Trending Now - Ranchers Warn More Cattle Won't Lower Soaring Beef Prices
WHO:
Fast Company - Stephanie Hatzenbuhler stated she will make her choices as cows give birth to about 700 calves this spring on her family’s Diamond J Angus ranch.
Fast Company - Stephanie Hatzenbuhler, a rancher from North Dakota.
Fast Company - Tim Petry, a livestock marketing specialist at North Dakota State University.
Fast Company - Bernt Nelson, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Fast Company - John Robinson, a spokesman for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Fast Company - Warren Rusche, an extension feedlot specialist at South Dakota State University.
Fast Company - Mike Williams, a rancher from California.
WHAT:
Fast Company - The average price of uncooked ground beef in the U.S. was $6.86 per pound in March 2026, which is 3 cents off the record high set in February 2026.
Fast Company - The U.S. cattle herd is currently at 86 million head in 2026.
Fast Company - The average price of uncooked ground beef in the U.S. was $6.86 per pound in March 2026, which is up nearly 48% from March 2021.
Fast Company - The U.S. cattle herd is currently at 86 million head, the smallest in over 75 years.
Fast Company - Beef production in the U.S. hit a record 28.4 billion pounds in 2022, with an expected 26 billion pounds in 2026.
Fast Company - About 2.5 billion pounds of beef were exported in 2025.
Fast Company - The U.S.-Mexico border closure has stopped about 1 million cattle from being imported into the U.S. since late 2024.
WHERE:
Fast Company - Diamond J Angus ranch, located near Mandan, North Dakota.
Fast Company - The U.S. cattle herd is affected by drought conditions across much of cattle country, including Texas and Oklahoma.
WHEN:
Fast Company - The national herd size has been declining since it reached a high of 132 million head in 1975.
Fast Company - The border closures began in late 2024.
Fast Company - Ranchers are expected to make decisions about their herds as calves arrive in spring 2026.
WHY:
Fast Company - Ranchers face challenges from drought and high feed costs, which make it difficult to increase herd sizes.
Fast Company - Ranchers are reluctant to grow the national herd due to challenges such as drought and high costs of feed and equipment.
Fast Company - About 63% of the U.S. cattle herd is in drought areas, affecting grazing conditions.
Fast Company - The closure of the U.S.-Mexico border is aimed at slowing the spread of the New World screwworm parasite.
HOW:
Fast Company - Ranchers have had to truck in feed supplies from other regions due to drought conditions in Texas and Oklahoma.
Fast Company - Ranchers face high costs for feed due to drought, leading them to truck in supplies from other regions.
Fast Company - It takes 15 to 24 months for a calf to mature before it can be slaughtered.
(UPDATED April 16, 2026 19:24 UTC)
On her family’s Diamond J Angus ranch, Stephanie Hatzenbuhler announced she will make her choices as cows give birth to about 700 calves this spring. Meanwhile, the average price of uncooked ground beef in the U.S. was $6.86 per pound in March, just three cents shy of the record high set in February, as the cattle herd stands at 86 million head this year. Ranchers are grappling with challenges from drought and high feed costs, forcing them to truck in feed supplies from other regions, particularly due to difficult conditions in Texas and Oklahoma.
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(UPDATED April 16, 2026 15:30 UTC)
The average price of uncooked ground beef in the U.S. reached $6.86 per pound in March 20th26, marking a nearly 48% increase since March 20th21, while the U.S. cattle herd has dwindled to 86 million head, the smallest size in over 75 years. Ranchers are grappling with drought conditions affecting about 63% of the herd, which is leading to high feed costs and reluctance to expand their herds, especially with the U.S.-Mexico border closure halting the import of around 1 million cattle since late 2024. As calves begin to arrive this spring, ranchers will have to make critical decisions about their herds amidst these ongoing challenges.