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That juicy hamburger on your grill this summer is costing you more than ever
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The average retail price of a pound of ground beef set a record in May, hitting $5.98
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That's up 16 percent from a year earlier and 44 percent from 2015. You can blame the law of supply
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and demand for the rising prices. Americans can't seem to get enough of hamburger or steak
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roast beef, or brisket. At the same time, the number of beef cows on American farms is at its
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lowest level since the 1950s, when fewer cows were needed to feed fewer people. According to the U.S
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Department of Agriculture, the cow population peaked at about 45 million in the 1970s
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but fell below 30 million in 2024. Farmers in many western states have culled their herds in
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recent years because of persistent drought. Without enough rain, their fields weren't growing enough
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grass to feed the cattle and buying supplemental feed was too expensive. So you can get used to
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more expensive meat. The USDA predicts beef prices will continue to rise at least through the rest of
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2025. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey. For more on this story, head to san.com or
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download the Straight Arrow News mobile app today
