Sat, 25 Oct 2025

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 US beef prices are soaring. Will Trump's plans lower them?

Trump is under fire from ranchers, who say his ideas to lower prices address "symptoms not the problems".
The number of US beef cattle farmers and ranchers has dwindled by 17% since 2017, leading to reduced domestic supplies and higher prices. The country's cattle inventory has fallen to its lowest level in nearly 75 years. Ranchers cite high costs for inputs such as fertilizer and equipment, drought, and consolidation among meat processors as factors contributing to the crisis. Retail prices for ground beef have risen by 12.9% over the past year, while beef steaks have increased by 16.6%. Experts say it will take years to replenish herds and predict that prices will remain elevated until at least the end of the decade. The Trump administration's proposals are seen as inadequate and may even make the situation worse. A "big package" unveiled by the Agriculture Department aims to boost domestic beef production, but ranchers are skeptical about its impact on lowering retail prices. Some critics argue that the government should focus on addressing market concentration among a handful of meat processing companies that control over 80% of the market. The US Cattlemen's Association has expressed concerns that Trump's import plan will only benefit big meat packers and not lower prices for consumers. Experts say that unless the issue of market concentration is addressed, it will be difficult to rebuild the cattle herd and bring down retail prices.
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