Retail Beef
Oklahoma State’s Peel says as U.S. cow slaughter hits historic lows, the industry is turning to international markets to fill a massive “lean deficit” and keep up with record-high consumer demand for ground beef.
As the farm share of the food dollar hits historic lows, new USDA data reveals a widening gap between the grocery aisle and the farm gate.
Sales at a record high, Americans view meat as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
2026 will be a year of beef demand shifting not disappearing.
A Kansas State agricultural economist explains how resilient consumer demand is outweighing supply constraints to drive market profitability.
Smithfield has secured rights to sell and market the iconic hot dog brand into perpetuity. How will this impact U.S. pork and beef producers?
Protein is back on top. Ground beef might be the quiet winner, with imports doing the heavy lifting.
Oklahoma State’s Peel says increased beef imports are the expected market response to declining U.S. beef production, especially decreased production of nonfed processing beef.
Imagine the media, special interest groups and politicians get their way.
While U.S. beef production fell 3.9% to 11.8 million tons in 2025, Brazil’s beef production surprisingly increased. Rabobank, for example, expected a decline, but now sees 0.5% growth to 12.5 million tons carcass weight equivalent in Brazil.
Cattle producers and industry leaders share their concerns as the calendar advances to 2026.
Texas A&M’s Anderson summarizes meat production numbers for 2025.
Terrain’s Dave Weaber says placements of cattle into feedlots will continue to shrink, long-feared beef slaughter capacity reductions have arrived, and the beef cow herd hasn’t begun to expand.
Quarterback Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld deliver a substantial protein surprise to the Bills’ offensive line, fueling them for success.
Swift Beef Co. plans to close its case-ready facility in Riverside, Calif., effective Feb. 2.
Officials say 400-plus beef establishments were not relisted by China back in April.
Foreign-controlled packers are on trial to determine if their ability to own U.S. plants and import product from affiliated foreign operations allows them to shape domestic prices and supply to the detriment of U.S. producers and consumers.
While the administration makes comments regarding strategies to decrease retail beef prices, they strategies inconsistent with the economics of the cattle industry, particularly when U.S. consumer beef demand has been a significant driver to beef prices.
Were beef price spikes the product of an agreement between meatpackers rather than the predictable result of herd cycles, external events and plant utilization?
Strong demand supports beef prices amid economic volatility, but herd investment and growth slows as producers grapple with increasing uncertainty due to political noise.
Texas A&M’s David Anderson breaks down the current cull cow market and shares his prediction for future cow prices.
R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says the cattle market is fundamentally broken citing years of an inverse relationship between falling cattle prices and increasing retail beef prices when the only ingredient in beef is cattle.
Oklahoma State’s Derrell Peel says the beef industry needs time — not politics or policy — to solve beef supply and demand realities.
Let’s debunk three claims about the beef packing industry.
President Trump orders an immediate investigation into major meatpackers over high prices and price manipulation.