A contraction in beef supplies “has been coming for a while,” said David Anderson, a professor in Texas A&M University’s agricultural economics department. Beef supplies are shrinking after farmers sold off cattle in response to drought and high costs. The “big unknown is going to be consumer demand.”The beef supply tends to grow and shrink in roughly 10-year cycles, said Lance Zimmerman, senior beef analyst for the North American market with Rabobank. “If that’s the case, beef prices may be steadier.”And with food inflation stubbornly high, consumers are already cutting back on certain items, including beef. If demand remains strong, “we may see some higher beef prices,” towards the fall and later, Bernt said.

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