynamics, and what to watch closely as January unfolds. If you’re navigating high-priced feeders and uncertain margins, this episode offers timely perspective on what matters right now and what signals deserve your attention.

Tune in for straightforward insights from people you know, focused on helping you make informed decisions in today’s cattle markets.

👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

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.

In this week’s IAS Market Talk, Beef Production Specialist Dave Rueber shares an update on cattle markets following a strong run in cash prices. Live cattle climbed from the low $210s to around $230 in just two weeks, driven by heavy negotiated trade and strong demand heading into the holidays.

Dave breaks down what the recent surge means for the weeks ahead, why packer activity may slow during Christmas and New Year’s, and what feeder cattle trends typically look like as the calendar turns to January. He also touches on boxed beef pressure, negotiated trade volumes, and how recent market strength has helped offset potential losses for some producers.

IAS Market Talk delivers timely, practical market insight for Northeast Iowa and Southwest Wisconsin producers — straight from people you know, focused on what matters most to your operation.

👉 https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

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.

Beef Market Talk – December 10 with David Rueber

In this week’s Market Talk episode, IAS Beef Production Specialist David Rueber unpacks one of the wildest stretches we’ve seen in the cattle markets yet — a sharp rebound that’s stacked $17–$20 back onto the market in barely two weeks. With cash trade surging, feeders roaring higher, and cost-of-gain pressure building, David cuts through the noise with a clear, grounded breakdown of what’s driving the momentum.

He covers:
• Cash cattle jumping $10–$12 last week — and why early bids signal more strength
• Weather-related challenges tightening supplies and lifting the market
• Feeder cattle gaining back most of the fall drop
• Rising feed and hay costs pushing break-evens higher
• Limited hedging opportunities during this rally
• What to expect as packers finish holiday buying
• Why boxed beef prices could determine how long this run lasts

“Crazy up, crazy down, crazy back up again — what a ride this month has been.”

Take a few minutes to stay grounded, stay informed, and stay ahead as we head into the holidays.

👉 innovativeag.com

Podcast: https://www.innovativeag.com/feed#market-talk-podcast

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.