US beef prices are soaring to record highs as the country's cattle inventory reaches its lowest level in more than 70 years, putting further strains on Americans' grocery bills.
@#23
Found this, though not really an answer ...
Global Standards Challenge U.S. Beef Exports Despite New Trade Efforts
austincountynewsonline.com
... U.S. beef export challenges remain a major hurdle for American producers, even after a new deal aimed at increasing exports to the European Union. Despite efforts to promote American beef abroad, concerns about food safety, hormone use, and traceability continue to limit U.S. access to international markets.
The issues surrounding U.S. beef export challenges go back decades. In 2003, a case of Mad Cow Disease in Washington state sparked long-term restrictions. Australia and Argentina, for example, require full lifetime traceability of cattle, which the U.S. struggles to meet due to large imports of cattle from Canada and Mexico. In 2015, while the U.S. was granted a provisional clearance, concerns about herd changes and traceability still persist. ...
@#26 ... The US cattle herd is currently at a historic low, with the total number of cattle and calves estimated at 86.7 million head on January 1, 2025. ...
OK, I popped that into my search engine of choice and found this ...
Cattle Inventory Continues Contraction (February 2025)
www.fb.org
... According to the report, all cattle and calves in the United States on Jan. 1, 2025, totaled 86.7 million head, down about 1% from 87.2 million in 2024.
The inventory, along with nearly all other estimates in the report, fell within the range of analyst estimates.
The decrease, while smaller than last year, indicates continued contraction in the U.S. cattle herd. ...
Conclusions and Cattle Cycle
This was a neutral-to-slightly positive report. The overall rate of contraction of the cattle inventory has slowed. ...
So I ask once again, does the US produce more or less beef than it consumes?
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