LUBBOCK, Texas (RFD NEWS) — A proposal branded “Make America More Ground Beef” is being promoted to lower grocery-store prices, but the economics suggest its primary impact would fall elsewhere. Hyrum Egbert, author of The Big Bad Beef Packer newsletter, argues the plan functions less like consumer relief and more like a buyout-style support mechanism for dairies under margin pressure.
Proponents claim that diverting up to one million additional dairy-origin cattle to slaughter could add more than a billion pounds of lean trim and sharply reduce ground beef prices. Egbert notes that math does not hold up. Typical dairy cow yields translate to closer to 200 pounds of lean trim per head, not the 1,100 pounds implied, dramatically shrinking the potential supply boost.
Processing capacity also limits impact. Cow slaughter plants are already operating near normal levels, so pushing additional volume would take months and create regional bottlenecks rather than provide rapid retail relief. Meanwhile, ground beef markets naturally adjust through blending and import substitution, muting price effects.
Egbert concludes that the program would most clearly benefit dairy producers and, conditionally, cow packers, while taxpayers fund the transfer, and consumers see limited sustained relief.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Policies aimed at ground beef prices may primarily reshape dairy incentives rather than deliver lasting consumer savings.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson says the 2026 Farm Bill is bipartisan, with 82% of the bills incorporated into it receiving bipartisan support.
February 25, 2026 11:24 AM
·
High beef prices are squeezing South Texas restaurants, but Texas Farm Bureau says consumer demand remains strong despite record costs.
February 25, 2026 11:12 AM
·
Reliable canal infrastructure supports long-term access to global agricultural markets.
February 25, 2026 08:00 AM
·
Alan Bjerga of the National Milk Producers Federation discusses the Dairy Margin Coverage program, recent improvements, and what producers need to know ahead of this week’s enrollment deadline.
February 24, 2026 03:01 PM
·
Glyphosate and phosphorus are deemed critical to U.S. national defense, ensuring farmers’ access while signaling a shift toward regenerative agriculture. RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney shares insight on the Trump Administration’s move and what it could mean for U.S. farmers moving forward.
February 24, 2026 01:30 PM
·
Ag leaders say President Donald Trump’s State of the Union is unlikely to spark major agriculture headlines, but ongoing tariff uncertainty and trade policy remain key concerns, as does the debate around glyphosate and the status of the next Farm Bill.
February 24, 2026 11:57 AM
·
