https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/25/business/drought-farmers-cows/index.html
With smaller herds and fewer breeding cows, the next two years could spell higher beef prices for consumers. The US Department of Agriculture, or USDA, is projecting a 7% decline in beef production next year.
The only reason beef is even affordable is because of how much the government subsidizes meat production. If meat goes up to the price it should be, there would probably be a lot more vegetarians and people who only eat meat on special occasions.
Another factor, the people raising cows don't usually get to set the prices that their cows sell for. Really big operations typically sell cows by contract based on previous years sale prices and smaller operations will take their herd to the sale barns where buyers will place bids. So while the costs to the people raising the cows increase the buyers are trying to buy as cheaply as possible (even if it hurts next years supply of cows). So prices are forced lower and lower as the seller (who can't shop around for a better deal because every day you keep a cow, you've gotta pay for it one way or the other) has to take pretty much whatever price they are offered even when its at a loss.
Wow what a great and efficient system for distributing resources across society
:yea:
beef is affordable?
Compared to what the price should be? Yes.
No, there would be a lot more angry suburban people supporting a fascist takeover. When we get squeezed, we move further right as a country. All these boomers complaining about prices at grocery stores aren’t going to put up with things much longer, they will demand a strongman takes power.