Americans may find more meat on their holiday tables this year. As Harvest Public Media’s Amy Mayer reports, large supplies of pork and beef are pushing down prices.
Typically, it takes a while for changes in commodity or wholesale prices to reach us at the grocery store. But the expansion of the nation’s beef herd and increased pork production are now making both meats more affordable than they have been in recent years.
Iowa State University livestock economist Lee Schulz says increases in competition between beef, pork and poultry could have more families choosing prime rib over ham or turkey.
"Now with lower beef prices you are starting to see some more advertising in the form of rib roast that I think retailers do believe they can compete with some of those more traditional dishes," he says.
Schulz says looking ahead to next year, large supplies are likely to continue. That's good for people buying meat, but less so for livestock producers.
