A new study published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that cattle numbers are up after years of drought. As KMUW’s Sean Sandefur reports, that could mean lower beef prices down the line.
According to the study, there are nearly 2 million heads of cattle currently on feedlots across Kansas. That’s the best it has been since 2012, before severe droughts affected water and feed supplies and forced ranchers to sell off cattle.
Beef prices were also affected, but that too could see a turnaround. Leroy Russell, an agriculture agent for the Shawnee County extension office, says as cattle numbers in Kansas and across the country begin to improve, consumers will slowly see a difference.
“When those cows get to producing calves, then it’s going to raise the amount of beef that’s been sold," he says. "And that’s when the price starts back down.”
Russell says it could take awhile before prices start to fall. While feedlot numbers have risen in Kansas, it’s due in some part to outside ranchers bringing cattle into the state. Overall herds still have room for improvement.
From the AP:
The number of cattle on Kansas feedlots is up this year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service says the number of cattle on Kansas feedlots has risen 2 percent in the past year to about 1.94 million. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports USDA statistics also show that overall cattle inventories across the state have grown.
Drought conditions had dried up ponds and pushed up prices for feed, which prompted Kansas farmers to sell off cattle or send them to packing plants.
But as of Jan. 1 this year, total cattle inventories in Kansas, which includes all cattle and calves, not just those on feedlots, hit 6 million, an increase of 200,000 from a year earlier and a sign of recovery after three years of decreases.
