Raising Cattle Costs More Than Ever: A Farmer's Perspective on High Beef Prices

A family farm in North Dakota is replacing their ancient infrastructure after years of splicing together old wire with new. The high cost of everything, from fencing supplies to fuel and equipment maintenance, has made raising cattle a costly endeavor.

The price of cattle has indeed gone up in recent years, but so have the costs associated with raising them. To give an example, two pallets of wire recently cost almost $6,000, not counting the posts, clips, staples, metal corner poles, and other pieces that make a fence.

Experts point to drought and retirements as reasons for the reduced number of cattle in the US. This has led to higher prices for beef, but importing tons from countries with fewer health safeguards won't necessarily reduce consumer costs or boost confidence.