America’s Cattle Farmers Struggle

Across America, cattle ranchers and farmers are struggling to sustain their way of life. The cost of land, equipment, and fertilizer has steadily increased, making it hard just to break even, especially when the payoff for raising a cow is nearly impossible to predict.Those market pressures are squeezing the nation’s ability to feed hungry consumers. In 1975, the national cattle herd amounted to more than 132 million head. Now, just over 86 million cattle roam America’s farms and ranches. And consumers are feeling the pinch. The average cost of a pound of ground beef hit $6.89 this year compared to...