If I am not mistaken, and it wouldn't be the first time, a lot of the meat in the big boxes is imported from Brazil and a lot of the high quality meat from the US is exported. We just slapped on heck of a tariff on beef from Brazil.
What in the Sweet Baby Jesus is going on? Meat prices.
- Thread starter bmudd14474
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Brazil, Mexico , Australia, New Zealand are the biggest importers on beef along with Canada.
Question is, why do we need to import what we can clearly raise or produce here. This is where politics come to play. That is a big part of the problem. And it’s not one side or the other, it’s both of them over time.
Mexican beef import is sidelined due to screwworm concerns. A lot of the "US" produced beef is actually Mexican beef that that is brought across the border and finished (fattened) in the US. Truth in labeling has not caught up due to the Beef Industry PAC funding.
Ted Nugent says it best about politicians.
Ted Nugent says it best about politicians.
I warned you about this last year when the price of tri-tip skyrocketed to $7- at CBC. Been north for the summer so not sure where it settled. We will be south in about a month to shop the prices
luvcatchingbass
Smoking Fanatic
You think those prices are bad you should get caught up with what the prices for new / newer equipment is for farm and ranch operations heck even used worn down equipment is stupid priced. Someone mentioned environmental which does play a factor from time to time and the time it takes for an animal to reach butcher weight which yes takes time but still not the major factor but makes darn good excuses. Once prices on ANYTHING goes up they NEVER come down.
luvcatchingbass
Smoking Fanatic
Did you know that part of the reason we can't get some things imported like a Toyota Hilux or exasperated prices on items can be traced back to selling chickens to Germany? I'm sure there are more cases but this guy does a great job on his military history and these business things
I don't know, but my whole 'eat as much meat and fat as possible and also try to get grass fed' diet is getting blown to smithereens.
- Aug 6, 2017
- 2,093
- 2,200
I've never seen prices move up as quickly as I have over the last 6 months. Yeah beef is being affected but so are many other things. They're no mystery why this is happening.
bill1
Master of the Pit
- Apr 25, 2015
- 1,958
- 918
While I think hatched-egg-to-slaughtered-chicken is under a year. So if you underestimate the beef market and you need to course-correct, it takes longer to get the supply/demand back in balance. I'm buying more chicken and pork just because the price difference vs beef has become intolerable. But hoping that improves as herds build back up. And tariffs should help the cost of home-grown products like beef...although I don't know what fraction of foreign content (fertilizer, veterinary pharmaceuticals, etc) figures into the rail price of beef.
I think the same market prediction, then correction, thing is happening with gas...there was an expectation of "work-from-home" but more and more businesses are finding you just have to get people face-to-face for any real (good?) decisions to get made.
It's kinda the same way here with Orange Juice... Here at the Port I work at they will load concentrate on one end of the ship... And off load RTD (ready to drink) off the front of the ship... The concentrate is shipped to Brazil... Water added to make it RTD.. then shipped back to the states... This is how they keep the prices of OJ up... I see it all the time here ...
Beef prices are definitely continuing to soar and have been for some time. Getting into the business also takes time in order to establish a sustainable supply of ready to market product (approx 30 months old) throughout the year. Gestation period is approx 9.5 months. Don't see anything to suggest this pricing issue is going to get fixed in the near future.
I know when I go to the grocery store, the first area I cruise is the discount meat bin.
Usually I will balk at even the discounted prices on beef.
Usually I will balk at even the discounted prices on beef.
Strictly on the original question of prices, yeah even here in TX prices are going up a good bit and we usually have amazing prices compared to the rest of the country.
There has not been a $1.99/lb sale on whole packer brisket any time this year! Usually there are about 4 good sales.
I also am not seeing the $0.89 - $0.99/lb Pork Butt or shoulder sales we used to have every month. Did see pork ribs go on sale for like $1.99/lb a lot this year but the monthly pork butt/shoulder sales have not been around.
I'm still able to see $1.99/lb boneless skinless chicken breast prices BUT i noticed their frequency is starting to skip from like a 1 week gap in that price across 3 store chains to 2 week and not many $0.99/lb on whole chickens very much this year.
Plenty of other price increases as well and beef has been the worst. I live in beef country and so far in 2025 it's been very bad on beef prices.
Other things non-meat have been up too. I don't drink soda but I will get the unsweetened carbinated waters like the store brand or a Lecroix, Soliel, or whatever is on weekly add for a good price. Those things are all $4.50+ a piece last few weeks where in months ago and 2024 I could score them at $2 - $2.50 each on sale and $3 all the time.
In short everything is going up or has been up and it's not stopping. It's also increasing pretty fast last 3-4 months like others have noted as well.
That's the pricing in my neck of the woods. I just continue to shop the best weekly ads and I'm super thankful I have 3 good grocery store options with good weekly ads that are NOT Walmart or Target.
I really really really feel for the more rural folks that are at the mercy of prices at the dollar store or the tiny tiny grocery store chains that can't do weekly ad deals like the bigger stores can.
There has not been a $1.99/lb sale on whole packer brisket any time this year! Usually there are about 4 good sales.
I also am not seeing the $0.89 - $0.99/lb Pork Butt or shoulder sales we used to have every month. Did see pork ribs go on sale for like $1.99/lb a lot this year but the monthly pork butt/shoulder sales have not been around.
I'm still able to see $1.99/lb boneless skinless chicken breast prices BUT i noticed their frequency is starting to skip from like a 1 week gap in that price across 3 store chains to 2 week and not many $0.99/lb on whole chickens very much this year.
Plenty of other price increases as well and beef has been the worst. I live in beef country and so far in 2025 it's been very bad on beef prices.
Other things non-meat have been up too. I don't drink soda but I will get the unsweetened carbinated waters like the store brand or a Lecroix, Soliel, or whatever is on weekly add for a good price. Those things are all $4.50+ a piece last few weeks where in months ago and 2024 I could score them at $2 - $2.50 each on sale and $3 all the time.
In short everything is going up or has been up and it's not stopping. It's also increasing pretty fast last 3-4 months like others have noted as well.
That's the pricing in my neck of the woods. I just continue to shop the best weekly ads and I'm super thankful I have 3 good grocery store options with good weekly ads that are NOT Walmart or Target.
I really really really feel for the more rural folks that are at the mercy of prices at the dollar store or the tiny tiny grocery store chains that can't do weekly ad deals like the bigger stores can.
What's funny is my local meat market is cheaper than Wally World......Got a whole filet mignon loin for $18 a pound not too long back. I bout passed out and ran with it before they changed their mind!
luvcatchingbass
Smoking Fanatic
I would love to go back into cattle because I used to love raising them but just can't afford to get back into it and I would have to run such a large heard to be "comfortable" and even though we still have a lot of the land it isn't enough without renting and the land prices are getting absolutely ridiculous. Just can't live on 65-100 head of mature cattle with a family of 4 anymore. How some think they can get into it after watching too much TV is beyond me. I even still have the hay mower and rakes plus tractors that are good enough, just need to get a new to me hay baler.
one upside is we can kind of take off whenever we want and not have to worry about animals besides the hunting dogs. I still get to help our pasture renter with his cattle so is some ways I get my fix without the risk.
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We are all seeing it. The only reason I still eat beef is because I have my own source. If I had to buy steaks at retail, wouldn't be eating any.
Chicken is pretty outrageous as well these days.
Pork is really creeping up as well. A good sale on Boston butt these days is $1.49/LB. Mostly see it at $1.99/LB and they call either a sale.
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