The U.S. cattle herd is shrinking, boosting prices for producers, but causing concerns down the line.
Oklahoma state ag economist, Dr. Darrell Peel, says that the beef industry has been cyclical for 150 years, but that pattern may be changing in 2025.
“If you’re following it at all, you know that we’ve got record-high cattle prices across the board for all kinds of cattle. We’ve got record-high beef prices at the wholesale and retail levels, and so there’s lots of supply-driven fundamentals here that are really driving the market. We’ve had an incredible beef demand to match that, which is why we can maintain these record-high prices at the consumer level, but there’s also lots of challenges along the way.”
Those challenges, Dr. Peel says, start to show up at the processor level.
“Everybody is really caught in this, in this challenging, sort of adverse, buy-sell margin because of the supply-driven price increases from the bottom up in terms of animal production. And so, that’s the environment that everybody’s in right now, and you know, again, without getting into too much of the detail, the bottom line is it’s going to be a while— this is not going to be a fast process.”
With herd expansion yet to really begin, he predicts that we will stay in a high price environment for the rest of the decade.
UNL Extension’s Troy Walz discusses the Nebraska Ranch Practicum, where sessions are held, how producers can get involved, and what ranchers can gain from participating in the program.
February 24, 2026 01:16 PM
·
The Ranger Road Fire in the Oklahoma Panhandle is now 65% contained after burning nearly 300,000 acres over the past week. Kevin Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance Agency discusses wildfire recovery, livestock insurance considerations, and the importance of preparedness for producers across the Southern Plains.
February 24, 2026 12:28 PM
·
Higher output keeps milk supplies ample, reinforcing expectations for softer dairy prices even as feed costs remain favorable.
February 24, 2026 07:30 AM
·
Singer-songwriter and RanchHER Clare Dunn reflects on the importance of National FFA Week, her time in FFA, and her commitment to advocating for agriculture and rural issues.
February 23, 2026 02:15 PM
·
Border closures tied to the threat of New World Screwworm continue to stall Mexican fed cattle imports, tightening U.S. feeder cattle supplies over time — triggering feedlot closures that hinder herd rebuilding efforts, threaten the beef supply chain, and shrink production while consumer prices stay elevated.
February 23, 2026 01:40 PM
·
Ranger Road Fire has burned 283,000 acres across Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle and is nearing containment, as ranchers begin assessing cattle and infrastructure losses as they look toward recovery.
February 23, 2026 11:08 AM
·
