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Demand for beef is steady, it is just now starting to shrink due to cost and inflation. Two things to watch are futures prices on Chicago Merc Exchange, then pick up a copy of the Capital Press and check auction prices for all the western US auctions. The Merc reflects the current demand snd forecast. I have family that run cattle in Eastern WA and Canada. Their sale prices are up less than 10% from 3 years ago. Fuel and feed up 45% and 25% respectively. If you want to avoid all political aspects your are ignoring realities, but lay them where they belong. Labor shortages in processing, trucking costs, fuel prices, USDA and states restricting small slaughter and processing to sales, and allowing virtual monopolies by conglomerates like Smithfield.