America's beef supply is shrinking as cattle herds collapse and farmers warn 'the numbers are just not here anymore'

From the Newshound archive · first published 24 September 2026 · last updated 25 September 2026.

US commercial beef production fell from roughly 15.2 billion pounds to 14.4 billion pounds in the first seven months of 2026, with cattle slaughtered dropping by over a million head. Fourth-generation Georgia farmer Will Harris says years without profit have driven farmers to liquidate their herds. Higher cattle prices are failing to bring producers back, leaving America increasingly reliant on imported beef.