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One American dinner staple faces a historic shortage with no quick fix
Fox Business • • business
Key Points:
- The U.S. cattle herd has shrunk to its smallest size in 75 years, with about 86.2 million cattle and calves in 2026, down from 94.7 million in 2019, causing supply shortages and high beef prices.
- Tyson Foods is closing and selling several beef processing facilities as it adjusts to historic cattle shortages expected to persist.
- Persistent drought across the West and Plains has depleted grasslands, forcing ranchers to sell breeding cows early and hindering herd recovery.
- Retail beef prices have increased by approximately 23% from August 2024 to July 2026, reflecting the ongoing supply crunch.
- Rebuilding the cattle herd to alleviate high beef prices will take years due to the long-term effects of drought and reduced breeding stock.
