
As the nation faces a rapidly dwindling cattle population, reaching its lowest numbers in decades, the consequences for consumers and the nation’s cattlemen are becoming alarmingly clear. The Biden administration’s economic policies are not only failing to support U.S. beef producers but are driving America into a dangerously unsustainable market for consumer beef products.
John Boyd, Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association, highlighted the concerning decline in beef production during an appearance last week on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends First.”
Boyd, a veteran in the field with over four decades of experience, did not mince words when he stated, “This is a bad situation for America’s cattle farmers and America because we’re producing 1 billion pounds less beef than we were in this country, just a year ago.”
Ranchers sound the alarm as cattle production plummets to lowest point in decades: 'Bad situation' https://t.co/GENb9Oq3We via @nypost
— Dr. John W. Boyd, Jr. (@JWBoydNBFA) February 11, 2024
Agricultural economists point to the combined effects of persistent drought, skyrocketing input costs, and inflation as critical factors putting increased pressure on producers and consumers. Recent reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that the nation’s beef cattle inventory has not been this low since the 1970s and is down 2% from just a year ago.
The implications of this downturn extend beyond the farm. As Boyd warns, “Americans are going to pay the price at their local grocery stores,” a prediction supported by the USDA’s biannual Cattle Inventory Report. This report indicates a reduction in herd size and a calf crop at its smallest since 1948.
Further compounding the issue is that demand for beef has remained robust since the COVID-19 pandemic, with many Americans turning to grilling as a pastime and more cooking at home during lockdowns. This sustained demand combined with shrinking supply is a guaranteed recipe for financial strain on consumers and potential disaster for producers.
Experts like Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, underscore the gravity of the situation. Nelson notes that the combination of higher input prices and drought has significantly reduced the beef herd, particularly female cattle, crucial for replenishing stocks. This, in turn, has led to the smallest calf crop in nearly 76 years, setting the stage for even tighter supplies and possibly record prices in the coming years.
Clearly, the current administration’s policies are not meeting the needs of America’s cattlemen or the consumers who rely on them. Without a major course correction in this year’s election cycle, the U.S. risks facing not just a temporary spike in beef prices but a long-term crisis in its agricultural backbone, affecting millions of Americans at the dinner table and beyond.