Beef Cost is Unreal!

[Gonna Smoke]

Currently the DOJ is pursuing antitrust litigation against Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef alleging they have and are conspiring with each other to fix the price of beef. I think it's supposed to go to trial sometime in May.

For what it's worth, Kroger near me has briskets on sale for $3.99/lb. but that ends today. I haven't had the time to make that trek.

US Foods Chef Store has whole boneless chuck roll for $4.99/lb. I did manage to get one of them, just over 25 lbs. Now got to find the time to break it down...

 

[voyager 663rd]

and I think my 14lb brisket is big

 

[voyager 663rd]

double post--sooooooo slow today

 

[sandyut]

What I do mind is the inability most times to not even be able to find Prime beef at the Costcos here.

Its not consistent here. I would call it highly variable. I am just glad we have a Costco not too far away (40 minute drive). Grocery store beef looks pretty bad and costs even more.

 

[Parshooter]

So, what ends up happening to all the beef that is too expensive for people to purchase?

JC

It ends up at the end of the meat section, in the "Sale" bin. I've gotten some pretty good deals there.

 

[mneeley490]

It ends up at the end of the meat section, in the "Sale" bin. I've gotten some pretty good deals there.

I always check the sale bin. Most of the time even the discounted price is too high for me.

 

[Charlene G]

meat prices have been a racket around here for years, or should I say racketeering. We use to have one grocer-large chain, change the name of the beef cut. Example take a bottom round roast and label it top sirloin, and charge the sirloin price. Sneaky, very sneaky. When you point it out to the meat cutter, they make an excuse that the label machine was wrong. As far as those discount grocers go...they are even worse. Why would we need to import a sirloin steak from Australia to Canada? It might be sirloin, but from a kangaroo. I am hearing the ranchers have created their own mess...smaller herds. Was it a plan to get more money per cow? If it was it backfired big time-only the meat processor and retailer are making money.

 

[JC in GB]

It ends up at the end of the meat section, in the "Sale" bin. I've gotten some pretty good deals there.

When I was living in Virginia, I relied on the reduced section for meat. If none was there, I was a vegetarian that week. Good times, good times.....

JC

 

[nomoreusmc]

That's kinda cheap where I am at. About just paid 23$ for a .8lbs sirloin steak. I get 1 piece of beef a month. It's all I can afford.

 

[Parshooter]

That's kinda cheap where I am at. About just paid 23$ for a .8lbs sirloin steak. I get 1 piece of beef a month. It's all I can afford.

$23 for less than a pound ? That's insane. Why so high there ?

 

[radioguy]

All meat prices are cyclical. Chicken and pork have the shortest cycles. Beef has the longest cycle. Today’s beef prices are based on fuel and fertilizer prices from up to 4 years ago. Most beef takes about 2 years to grow out. During that time they are fed silage or grazed on grassland. Fuel and fertilizer contribute to the cost of feed. Two years ago, my neighbor opted not to fertilize some of his fields due to cost. Less yield per acre, means more $$ per bushel, but yield per acre. Indirectly, we are paying the freight for the past administration. Feed or silage can be stored so its cost can be spread out over a little longer time. We will have to see what happens in the Middle East, but I am of the belief that high fuel prices will be short lived and we will get some price relief.

RG

 

[KBFlyer]

Cannot remember where I read this from but the smaller stores have stopped putting meat out for display as no one can afford the high prices and it just sits there till they have to mark it down to get rid of it. From what was said it is stored in freezers and if you want something it comes frozen. Now thats F.....k up

 

[nomoreusmc]

$23 for less than a pound ? That's insane. Why so high there ?

Both our meat houses where shut down by ice (well the employees where..... Relocated) so everything is going to be shipped in until they hire some more legal staff

 

[thirdeye]

So, what ends up happening to all the beef that is too expensive for people to purchase?

JC

The cycle will equalize, with ranches and farmers taking the big hit. Next are the retailers that have to mark down their boxed beef, lowering their profit margin.

Today’s beef prices are based on fuel and fertilizer prices from up to 4 years ago. Most beef takes about 2 years to grow out. During that time they are fed silage or grazed on grassland. Fuel and fertilizer contribute to the cost of feed.

Bingo . And fertilizer is a pretty important piece of the puzzle. Farmers are weighing out planting corn or soy beans, but need to factor in fertilizer. Corn is used for finishing beef, and for making ethanol to add to gasoline. Cattle operations target a specific kill date to maximize profit on-the-hoof... too soon or too late cuts into that profit.

Cannot remember where I read this from but the smaller stores have stopped putting meat out for display as no one can afford the high prices and it just sits there till they have to mark it down to get rid of it.

Yes, that is true. Cases of beef cuts all have a kill date (aka pack date) and have a longer life when kept in the walk-in cooler. It never hurts to ask what is available in the back room.

One local meat market sources higher grade beef and now most of their items are vacuum packaged and frozen.

 

[Parshooter]

Went to a Brazilian market yesterday to get a picanha. Only 10.99 lb. A bit much but from a small specialty store I expected that. Bought a 3 pounder to smoke Saturday. Full write up to follow.

 

[banderson7474]

There's two sales that I keep an out for each year. One is the rib roasts usually in december in Kroger and Walmart. They were 8.99lb. I got 3 and had them cut into steaks for the year. The Kroger brisket sale was finally last week. They were 3.99lb so I got 2. Problem is you never really know when the sales are gonna be so you have to keep an eye out.

 

[sandyut]

There's two sales that I keep an out for each year. One is the rib roasts usually in december in Kroger and Walmart. They were 8.99lb. I got 3 and had them cut into steaks for the year. The Kroger brisket sale was finally last week. They were 3.99lb so I got 2. Problem is you never really know when the sales are gonna be so you have to keep an eye out.

Kroger here never has brisket on sale. Its weird. in SLC they did. Many years ago they had a BOGO on briskets.

 

[DRKsmoking]

BEEF and everything else is a lot higher on this side of the boarder also.

David

 

[banderson7474]

Kroger here never has brisket on sale. Its weird. in SLC they did. Many years ago they had a BOGO on briskets.

Not that I don't believe you but have you asked the butchers b/c here it's only a week long and once a year and not very well advertised.

 

[sandyut]

Not that I don't believe you but have you asked the butchers b/c here it's only a week long and once a year and not very well advertised.

I have not. But I watch the weekly mailers close for meat deals and that is where I found them in the past.