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.
Plan for sharp, short-term volatility after unexpected outages; permanent closures rarely trigger major price spread disruptions.
December 12, 2025 12:25 PM
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Rising beef supplies and lower cattle prices, weaker hog markets, and softening dairy prices will shape producer margins heading into 2026.
December 11, 2025 01:32 PM
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Cattle imports from Mexico remain stalled amid the New World screwworm outbreak. At the same time, Tyson closures add pressure on Nebraska producers and markets ahead of the USDA’s upcoming Cattle on Feed Report.
December 08, 2025 01:55 PM
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The Lexington shutdown pushes national slaughter capacity utilization nearer long-run averages, underscoring how tight cattle supplies are reshaping packer operations.
December 06, 2025 06:00 AM
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The newly elected Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA), Dale Parker, joins us on-set to share his vision for his state’s cattle industry.
December 01, 2025 02:47 PM
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Tyson’s capacity cuts weaken local basis, tighten kill space, and heighten dependence on imports, signaling more volatility for producers.
December 01, 2025 11:09 AM
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Tyson’s Nebraska plant closure and falling Cattle on Feed numbers send cattle markets tumbling. Analysts warn of tighter supplies, weak margins, and rising global competition.
November 25, 2025 12:05 PM
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One trader said the products entering the U.S. are primarily grind and trim, noting that the volume and type of beef, on its own, should not cause a major disruption. However, he says fund traders are reacting heavily to headlines rather than market realities.
November 24, 2025 02:42 PM
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According to November’s Cattle on Feed Report, Nebraska now leads the nation in cattle feeding as tighter supplies continue to reshape regional market power and long-term price dynamics.
November 24, 2025 11:47 AM
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