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Farm Credit East describes record grocery beef prices, with ground beef near $7 per pound, while the US cattle herd is shrinking. The July 2026 calf crop fell about 500,000 head year over year, and July feedlot placements were down 11% from a year earlier due to drought.
A shrinking herd and lower feedlot placements tighten feeder and fed cattle supplies, supporting higher cattle prices.
farmcrediteast.comSep 8, 2026After 80 past bullish weather events, Live Cattle moved a median +0.1% over 5 sessions (54% higher; middle half -0.8% to +1.3%), and +0.7% over 20.
After 79 past bullish weather events, Feeder Cattle moved a median +0.1% over 5 sessions (53% higher; middle half -1.4% to +1.7%), and +1.4% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
