Middle meats are the gift that keeps getting pricier, and buyers are wondering whether the peak is finally here. Meanwhile, poultry stays affordable, pork remains a value, and dairy drops to holiday-baking lows — making this week’s markets as mixed as a stocking full of surprises.

BEEF: Holiday pricing is testing its limits, and while middle meats are sky-high, the market may finally be running out of steam. Chucks, rounds, and thin meats are slipping, and production numbers continue to reveal a shrinking cattle supply heading into 2026. Are we finally approaching the turn — or just pausing before another surge?

POULTRY: Chicken remains the protein value hero of the season, with production up and pricing steady across wings, breasts, and tenders. But with avian flu cases continuing to creep in, could this calm be short-lived?

GRAINS: Grain prices are stuck in neutral, with corn holding firm and soy struggling to spark a rally. Something has to give — the question is when, and what will finally move the needle?

PORK: Bacon buyers rejoice — bellies are still a bargain at $118. But a new African Swine Flu outbreak in Spain could scramble global pork demand overnight. Is the export domino about to fall?

DAIRY: Cheese keeps sliding with no clear bottom in sight, while butter flirts with a small bounce at record-low pandemic-era pricing. Is this dip a buy signal — or just the midpoint of a bigger correction?

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