Why is beef so expensive? Here's how our farm approaches the problem.

You've probably thought it - "Beef is so expensive!" "Wait - a grass-fed steak costs that?" 

As a farm that raises 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef - and a small farm that doesn't receive any subsidies - we're used to having conversations about why our food is more expensive than what you find in the grocery store. 

Here's what we usually say: we're raising a premium product. Raising animals outdoors takes a lot more labor and investment. We're raising high-quality food (especially when it comes to our Southpoll cattle and heritage breed Red Wattle pigs). 

But yes - even with all that, beef is expensive. And guess what? It's expensive for everyone. Farmers and consumers. Conventional farmers and regenerative farmers like us. 

But why? 

Every winter, we sit down to calculate bulk beef prices. We go over the costs for every aspect of our beef, and we also compare this year’s prices to previous years. We do this to make sure our prices cover our expenses, to judge whether our yields are improving, and to see what’s changing - or not - over the years.

We’ve seen a few big changes over the years. 

One is the “yield”, or the expected amount of beef that our bulk customers who purchase whole or half cows will take home - or that we'll sell as individual retail cuts. This number has grown substantially in the last few years, and this is a good thing! Our cows are healthier and bigger - due in part to wintering in Alabama, where they can eat fresh grass all winter long.  We’ve also made the shift from harvesting our cows at 24 months to 30 months of age, resulting in better fat and marbling. 

But we’ve also seen another big change, one that is more difficult: the increasing price of beef on the open market. 

In 2022, when we first started selling bulk beef, the price for a six-month old calf was $1.46 per lb. So, a 450 lb calf was selling for $657.

By 2025, the price for that same calf was $3.77 per lb.. That same 450 lb calf was selling for $1,696.50. Over three years, the price has increased 158%!

And now in early 2026? Calf prices are already in the $4-5 per lb range. This is the price before the additional two years it takes for us to raise the animal on our farm, with all the associated costs over those years - not to mention slaughter and processing costs, which also continue to rise. 

As you can see, the price of calves has almost tripled since we started raising beef. And it's why we're forced to raise prices for our bulk animals AND our retail cuts each year. 

There are many complex reasons for the rise in beef prices - and to be clear, this is the national market price for calves, not just particular to our farm. The overall problem is this: we have a beef shortage in this country that continues to get worse. In fact, since the number of calves born in this country peaked in 2019, we’ve experienced a 12% decline over the last six years. 

As of January 1, we have the smallest beef herd in this country since 1961. And yet, demand for beef has continued to rise, even as there are less farmers, less cattle, and less affordable land to raise livestock on. 

So this creates a problem that’s continued to get worse: increased demand for beef and decreased quantity means that prices have risen, each year, and there’s no sign right now that it will stop anytime soon. 

If I’m being honest, I think this makes a more compelling argument for investing in bulk beef. Even though the price rises - and I know what a significant investment it is to make - investing in a whole animal that will feed your family for a year (or maybe two) when there continues to be a beef shortage is a smart decision. 

This is especially true if you’re buying from our farm. We have a limited number of bulk beef to offer, and we’ve sold out consistently for the last few years. We try to prioritize the investment you’ve made by offering you the first chance, each year, to reserve your cow and have continued access to food security for your family. 

And I also want you to know the time and thought that goes into preparing bulk beef each year – not just raising the animals, but also tracking the data, making calculations, and setting prices. We try to come up with a price that we feel is fair, but also makes it sustainable for us to continue to raise beef. It’s a fine line to walk, not just for us but for beef producers across the country. 

Beef prices are a complex issue. But we're committed to talking through them with you, transparently - as we also work hard every day to provide you with the most nourishing food possible for your family.