U.S. Beef Cattle Has Lowest Inventory Since 1962

by design. Also, Bill Gates & Blackrock buying up farmland with zero plans for cattle.

Miles-long sale barn lines last summer

This was a huge concern in TX and other ranching states last summer. Severe drought and bad hay shortage, coupled with high diesel prices that made shipping in hay from other areas ridiculously expensive. Ranchers were selling off their herds because they simply could not feed them.

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this is primarily an economic problem.

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Exactly right. The price of everything associated with raising cattle went up but the price of cattle didnt. Its just not economical. Everyone I know still in it has other reasons such as using it to show a loss every year for taxes .

What’s this got to do with the price of rice in China? Definitely something, I’m not even joking. It’s no longer even a cliché. Been transferred over to the Serious Question Bro category.

I’ve been trying some different things with dirt. I’ve found that just eating it raw straight from the ground is efficient enough. It’ll make a turd, but you’d actually be pretty shocked at how bad it is. You will get worms though. Only way is to kill them with fire, and while they’re in your body. It’s tricky.

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the price of beef sure as hell did

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That is why there was a congressional investigation. I am not sure of the outcome or if it is ongoing. The vast majority of this nation's beef still starts with family own herds with >50 head.

With the past couple of years of sale barn prices, a traditional cattle farmer cannot make the numbers work as in the past. Gone are the days of being able to buy the land with a loan, raise cattle for income, and be able to raise a family while paying off the land. Inputs have steadily increased while that sale barn price hasn't.

Thankfully, farmers and ranchers are getting creative to dramatically decrease those inputs to get the profit margin back.

There are a ton of land rich - cash poor to borderline poverty farmers out there. Somehow, our society has imbedded in them that it is not honorable to make a profit. I know, because we fight that in our family. They used the farm to show a loss because the numbers quit working. Of course, the previous generation is terrible at business. We are turning the farm around but it takes creative thinking and a change in operation.

Aren't they already fried?

Ribeye $30 incoming....

A lot of people are fixing to be miserable.

Me? My deer and elk are plenty of red meat until my steers get to 1200-1400 pounds. Those who can take care of themselves with those “useless” skills are about to look damn smart.