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Deminpenn

(17,182 posts)

3. That won't help supermarkets that sell only US beef

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Mon Oct 20, 2025, 05:03 AM

Oct 20

My local major supermarket sells only US beef. I asked one of the meat section managers why the prices were so high, the manager explained that the US cattle count is the lowest it has been in decades. It's for reasons unrelated to tariffs or competition from imports.

Per NPR

Why has the price gone up?

It's the law of supply and demand. America's beef cattle herd is the smallest in 75 years, in part because of drought. But Americans' love of hamburgers and steaks has kept demand strong — until recently.

In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture continued to record a shrinking number of U.S. cattle and calves, forecasting that beef production would decline 4% over this year and another 2% in 2026.

Meanwhile, foreign imports are also down. Brazilian beef faces a 76% tariff. Fears about the screwworm parasite have led the USDA to block livestock from crossing from Mexico to the U.S. to safeguard the nation's food supply.

Ranching in America can be a topsy-turvy, break-even or money-losing business, but not right now.

"We've kind of hit this perfect storm," says Brady Blackett, a third-generation Angus cattle producer in Utah. "There's healthy competition for the cattle, and there's not enough of them to fulfill the demand. And so it has driven prices to historic highs."

Link: https://www.npr.org/2025/09/18/nx-s1-5534424/beef-prices-record-high-cost

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Highlight:

Trump suggests US will buy Argentinian beef to bring down prices for American consumers [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Oct 20 OP

The new head of the US Department of Argentina has spoken BeyondGeography Oct 20 #1

Fun fact: Trump's new ambassador to Argentina is called Lamelas peppertree Oct 20 #69

Any suspicion about the trump crime family making a bundle on OUR 20B tax $ going to ARG? mpcamb Oct 21 #76

There's plenty in Argentina, I can tell you peppertree Oct 21 #82

Well that will really endear Trump to American agribusiness VMA131Marine Oct 20 #2

Bankrupt Farmers For Trump. multigraincracker Oct 20 #4

FAFO dumb ass Trump voting farmers who have already seen Trump kill America's sorghum market to ... Botany Oct 20 #6

That won't help supermarkets that sell only US beef Deminpenn Oct 20 #3

Not a bad thing Bayard Oct 20 #39

Couldn't agree more. We'll adjust and adapt... democratsruletheday Oct 20 #48

Don't eat much red meat except for stews and the occassional brisket Deminpenn Oct 20 #65

So Brady Blackett says, "Hey, let's gouge them! travelingthrulife Oct 21 #72

To be fair, it's just the demand side of supply and demand market Deminpenn Oct 21 #83

Price of tofu is dropping like a rock. multigraincracker Oct 20 #5

I was reading about eating soy beans last night (out of curiosity) questionseverything Oct 20 #8

Acorns can be eaten. But they, too have to be boiled. I wanted to try this. I figured I could find enough acorns 3Hotdogs Oct 20 #11

Make sure they are from White Oaks. multigraincracker Oct 20 #28

Native Americans would place acorns in a basket and anchor them in a stream, so they got a long soaking & washing ... eppur_se_muova Oct 20 #49

Acorns - something else on the gopper hate list BaronChocula Oct 20 #58

Pretty sure tofu is ok. multigraincracker Oct 20 #25

Soybeans are actually fairly toxic until cooked. Makes you wonder who figured that out, and how .... eppur_se_muova Oct 20 #41

The soybeans American farmers grow aren't what is used for tofu though questionseverything Oct 20 #55

I've eaten them out of farmers fields. multigraincracker Oct 20 #61

I'm just repeating what the scientists tell us about soy beans questionseverything Oct 20 #63

I buy 14oz blocks in the local grocery store. multigraincracker Oct 20 #66

I wish I could eat tofu TNNurse Oct 20 #14

They are beans. Do you get that from other bean? multigraincracker Oct 20 #26

Try other brands, or try other soy dishes. If not adequately cooked, soy beans can cause quite a few problems. eppur_se_muova Oct 20 #44

Tofu is useful get the red out Oct 21 #78

Well, that's really going to help the American Ranchers and Farmers... slightlv Oct 20 #7

So- Central government planning? James48 Oct 20 #9

This will screw all of the cattle farmers, but also the grain farmers who grow the food for these animals. mackdaddy Oct 20 #10

Hay prices are in the tank, also. jeffreyi Oct 20 #37

Pork and chicken The Madcap Oct 20 #12

RFK Jr may suggest bear, whale, worms, bugs, etc. IronLionZion Oct 20 #19

Roadkill. Raccoons haven't figured out cars yet. Ocelot II Oct 20 #51

A step up from skunks and armadillos. The Madcap Oct 21 #70

I called that last week obamanut2012 Oct 20 #13

Doesn't Congress have to sanction the bailout Baitball Blogger Oct 20 #15

if there is one powerful lobby group that won't put up with this shit, it's the beef lobby. nt Javaman Oct 20 #16

and comes with free screw worms! nt Javaman Oct 20 #17

I'm sure that's going over well with the American cattle and beef industry IronLionZion Oct 20 #18

Wind up the old "eating cats and dogs" story again. twodogsbarking Oct 20 #20

Tough it out folks, I'm going golfing. DJT twodogsbarking Oct 20 #21

So billions of dollars to them & we STILL buy their beef bronxiteforever Oct 20 #22

The billions so far pay the Wall Street bond holders...this purchase pays the Wall Street agribusiness investors Prairie Gates Oct 20 #24

Yep, bronxite. Give with one hand, take with the other and we're not supposed to notice. Deuxcents Oct 21 #81

And the American Secretary of Agriculture is chill with this? no_hypocrisy Oct 20 #23

Earl Butz told US farmers and ranchers to markodochartaigh Oct 20 #31

Earl Butz made sure the price of bread went thru the roof Attilatheblond Oct 20 #52

Ha! markodochartaigh Oct 20 #53

Yep, it's coming back to me now Attilatheblond Oct 20 #57

America first? Eugene Oct 20 #27

I don't think Magats pay attention to the news Easterncedar Oct 20 #32

MAGA doesn't care as long as some lib got it stuck to them durablend Oct 20 #43

Will the plunging US dollar cooperate? bucolic_frolic Oct 20 #29

If markodochartaigh Oct 20 #30

OR keep ICE away from the meat packing plants. They're really hurting production. nt eppur_se_muova Oct 20 #45

After high school markodochartaigh Oct 20 #50

Now the notsee is screwing the ranchers, another land grab. Clouds Passing Oct 20 #33

Let me guess.................this is his plan............... turbinetree Oct 20 #34

Have I got this right? 70sEraVet Oct 20 #35

arnt we in a debit? where are we going to get the money? AllaN01Bear Oct 20 #36

Sell a bunch of soybeans to Argentina, the last I heard we weren't selling to China anymore. Uncle Joe Oct 20 #40

Well, at least we're getting some soybeans back -- after a huge value-added markup. eppur_se_muova Oct 20 #38

trump doesn't care Bayard Oct 20 #42

Hello!??? 3825-87867 Oct 20 #46

This will not go over well with American "farmers" Renew Deal Oct 20 #47

Trump Tower Buenos Aires... ret5hd Oct 20 #54

You're not kidding. They almost pulled it off in Nov. 2016 - but the reformist Buenos Aires mayor wouldn't approve it peppertree Oct 21 #73

I won't buy it. mdbl Oct 20 #56

The amounts are such - that restaurants buy it all up before it could reach any store shelves peppertree Oct 21 #80

This latest twist ought to make Texas cattlemen happy Vogon_Glory Oct 20 #59

Don't expect cattle ranchers to jump the fence (so to speak). Aristus Oct 20 #60

Remember, in '98, when they sued Oprah after she aired a video clip showing REVOLTING slaughterhouse conditions? peppertree Oct 21 #74

Should be free. We paid 40 billion dollars Blue Full Moon Oct 20 #62

Hear that you farmers who voted for Trump? But, maybe it's a good thing since you probably can't Vinca Oct 20 #64

He can't buy Greenland, so he's gonna do Argentina instead? Ford_Prefect Oct 20 #67

What does Argentina have that he wants? red dog 1 Oct 20 #68

I prefer American beef PCB66 Oct 21 #71

We'll be lucky if it doesn't have E-coli and the other tasty flavors durablend Oct 21 #75

Argentine Should Tack On A Hefty Tariff On This Beef And..... global1 Oct 21 #77

The guy who bankrupted his own casinos knows how to do economics! sakabatou Oct 21 #79