This week’s mid-week update is a big one. Brock and Jim break down the major market shock everyone’s talking about: Tyson’s closure of its Lexington, NE beef plant and shift reductions in Amarillo—removing up to 8,000 head of daily slaughter capacity from the system. They unpack how this structural change could impact bids, competition, freight, and marketing plans across Nebraska, Texas, and the High Plains.

From there, the guys dive into a tightening processor landscape, Walmart’s $257M beef facility expansion, rising plant utilization, and what it all means for producers trying to stay nimble. They also tackle futures pressure tied to tariff rollbacks, historic lows in U.S. beef exports to China, and why basis risk is climbing fast.

If you want clear, practical insight on how capacity, trade, and calf prices connect—and what decisions matter most heading into December—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

In this week’s Mid-Week Market Check, Brock and Jim break down a sharp forecast jump in 500–549 lb feeder steers, contrast rising futures with sluggish cash bids, and unpack what President Trump’s newly announced tariff rollback on beef could mean for U.S. cow-calf producers. They also dig into the fresh DOJ investigation into the Big Four packers, share firsthand stories from past trade shocks, and look at how tightening fed cattle supplies are shaping packer margins heading into December.

From global trade drama to packer pressure to quiet leverage for producers, this episode helps ranchers cut through the noise and make sense of a volatile market. Saddle up — there’s a lot moving in the cattle world this week, and the Guys have you covered.