Beef prices surged to an all-time high in July as the market grappled with consistently strong demand and long-term issues in domestic production.
According to the latest consumer price index, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics published on Tuesday, the beef and veal index rose by 2.5% in July, compared to 0.2% for the broader food category. This capped an 11.3% increase over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, the price of ground beef and uncooked beef steaks has risen by 11.5% and 12.4%, respectively, both now at record levels.
This is not the cure. As the article says:
This will lead ranchers to
expansionexpand their herds.Not true. Lots of chicken farmers decided to switch their infrastructure to growing mushrooms in the past decade.
Because of disease and difficulty of making a profit.
Beef does not have those issues.
Beef definitely has those problems. CAFOs are rancid places full of disease. Slaughter houses too.
Correct, and greater consolidation. This has already been a long trough in the cyclical cycle. A ton of older ranchers are looking at the prices and just selling with no intent to calve another herd. Not a ton of young people lined up behind them. But economics will dictate that the herd is built back up in another 2-3 years as always.