Why do beef prices keep rising?
According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the total US beef cattle inventory is at its smallest level since 1961 (figure 1). Figure 1: January 1 U.S. Beef Cow Inventory (1940 to 2024) [1,000 head][1] This decline is primarily attributed to a combination of factors, most importantly drought and high input costs. Beef prices …