In the rolling hills of the Ozarks, cattle prices are hitting historic highs—yet the people raising them aren’t cashing in like you’d expect.
Dr. Jason Sarchow, a longtime cattle rancher in Clever, Missouri, has seen this movie before. “Everyone sees the price spike and rushes in thinking it’s payday,” he said.
“But cattle markets are a rollercoaster. We saw the same thing in 2014. The peak always tumbles when supply catches up.”
Behind today’s spike? A shrinking national herd—thanks to drought conditions and a fading generation of ranchers. As older producers retire, fewer young farmers are stepping up to fill their boots.
“Drought’s drying up supply, and we’re losing legacy knowledge with older ranchers aging out,” Sarchow explained. “You can’t replace that overnight.”
Higher beef prices might seem like a windfall, but they come with rising input costs—feed, equipment, and livestock replacements are all up. That’s squeezing newer, smaller operations hardest.
Riley Israel, co-owner of Diamond I Cattle, knows the pain firsthand. “People think young folks don’t want to farm,” he said.
“But many of us do—it’s just that the economics don’t work. Farmland is priced like gold, but cattle ranching doesn’t make you rich.”
In short: the beef boom masks a brewing crisis. Margins remain razor-thin, especially for startups and family-run outfits.
Despite the hurdles, farmers like Israel are urging communities to shop local—whether it’s beef, produce, or eggs. “Inflation’s eating everything. High cattle prices don’t mean high profits. If you can buy from a local farmer, do it. It makes a difference,” he said.
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