NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — U.S. protein prices are no longer moving together, and retail data now shows a clear split between beef and other major proteins. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service’s retail price and spread data through late 2025 indicate beef prices are rising due to tight supply fundamentals, while pork and poultry continue to follow more normal seasonal and inflationary patterns.
All-fresh beef retail values increased nearly 20 percent from late 2023 through November 2025, with prices exceeding $9 per pound and holding there without a typical fall pullback. Pork prices, by contrast, peaked seasonally in summer and softened into fall, while chicken prices remained comparatively flat throughout the year. That divergence suggests that beef is being repriced at a structurally higher level, rather than simply reflecting broad-based food inflation.
Price spread data reinforces the story. Beef farmers’ share of the retail dollar improved compared with earlier years, but failed to keep pace with accelerating retail prices late in 2025. Pork producers saw their share shrink, while poultry margins remained stable, reflecting ample supplies.
Consumer behavior appears adaptive rather than resistant. Shoppers are trading between proteins and within cuts, but overall demand has not collapsed, allowing beef to retain premium status.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Protein markets are fragmenting — beef is supply-driven and structurally higher, while pork and poultry remain more price-competitive.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Dr. David Anderson with Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension discusses how geopolitical tensions and the Middle East, along with export disruptions in the Chinese market, will shape cattle markets in the months ahead.
March 12, 2026 12:54 PM
·
Ben Kurtzman with American Farmland Trust discusses the growing pressure on farmland and ranchland and the steps being taken to help conserve farms and ranches across the country ,as unrest in the Middle East adds more obstacles for producers.
March 11, 2026 03:18 PM
·
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson warns that rising electricity demand from AI and data centers could strain the grid and affect rural electric cooperatives if U.S. power infrastructure cannot keep up.
March 11, 2026 11:59 AM
·
Acre reporting is crucial to maximize specialty crop aid.
March 11, 2026 10:49 AM
·
Jake Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on current cattle market conditions and shares advice for producers seeking to stay protected in an uncertain market.
March 10, 2026 03:08 PM
·
National Pork Producers Council incoming president Rob Brenneman shares insights from the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, where producers gathered to discuss Farm Bill policy, sustainability, and other priorities for the year ahead.
March 10, 2026 01:44 PM
·
