America’s Cattle Farmers Struggle

World Magazine ^ | October 1, 2026 | Bekah Bernhardt

[Retain Mike]

Across America, cattle ranchers and farmers are struggling to sustain their way of life. The cost of land, equipment, and fertilizer has steadily increased, making it hard just to break even, especially when the payoff for raising a cow is nearly impossible to predict.

Those market pressures are squeezing the nation’s ability to feed hungry consumers. In 1975, the national cattle herd amounted to more than 132 million head. Now, just over 86 million cattle roam America’s farms and ranches. And consumers are feeling the pinch. The average cost of a pound of ground beef hit $6.89 this year compared to about $2.50 in 2010.

As fewer farmers can afford to keep raising cows, and children are increasingly reluctant to take on the family business, it’s unclear how long a dwindling herd can sustain the nation’s growing demand for beef. Although the average American may want to support domestic farms, some can only afford to buy whatever’s cheapest at the grocery store. And if the current trend continues, the cheapest beef won’t come from Texas and Montana but Brazil and Canada.

Bill Bullard, CEO of cattle and sheep farmer advocacy group R-CALF USA, attributes the volatile cattle market to “merger mania” among meat packers. As recently as 40 years ago, four major meat packers—JBS, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef Packing Company—slaughtered cows for about 36% of cattle operations. By the mid-1990s, those operations had taken over 80% of all cattle slaughtering in the United States. The prices given by the packers influences the value of cows from the feedlots all the way back to the farm, leaving cattle farmers with a smaller share of profits.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Food
KEYWORDS: affordabilitytrope; cattle; farming; tds

[Retain Mike]

I found the article interesting, because we attend Shilo Ranch Church in Powell Butte Oregon, which is surrounded by cattle ranches. We knew it was our kind of church when they said masks were optional. They have also started services with Johnny Cash.

Here in Redmond, we buy from Rod's Meats, which uses only local sources. It is more expensive than Safeway, but less than some prices quoted in the article.

The article says there was a bill in Congress requiring disclosing country of origin, but it was pulled when the World Trade Organization objected. If I can avoid "Made in China" items at one end of Fred Meyer, then I should be able to avoid raised in Brazil at the other end of the store.

[alloysteel]

There is a cycle to cattle numbers and the resulting price of beef. Normally, this is approximately eleven years, with the number of cattle plunging to the lowest as the prices peak, and the other end of the cycle, the numbers of cattle on feed reaching a peak just as the price of the beef in the retail market reaches the lowest. There is only a very narrow moment, or rather two moments in time, as the cycle is moving through, when the cattle numbers and the beef price strikes anything like a balance. But it has become increasingly hard to hit that moment for many producers, as the window grows smaller and smaller each cycle. As producers drop out, the pool shrinks again.

Beef becomes increasingly a luxury item.

Eet mor chiken. But then egg prices go up.

[Sparticus]

From what I’ve been told by a rancher who attends my mom’s church in Central Montana, the percentage that ranchers get of the consumer price of beef has gone down a lot. It in other words, the ranchers have not seen the on the hoof price go up even though it’s doubled at the grocery store.

[griswold3]

https://political.org/2026/09/04/trump-signs-executive-orders-empowering-ranchers-to-process-their-own-meat-and-sell-it-across-state-lines/
Increasing supply of products is a good thing

[ClearCase_guy]

Average person: “I have a good job. I work very hard. I try to earn as much as I can — but prices for essentials (housing, healthcare, daycare, insurance, education, etc) keep going up. My wages don’t increase fast enough, and I lose ground every day.”

Cattle rancher: “I raise as much cattle as I can, but the percentage I receive from the meat packing plant is shrinking. I earn less and less all the time, while the price of beef at the supermarket skyrockets.”

Conclusion: Something is really wrong with our economic system. Someone is making a lot of money, but the workers and producers don’t seem to be seeing any of that money.

[DIRTYSECRET]

**In 1975, the national cattle herd amounted to more than 132 million head. Now, just over 86 million cattle roam America’s farms and ranches.**

1975-Gerald Ford was president. Anyone remember that time when the ranchers threatened to kill off all their cattle if price supports ended? Made no sense. All I remember was the President getting involved. Made him look weak. Something here today doesn’t add up. I eat chicken and pork. I do believe President Carter once suggested it. Import it if we must.

[Fledermaus]

$6.89?

I pay $4.29 for one pound of ground round.

[Merrick]

Our steer goes to slaughter in a couple weeks. We get one a year.

[Merrick]

Which is try Trump changed regulations so farmers have more choices for slaughter. It will take time, but as more slaughter houses open and the new rules take effect, the farmer will start seeing a better share.

Or we could be dumb asses and vote in Democrats, and we can watch everything put in motion vaporize while Democrats draft one impeachment bill after another.

[finnsheep]

About 20% of US beef comes from the dairy industry, one way or another. Some from crossbred calves from dairy heifers and some from cull dairy cows. Wish I knew how much oat “milk” and almond “milk” have cut into the dairy industry.

[napscoordinator]

It must be low grade at one of those discount grocery stores. I just hope it’s safe for you to eat.

[Fledermaus]

Publix. It’s good 80/20. Fries up well.