07/19/2025
Take the time to read this as its gonna be long and sometimes this is a struggling battle with losing hay to rain. And other "markets" selling who knows what kind of animals at pennies on the dollar and people will choose that stuff over farm to table because its cheap. But you have no idea what youre consuming
Do we know how high is high yetā¦ā¦
Saturday I posted a 1/4 of beef for sale that belonged to likeminded producers that we collaborate with. In an hourās time there were 14 inquiries of interest. The unit sold in roughly 75 minutes to the first person that called originally. Out of the other callers I felt there were people who had genuine interest and some I felt who were just price checking. When some heard the price it seemed to squash their interest rather quickly. Folks beef on the hoof is at an historic high. I would have never believed I would ever see commercial cattle bringing what they are. Nobody has any true idea when it will actually peak and start to decline. The one thing I feel comfortable and confident in isā¦ā¦.. it wonāt go back to the prices we think are cheap or normal. When the market does finally peak, it will then be looking for the new normal. Then I believe it will fluctuate up and down for a while before it finds that new normal. The majority of beef āconsumersā (people who eat beef) are so far removed from the āoriginalā stock market. The vast majority of beef consumers couldnāt tell you what a 900lb steer is worth per pound in todayās market.
When we bought our steers in March of 2023 we brokered a private treaty deal at $1.84/lb for a set of calves averaging 756lbs across the board. When we bought our steers in 2024 we brokered two different private treaty deals at $2.36/lb for calves that averaged 821 across the board. Fast forward to 2025. When we bought in this year we brokered a private treaty deal at $2.67 for a set of calves that averaged 921lbs across the board. Thatās a $0.83 increase per pound in 24 months. Did you notice we were buying bigger steers each year. We still couldnāt stay ahead of the price per pound increase. I watched some nine weights sell this last week for $3.06/lb. Thatās a $0.39 per pound increase in less than 4 months. Thats also a $1.22 increase per pound in 28 months. People often wonder why a 1/4, a 1/2, or a whole farm to table beef cost so much. Get your calculator out and run that last set of numbers. What would it cost today to purchase a 900lb steer? Let me help youā¦ā¦.$2754 plus hauling. It doesnāt matter if you pay someone or use your own rig itās a real cost. To get that calf finished and ready for your freezer it will take you roughly two and a half to three ton of feed depending on your set up and the animal. Depending on the time of year that youāre buying feed will determine the cost per ton but roughly $260-$336 per ton has been the variance over the last three years here locally. Donāt forget, you as a consumer will want your beef vacuum packed and labeled once it is dry aged for 21 days and cut into your desired specs. That will cost you roughly a $1/lb hanging weight, so letās just say another $865 per steer. We havenāt even thought about the fuel, fertilizer, equipment, fencing, land payment, interest, insurance, vet supplies and mostly the producers time and effort.
Now let me be clear, we donāt do this to get rich because as you can see that would be a terrible idea and numbers donāt lie. We and other likeminded producers do this because itās who are and we love it. We enjoy and take pleasure in watching something transform under the direction of our stewardship. We do it to produce a higher quality product. We do it to create a higher standard. We do it because we enjoy engaging with our clientele and their families. We do it so end consumers can know exactly what they are putting in their freezer and feeding their families.
The big feed yards and packers spill or waste more in a year than all of us farm to table guys together can produce. Unfortunately beef, good quality beef is coming at a higher price. Nonetheless, I do forecast it to get higher before it gets cheaper. Farm to table producers understand itās a good chunk of change for the average household to fork over. Farm to table beef and grocery store beef is all beef but they are not the same product. Reminder, youāre paying the same amount per pound for the filets and ribeyes as you are for the hamburger. You are buying beef once a year instead of every time you go to the grocery store. We can guarantee an accurate harvest date and country of origin. The animal has a less stressful environment and lives a more natural lifestyle .ā¦ā¦.. let all that sink in.
Let us know if you are interested in anything. We have chickens beef. Eggs. Maple honey ect ect. Let us know if you have an idea on something youd like to see put together. Maybe a breakfast box with sausage bacon eggs jelly and maple syrup or a picnic box or just a monthly combo box.
