Beef Production

Ranchers in Colorado are frustrated by the Trump administration's recent decisions on beef imports and say they are creating uncertainty in the market that's bad for business.

The American Farm Bureau says the cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 is down 5% from last year, as turkey prices fall and weather-driven crop issues push some vegetable costs higher.

Drought, shrinking herds, high feed and energy costs, and slow herd rebuilding are driving beef prices higher, with impacts likely to last through the decade.

In this week’s Farm News & Views Report, Bob Bragg discusses backlash from U.S. beef producers after former President Donald Trump announced plans to loan Argentina $40 billion in exchange for Argentine beef imports aimed at lowering U.S. beef prices. Ranchers and industry experts warn the proposal could harm domestic producers, poses potential animal health risks, and is unlikely to provide meaningful relief to consumers.

The January Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor predicts strong beef and pork production for 2025 but rising prices for consumers. Concerns over trade, tariffs, and immigrant labor continue.