AFBF Economist: Summer Grilling Season Expected to Keep Meat Demand Strong

American Farm Bureau economist Bernt Nelson says consumers are still buying meat despite ongoing price pressures.

WASHINGTON (RFD News) — Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer grilling season, bringing stronger seasonal demand for meat products across grocery stores and retailers.

American Farm Bureau economist Bernt Nelson joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to discuss the latest factors shaping meat demand and pricing this summer.

In his conversation with RFD News, Nelson discussed the outlook for consumer demand heading into peak grilling season and the major factors influencing prices for beef, pork and chicken.

The discussion also focused on ways consumers may be able to save money as many families continue managing tighter food budgets.

Related Stories
Building on the USDA’s recently released Grazing Action Plan, the agreement formalizes collaboration between the USDA, Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management to ensure more efficient, transparent, and responsive grazing management across federal lands.
Cattle farmer Scott Porter, Kentucky Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farmer of the Year, discusses his commitment to mentorship and the importance of strengthening the future of agriculture.
Firefighters are making good progress on two major wildfires burning across parts of Nebraska.
Processing disruptions could impact cattle markets if the strike continues.
South Texas farmers face worsening drought as Mexico falls short on water payments, leaving producers struggling for irrigation under the 1944 treaty.
Margins shift across the chain based on timing.

Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Tennemo Rice Family Farm & Mill is Tennessee’s first and only family-owned rice farm and mill, handling everything from planting to milling and packaging.
Georgia Rep. Jaclyn Ford reflects on her farming roots and cotton gin experience, saying agriculture drives her work and rural policy priorities in the state.
First-grade teacher Taylor Dougherty at Eastern Elementary School was named the 2026 Ag in the Classroom Award winner for her efforts to teach students about agriculture.
Lawmakers say payments will support schools, infrastructure and public safety in rural communities.
Initiative brings students from different backgrounds together to build relationships and broaden perspectives
Arkansas Farm Trail Passport brings visitors to operations across the state, like Horton’s Produce & More, where strawberry harvest focuses on quality over quantity.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.