Even Stevie Wonder could see how ridiculous meat prices are lately. Ground beef prices are up 61% since February 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Why has the price gone up? It's the law of supply and demand. America's beef cattle herd is the smallest in 75 years, in part because of drought. But Americans' love of hamburgers and steaks has kept demand strong - until recently.
In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture continued to record a shrinking number of U.S. cattle and calves, forecasting that beef production would decline 4% over this year and another 2% in 2026.
Meanwhile, foreign imports are also down. Brazilian beef faces a 76% tariff. Fears about the screwworm parasite have led the USDA to block livestock from crossing from Mexico to the U.S. to safeguard the nation's food supply. Ranching in America can be a topsy-turvy, break-even or money-losing business, but not right now.
"We've kind of hit this perfect storm," says Brady Blackett, a third-generation Angus cattle producer in Utah. "There's healthy competition for the cattle, and there's not enough of them to fulfill the demand. And so it has driven prices to historic highs."
The United States imports roughly 8.1% to 10% of its total beef supply, a figure that can vary depending on market conditions and the domestic cattle cycle. This imported beef primarily consists of lean trimmings used in ground beef production, supplementing the domestic supply and meeting consumer demand for leaner products. Canada and Mexico are major sources of live cattle and beef, while Australia and Brazil are significant suppliers of lean trimmings for ground beef.
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Here's a great idea for a gift for
her for no reason at all.
Click on the picture for more information on this beautiful bracelet
It simple yet elegant - and come to you with free shipping!
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If you're over 60 - and I'm assuming a good number of you are - there's this article you should read. I never heard of this 'vegout' website before, but it's got some interesting reading on it. This one article: '10 things that become almost impossible after 60—unless you've aged exceptionally well' is, unfortunately, pretty much dead -on about what we coulda usta do but ain't doin' any more. It'll open in a new tab. Save it to read later. Interesting perspective, especially the 'get up gracefully from the floor' comment.
Anybody else remember this place from back in the early 70's? They attracted an odd assortment of freaks and fairies, but the burgers were actually pretty damn decent. I had no idea they were some kinda like 'mini-chain' of restaurants. That summer - '74 - is in my book as the greatest summer of my life. There's 55 stories for another day wrapped up in that 3 short months...
When you buy anything on Amazon going from a link
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Kamala Harris settled on Tim Walz to be her running mate last year because she felt Americans were too racist, antisemitic and homophobic to accept her preferred option - Pete Buttigieg.
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That is incredibly subtle. Wow - well played indeed.
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Imagine that - it first aired 60 years ago yesterday.
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on the blog, I get credit for whatever you buy.
Granted, it's only pennies, but every penny helps, right?
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Cow/calf operations are at a profit stage for the first time in a long long time and yet when they sell the calves they're still forced to accept the price offered by they packers who are making record profits and passing on a fraction to the cow/calf operators. When I was raising hogs and selling them for record low prices, the packers were bragging about record profits and with a glut of port still raised prices to the consumer. Drove me out of pork production.
ReplyDeleteAs to the comics, the new Nancy just as well quit since it has fallen off a cliff since the new person who does the comic has lost the theme of the comic strip.
There's still a Hamburger Mary's in KC. Haven't been there in the 26 years I've lived here, and surely won't before I die.
ReplyDeleteI have never liked Jimmy Kimmel. When he began his schtick of taking kids' Halloween candy away for them and thought it was funny to see their reactions. Cruelty, not funny. I rejoiced reading he had been yanked indefinitely.
ReplyDeleteAt https://tradingeconomics.com/commodities you can down the screen a bit and see what the Futures prices are for meat.
ReplyDeleteAmong a number of things Jordan Cooper apparently doesn't want to mention are the urinary bladder and urethral sphincter as they lose function with age
ReplyDeleteIn the '50s I once received a Valentine's Day card with the verse on the outside reading:
ReplyDeleteWhen you're with me you're my master,
When apart I'm still your slave.
Just thinking of you makes my heart beat faster;
I'll always love you darling
And the inside continuing...
Burma Shave
Eat more moose. 50,000 wolves gotta know somethin…..
ReplyDeleteTo riff of Joe's Alvin Lee reference:
ReplyDeleteLife is funny
Skies are sunny
Bees make honey
Who needs money?
Burma Shave
Mark in PA
Brilliant...
DeleteSupply and Demand and Food prices - We now have about 50 million illegals here and the majority are well supplied with free-to-them taxpayer money and other freebies handed out by the feral government. Deport them all and watch prices across the board drop. When demand drops food, gasoline, house prices and rent will follow.
ReplyDeleteNo, there are about 12 million illegals in the country and I agree that we should deport them, but simple common economic sense says that wont do jackschit to prices. This is just the beginning but prices are gonna get a lot worse.
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