The U.S. is still one of the world’s biggest meat producers. So why are Americans paying so much for beef?

The U.S. remains a top beef producer but faces record-high ground beef prices due to declining cattle populations, drought-related challenges, and rising feed costs. Despite steady demand, factors like heatwaves, reduced grazing land, and Trump-era tariffs on fertilizer have exacerbated supply constraints, with cattle numbers unlikely to recover until 2028.