USDA’s June meat price forecast projects protein prices climbing higher across the board in the coming years.
World Ag Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski says that while it was expected for steers, you might be surprised by the strength in other markets like hogs and poultry.
“We raised our hog price forecast by $1.75 per hundredweight to $67.40 per hundredweight... broilers and turkey, again, seeing some price strength there. Broilers in particular, kind of being supported by the strength in beef prices, at least in part. For our broiler price forecast this month, we raised by half a cent a pound. So, now it is at 133.7 cents per pound for 2025. Anticipating continued strength into 2026, we raised our forecast one cent per pound to 135.5 cents per pound, that would be up 1.8 cents year-over-year.”
For steers, the numbers are just climbing higher and higher.
“Our steer price forecast, we raised by $7 per hundredweight. So, we’re now at again another record high, $221.51 per hundredweight for steers for 2025. We expect that to increase further into 2026 or 2026 forecast. We raised by $5.75 per hundredweight to $228.50 per hundredweight.”
Consumer demand for beef has held strong despite the tightening of today’s cattle herd. Some experts are growing weary of just how high those prices are set to climb.
Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
January 27, 2026 12:19 PM
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Meat stocks rose seasonally but remain below last year overall, while tighter butter inventories could support dairy prices, and belly stocks warrant close watch for pork markets.
January 26, 2026 03:00 PM
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Rising import pressure and tougher export competition are likely to persist into 2026, supporting domestic supplies while capping export growth.
January 26, 2026 09:56 AM
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council published a joint press release regarding the advancement of legislation to delist the Mexican Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act.
January 23, 2026 05:05 PM
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026. Dr. Derrell Peel, with Oklahoma State University, joined us to break down cattle-on-feed numbers and provide his broader market outlook.
January 23, 2026 04:40 PM
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USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.
January 23, 2026 03:39 PM
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Pennsylvania Farm Show scholarship recipient Elizabeth Dice discusses her award, her background in farming, and her path forward in the agriculture industry.
January 23, 2026 01:48 PM
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Analysts say a Supreme Court decision on tariffs could reshape protein markets, strain U.S.-China trade, and force farmers to rethink global demand strategies.
January 21, 2026 12:03 PM
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Despite rising costs and growing food insecurity, meat demand remained strong in 2025 as higher-income consumers offset cutbacks elsewhere. Economists break down the K-shaped economy, upcoming USDA cattle reports, livestock production outlooks, and renewed debate over beef imports and country-of-origin labeling heading into 2026.
January 20, 2026 02:47 PM
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