Rural Exchange

There's a lot moving in the cattle industry right now.

U.S. beef supplies remain tight. Beef cow numbers are down, the calf crop is smaller, and consumers are still seeing historically expensive beef at the grocery store.

At the same time, we're now seeing efforts to increase supply.

The administration has announced plans to temporarily allow more imported ground beef into the U.S. at lower tariffs, while USDA has also started reopening cattle imports from Mexico through select ports under new screwworm safeguards.

Here's the bigger question:

Does increasing imports actually solve the beef-price problem—or does America need to focus more on rebuilding its own cattle herd?

The cattle industry is facing a combination of high cattle prices, tight cattle supplies, and concerns over livestock diseases like screwworm.

Do you believe beef prices will continue rising over the next 2 years?

Why or why not?

Let's hear from producers, consumers, and industry professionals.

Would you rather have:

100 acres and 20 cows

OR

20 acres and a direct-to-consumer beef business?

Explain your answer.

The New World Screwworm has now been confirmed in multiple cases in Texas and New Mexico, putting livestock producers across the country on alert. Officials are increasing monitoring, quarantines, and control efforts as concerns grow about potential impacts on cattle, sheep, goats, wildlife, and the broader livestock industry.

My question for Rural Exchange:

Do you believe the U.S. is doing enough to prevent a larger outbreak?

👇 Comment below:

✅ Yes, current efforts are enough

❌ No, more action is needed

What is the single biggest challenge facing your operation right now?

• Feed costs?

• Land prices?

• Labor?

• Predators?

• Processing?