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2025-09-13 01:49:11
[USDA: Slaughter rates slow, beef will remain scarce and expensive until 2026] The USDA pointed out in its September WASDE report that beef will remain scarce and expensive until 2026 due to the slowdown in slaughter rates. Beef production is expected to be 25.49 billion pounds in 2026, basically the same as the August forecast, and lower than the downwardly revised forecast of 25.83 billion pounds for 2025. The 2026 steer price forecast rose from $2.44 per pound to $2.49. Pork production in 2026 remained at 28.38 billion pounds, higher than the downwardly revised forecast of 27.57 billion pounds for 2025. The 2026 steer and sow price forecast remained at 66 cents per pound. Livestock futures prices were basically flat, with live cattle futures down 0.8% and lean hog futures down 1.2%.
