# Policy Matters: Beefing Over Beef Prices

> An Angus Policy Matters column explains that U.S. cattle supplies hit a 74-year low on Jan. 1, 2025. It ties this to drought, high costs and the closure of the Mexican feeder cattle border over New World screwworm. The administration has promised a plan to rebuild the cattle herd.

- Date: 2026-01-01 · published 2026-01-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: policy · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/21005-policy-matters-beefing-over-beef-prices
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

A possible herd-rebuilding incentive could eventually add supply, but the border closure keeps feeder supply tight in the near term, supporting cattle prices.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2026-09-03 | [When Trump policies stir up beef with ranchers, Brooke Rollins is left doing damage control \| CNN Politics](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17421-when-trump-policies-stir-up-beef-with-ranchers-brooke-rollins-is-left-doing.md) | +1.3% | +2.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-12-04 | [Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Oppose Allowing Beef Imports from Paraguay](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32623-bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-oppose-allowing-beef-imports-from-paraguay.md) | -1.8% | -0.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-10-20 | [As new beef packers continue to build, cattle herd continues to shrink \| Western Livestock Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10313-as-new-beef-packers-continue-to-build-cattle-herd-continues-to-shrink-western.md) | -0.2% | -3.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2020-02-24 | [The 2020 Outlook for U.S. Agriculture From USDA’s Chief Economist - Farm Policy News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/54630-the-2020-outlook-for-u-s-agriculture-from-usda-s-chief-economist-farm-policy.md) | -2.6% | -13.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2017-10-27 | [Futures File: Tighter supplies lead to higher gas prices; cattle futures hit new highs – Greeley Tribune](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5334-futures-file-tighter-supplies-lead-to-higher-gas-prices-cattle-futures-hit-new.md) | +7.2% | +5.7% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-09-03 | [When Trump policies stir up beef with ranchers, Brooke Rollins is left doing damage control \| CNN Politics](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17421-when-trump-policies-stir-up-beef-with-ranchers-brooke-rollins-is-left-doing.md) | +4.3% | +6.2% |
| FCATTLE | 2023-12-04 | [Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Oppose Allowing Beef Imports from Paraguay](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32623-bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-oppose-allowing-beef-imports-from-paraguay.md) | +0.4% | +5.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2023-10-20 | [As new beef packers continue to build, cattle herd continues to shrink \| Western Livestock Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10313-as-new-beef-packers-continue-to-build-cattle-herd-continues-to-shrink-western.md) | -1.2% | -5.8% |

## Sources

- angus.org: https://www.angus.org/angus-media/angus-beef-bulletin/abb-articles/2026/01/policy-matters

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