Long Last High Beef Prices Come With A Cost to Producers

Significant attention is currently focused on President Donald Trump's recent statement that the US may consider increasing beef imports from Argentina as a move to boost supply and in turn lower beef prices for consumers. However, prior to this announcement, elevated beef prices have been beneficial for producers, which is raising questions about how the proposed shift might influence consumer demand and whether it could lead to lasting changes in the market. Erin Spaur is Executive Vice President of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association.

“I'm really nervous right now of the possible long-term effects of just these high beef prices, and how long will consumers hold out with this high beef demand and and at what point do we price consumers out? To this point we have not, but I'm afraid once we see that point where we're going to price a lot of people out, and then we're going to be back to, you know, 30 years ago, of trying to once again, talk about the benefits of beef and and so it's really exciting times, but it's also kind of scary times, too, when we think about supplies, and we think about just how long these prices can hold and then also sustaining that beef demand.”

Erin Spaur, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, I'm Lorrie Boyer with today's line on agriculture report.