Drought Still Taking Toll on Beef Prices
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: February 6, 2013
Get ready to pay more for steaks and cheeseburgers.
Beef cattle across the state is declining faster than the national average, and it's all because of the drought.
Cattle ranchers sold off their cattle because there wasn't enough forage for them to eat.
As a result, a shrinking supply means costs will rise along with demand.
"This is going to have devastating effects," says animal science expert Tom Troxel. "Reducing calf size is going to impact rural communities as they buy and sell product."
This is the seventh straight year the nation's cattle population has declined.
Beef cattle across the state is declining faster than the national average, and it's all because of the drought.
Cattle ranchers sold off their cattle because there wasn't enough forage for them to eat.
As a result, a shrinking supply means costs will rise along with demand.
"This is going to have devastating effects," says animal science expert Tom Troxel. "Reducing calf size is going to impact rural communities as they buy and sell product."
This is the seventh straight year the nation's cattle population has declined.
