Beef prices in the United States have reached record highs, creating a storm that’s now shaking Washington. Donald Trump, once confident that inflation was “dead,” faces growing criticism as expensive beef threatens his promise to cut grocery costs. This week, he urged ranchers on social media to lower cattle prices. But his call — and several policy ideas from his administration — have infuriated many ranchers, who warn that his plans could destroy small producers while doing little to ease prices for consumers.
The slow collapse of America’s cattle farms
For more than 40 years, the US cattle industry has been shrinking. Herds have fallen to their lowest level in nearly 75 years, and over 150,000 ranches have vanished since 2017 — a 17% drop, according to the Agriculture Department. Domestic supply keeps tightening while Americans continue to crave beef, driving prices higher.
Ranchers say they are trapped by four decades of consolidation among meat processors. These powerful corporations dominate the market and keep prices low for livestock. On top of that, fertiliser, feed, and equipment costs have soared. Droughts have worsened the pain, forcing ranchers to sell off large parts of their herds.
In Illinois, rancher Christian Lovell said once-lush pastures have turned to dust. “You put all these together and you have a recipe for a really broken market,” said Lovell, who works with the advocacy group Farm Action.
Beef prices outpacing everything else
The cost of beef has risen much faster than overall food inflation. Ground beef prices are up 12.9% in the past year, while steaks have jumped 16.6%, according to federal data. A pound of ground chuck now costs $6.33, compared with $5.58 a year ago. Meanwhile, overall food inflation stands at just 3.1%.
“The cattle herd has been getting smaller for several years, yet people still want that American beef,” said Brenda Boetel, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.
Derrell Peel, an agricultural economist at Oklahoma State University, said prices are likely to stay high until at least the end of the decade. He explained that rebuilding herds takes years — meaning the Trump administration has few quick options to fix the issue.
Import plan sparks outrage in farm country
The Agriculture Department this week unveiled a plan to boost domestic beef production by expanding grazing land and helping small meat processors. But controversy exploded when Trump suggested importing more beef from Argentina — potentially quadrupling existing levels.
Eight House Republicans sent a letter to the White House warning that the plan could devastate American ranchers. Even the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, normally supportive of Trump, said the idea “creates chaos at a critical time for producers while doing nothing to lower grocery prices.”
Trump defended his approach, pointing to tariffs that restrict imports from Brazil. “They have to get their prices down,” he wrote. “The consumer is a big factor in my thinking.” But his words did little to calm angry ranchers.
Justin Tupper, president of the US Cattlemen’s Association, said the import plan would mainly benefit big meat packers. “I don’t see that lowering prices here at all,” he said.
Corporate giants dominate the market
Experts say the deeper issue is the power of four giant companies — Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef — which control more than 80% of the US beef slaughtering and packing industry.
“These are consolidated markets gouging ranchers and gouging consumers,” said Austin Frerick, an agricultural and antitrust expert at Yale University.
The companies have faced multiple lawsuits, including one from McDonald’s accusing them of colluding to inflate beef prices. Earlier this year, Trump rolled back a Biden-era order designed to curb corporate consolidation in the food industry. Even so, his administration has launched new investigations into competition in agriculture.
Ranchers warn of a breaking point
In Kansas, rancher Mike Callicrate has managed to survive by bypassing meat packers and selling beef directly to consumers. But he admits most ranchers can’t afford that model. Many have already left the business — and few are willing to return.
“We’re not going to rebuild this cow herd — not until we address market concentration,” Callicrate said. He supports opening more grazing land but insists, “Without a fair market, you’re a fool to get into the cattle business.”
Bill Bullard, head of the trade group R-CALF USA, shut down his 300-cow ranch in South Dakota in 1985 as consolidation grew. He said ranchers only recently started getting better prices because supplies have fallen so low that processors had to pay more.
Still, Bullard said ranchers remain distrustful. Imports and corporate control continue to undermine confidence in the system. “He’s focused on the symptoms, not the problems,” Bullard said of Trump’s strategy.
As beef prices keep rising and family ranches disappear, Trump’s challenge deepens. The president now faces an uneasy question: can he fix America’s beef crisis without breaking the backbone of rural life?
