Americans are tightening grocery budgets as food costs stay high.
Circana data shows beef is holding strong, making up more than half of fresh meat sales, which is good news for cattle producers.
Meanwhile, plant-based alternatives are starting to lose ground. In-store branded products are on the rise as shoppers hunt for deals and value.
People are shopping more often but buying less each trip, and many are blending grocery runs with dining out while trying to cut food waste.
Beef demand at the grocery store is not just showing up on the shelves.
Cull cow prices are hitting record highs as tight cattle supplies and strong ground beef demand push markets higher.
The National price for 85% lean cull cow topped $300 per hundred pounds last week.
USDA reports retail ground beef prices also hit record levels in June.
Higher U.S. tariffs on Brazilian beef could mean fewer imports, which helps support domestic cull cow prices.
Producers could now have a choice: sell now or hold cows for next year’s calves. If more cows are slaughtered, it could slow herd rebuilding into 2026.
Firm live cow prices and shifting dairy-side culling suggest cull cow values may stay stronger than usual this winter despite weaker cow beef cutout trends.
November 18, 2025 01:02 PM
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Tariff relief may soften grocery prices, but it also intensifies competition for U.S. fruit, vegetable, and beef producers as cheaper imports regain market share.
November 17, 2025 01:20 PM
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USMEF’s Jay Theiler discusses his leadership role in representing U.S. beef and pork and provides an update on this week’s conference in Indianapolis.
November 14, 2025 03:36 PM
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USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom shares how recent trade talks are influencing U.S. red meat global sales and the importance of key trade agreements like the USMCA.
November 12, 2025 03:07 PM
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Enforceable origin labels could create clearer premiums for U.S. cattle and address concerns some producers have had with competition from foreign imported beef.
November 12, 2025 12:39 PM
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Lucia Ruano, USMEF’s Central America representative, discusses what is driving demand for U.S. beef and pork in the region.
November 11, 2025 01:30 PM
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Tyson expects another year of beef-segment losses due to tight cattle supplies, even as chicken, pork, and prepared foods strengthen overall margins.
November 11, 2025 01:26 PM
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The DOJ’s new antitrust probe could reshape beef-packer behavior, with potential impacts on fed-cattle prices, processor margins, and long-term competition across the supply chain.
November 10, 2025 10:35 AM
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Tight cattle supplies keep prices high for ranchers, but policy shifts, export barriers, and packer losses signal a volatile road ahead for the beef supply chain.
November 07, 2025 11:02 AM
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