Local farmer weighs in on rising beef prices

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Beef prices continue to climb across the United States, recently reaching record highs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of beef rose to $6.25 per pound in July. That’s more than 10 cents higher than the previous month and nearly a dollar more than the same time last year.

This trend shows no signs of slowing down.

In fact, rising beef prices have been a long-term issue. Over the past decade, prices have steadily increased due to a combination of environmental and economic factors.

Years of drought and dry conditions across much of the country have forced cattle farmers to rely heavily on supplemental feed like hay and corn, rather than allowing cattle to graze on pastureland.

Tim Gach, a local farmer in Buchanan County, offered insight into the growing challenges in the cattle market.

"We can't put them out on the pasture if the pasture's all dried up," Gach said. "So you start feeding them hay, and hay's expensive. When you start putting pencil to paper, you realize you're putting more into that cow than you'll get back at the sale barn."

When the cost of maintaining a herd outweighs the potential profit, farmers are left with difficult decisions.

"This is what a lot of guys do — they sell the herd," Gach explained. "Those cows go to market, which can temporarily help with meat prices. But in the long run, that cow no longer produces a calf, and that lowers the population."

This cycle not only affects the individual farmer's operation, but also contributes to the broader decline in cattle numbers nationwide — a trend that's driving beef prices higher for everyone.

At the same time, demand for beef has remained strong. As the U.S. population grows and consumer appetite for beef products increases, supply has struggled to keep pace.

A July cattle inventory report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found just 94.2 million head of cattle and calves in the country—the lowest mid-year total since the USDA began releasing these reports 52 years ago.

With shrinking herds, high production costs, and persistent consumer demand, beef prices are likely to remain elevated. Unless alternative protein sources become more widely adopted, or the cattle industry experiences a major turnaround, consumers should expect the cost of beef to continue rising—especially as local farmers face mounting challenges.