US Edition‘Perfect Storm’ of Drought, Demand Sends Beef Prices Soaring Ahead of Independence Day
- Beef prices reached record highs in May 2024, with ground beef averaging $5.98 per pound amid the tightest cattle supply in over 70 years.
- This surge results from years of drought that depleted breeding herds and inflation raising input costs, causing many ranchers to downsize herds early.
- Economists described the situation as a perfect storm of low supply and high demand, especially during the grilling season, while beef consumption remains steady.
- Patrick Westhoff indicated that beef cattle numbers have yet to reach their lowest point, while Wesley Tucker highlighted that the current pressures are intensifying at an especially difficult time for consumers.
- The sustained price increase suggests beef costs may remain high for years, impacting consumers and prompting $1 billion federal aid for drought-affected ranchers.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Trump's Fourth of July hit by second highest cookout costs ever recorded
The average cost for a 10-person Fourth of July will cost $70.92, which is 30 cents less than last summer, but the second highest cookout cost since 2013 when American Farm Bureau Federation began its annual survey on the topic.Beef, canned goods and hand-picked crops have the highest price increase...
Fourth of July cookout costs are 19% higher than in 2019 but less than last year • Iowa Capital Dispatch
Volunteers grill pork chops and ribs at the Iowa State Fairgrounds during the World Pork Expo June 4, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The average cost for a 10-person Fourth of July will cost $70.92, which is 30 cents less than last summer, but the second highest cookout cost since 2013 when American Farm Bureau Federation began its annual survey on the topic. Beef, canned goods and hand-picked crops have the highest price inc…
Grocery Prices and Deals: What shoppers can expect for the Fourth of July
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Fourth of July is almost here, and for many Louisiana families, that means cookouts, coolers, and crowded grocery aisles. At Matherne’s Market in Baton Rouge, co-owner Tony Matherne said they’re seeing a steady stream of holiday shoppers, many of them stocking up early. “Pretty much the same as previous years,” Matherne said. “Burgers and beef prices are up this year.” Despite the rise in meat prices, the…
‘Perfect storm’ of drought, demand sends beef prices soaring ahead of Independence Day
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As Missouri families fire up their grills for the Fourth of July, many will notice a sting at the checkout counter. Beef prices have surged to record highs, fueled by a "perfect storm" of drought, inflation and shrinking cattle herds — and Missouri farmers are feeling the squeeze. Ground beef prices reached an all-time high of $5.98 per pound in May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s a 49% jump from f…
Colorado beef prices sky high in advance of Fourth of July
The price of meat ahead of the Fourth of July weekend will be higher in Colorado supermarkets than in the rest of the country, according to an annual industry survey. Produced by the American Farm Bureau Federation, an agriculture lobbying group, the survey found that ground beef and pork chops were more expensive — and chicken breasts were cheaper — in Colorado than in other states. State and national economists attribute the surge in beef pric…
Cost of summer cookout nearly unchanged from 2024
Families celebrating the Fourth of July holiday continue to find high prices at the grocery store, based on the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation annual marketbasket survey. An Independence Day cookout will cost $70.92 for 10 guests this year. In…
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