# Beef outlook 2026: Lower production, strong prices and rising imports

> The USDA's Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook cut its 2026 US beef production forecast slightly to 25.79 billion pounds. Slaughter steer prices are forecast to average $241.66 per hundredweight, up 8% from 2025. Heavier carcass weights are offsetting lower throughput.

- Date: 2026-04-21 · published 2026-04-21T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/19861-beef-outlook-2026-lower-production-strong-prices-and-rising-imports
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Lower production and firm prices point to continued tight beef supply, supporting cattle values through 2026.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2023-12-04 | [Lower Beef Production Affecting 2024 Prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32624-lower-beef-production-affecting-2024-prices.md) | -1.8% | -0.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-07-20 | [USDA Outlook Highlights Tight Cattle Supplies and Strong Beef Prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18489-usda-outlook-highlights-tight-cattle-supplies-and-strong-beef-prices.md) | -1.4% | -2.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2021-02-24 | [Lower 2021 production on reduced slaughter and weights \| Ag Proud](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48766-lower-2021-production-on-reduced-slaughter-and-weights-ag-proud.md) | +1.6% | +1.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2020-06-15 | [Cattle prices to rise as production, exports fall: ABARES - Beef Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52571-cattle-prices-to-rise-as-production-exports-fall-abares-beef-central.md) | -4.3% | -5.9% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-08-07 | [Beef Cutouts, Cattle Slaughter, and By-Product Prices – USDA Report (Aug 7, 2026) - News and Statistics - IndexBox](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18005-beef-cutouts-cattle-slaughter-and-by-product-prices-usda-report-aug-7-2026-news.md) | -0.6% | -6.6% |
| FCATTLE | 2023-12-04 | [Lower Beef Production Affecting 2024 Prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32624-lower-beef-production-affecting-2024-prices.md) | +0.4% | +5.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-07-20 | [USDA Outlook Highlights Tight Cattle Supplies and Strong Beef Prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18489-usda-outlook-highlights-tight-cattle-supplies-and-strong-beef-prices.md) | -0.2% | -1.5% |
| FCATTLE | 2017-04-05 | [Calf Price Rally and a Crop Production Report \| Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/71636-calf-price-rally-and-a-crop-production-report-ohio-beef-cattle-letter.md) | +4.7% | +17.0% |

## Sources

- beefweb.com: https://beefweb.com/beef-market-outlook-2026-usda-production-prices/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.