With beef packers paying historically high prices for cattle, prices are expected to remain at elevated levels. 

Despite record highs for the beef cutout, strong consumer demand continues to support high beef prices. 

With beef companies under pressure to minimize operating losses, slaughter levels are expected to remain limited in the fall. 

Heavier cattle carcass weights continue to help offset the reduced cattle supply. 

With cattle being kept on feed longer, grading for choice, premium, and prime remains strong. Availability for lower grades such as 

Select continues to be limited, which is supporting higher prices. 

• Ground beef pricing remains high but is expected to soften once we are past the Labor Day holiday. 

• Ribeye pricing decreased briefly in July but is increasing again as retailers and processors have stepped in to secure inventory as beef supplies are projected to be tight in the fall. 

• Striploin pricing will be decreasing significantly this month but is expected to increase next month. 

• Chuck flat pricing increased this month as the reduced processing capacity at the plants limited availability and pushed prices higher. However, prices will remain stable for September with soft demand in Asian export markets. 

• Chuck Roll prices remain unseasonably high as end cuts are being utilized to fill grind demand and make up for the short fall of grind trim. 

• Sliced beef short rib pricing continues to remain at elevated levels due to limited availability of raw material. 

• Oxtail prices remain stable for now but are under pressure due to the limited cattle supplies 

With tight cattle supplies and continued strong consumer demand, availability will be the prevailing issue more than pricing as we approach the holidays. 

With high beef prices, retailers are featuring poultry more prominently in store placements and ad features. 

Overall chicken demand remains strong and consistent as poultry remains an affordable protein option for consumers. 

• BI Thighs – Availability for BI Thighs continues to be limited as retailers continue to feature poultry heavily. 

• BL SL Thighs – BL SL Thigh prices are steady but is expected to soften once we are past the Labor Day holiday. 

• Legmeat – Chicken leg meat pricing remains at elevated levels and has been further supported by shifting demand from 

• breast meat. 

• Breastmeat – Breast meat prices decreased significantly in June & July but is increasing again as retailers are featuring chicken breasts in their ad features for August. 

• Wings – Wing prices are trending upward as we approach the beginning of NFL & college football season. 

• Turkey – Turkey prices remain at elevated levels due to the reduced turkey supply and shortage of product in the marketplace. 

• Poultry Outlook – With high beef prices, poultry remains the protein of choice for consumers seeking value and affordability 

Poultry Outlook – With high beef prices, poultry remains the protein of choice for consumers seeking value and affordability. 

With high beef and chicken prices, pork remains the best value for both the retail and food service segments. 

As we approach the Labor Day holiday, retail pork demand has softened but overall remains strong and is supporting higher prices for almost all parts. 

• Butts– Boneless butt pricing remains steady, however boneless picnic pricing has increased due to August being peak demand for hot dogs & sausages. Bone In butt prices have decreased significantly with boneless demand softening. 

• Hams– Ham demand remains strong as tariffs have not negatively impacted exports to Mexico. 

• Back Ribs & Sparer ribs- Rib prices remain strong as retailers feature ribs prominently on their front-page summer grilling ads. 

• Bellies- Domestic belly demand has been supporting higher prices as bacon is being featured prominently in retail ads. For bellies imported from Europe; higher prices are expected due to the impact of tariffs and reduced pork availability in Europe bellies imported from Europe, higher prices are expected due to the impact of tariffs and reduced pork availability in Europe. 

Pork Outlook – With strong seasonal demand and higher prices in competing proteins, pork prices are expected to remain firm as retailers feature pork more heavily in their summer ad features. 

Mahi Mahi – 

• There are no large fillets available. Only size being offered are 1/3# 

• Loins are very limited. 

• Larger portions are limited in supply. 

• Please consider Ono loins as an option to Mahi Fillets 

South American Blue/Black Mussels – 

• Shortage of 18/27 count (per pound) sized Whole Mussels. 

• Reduction of 30-40% “Plantings” in 2024 due to lack of seedling availability. 

• Environmental factors (warmer water currents) are affecting growth. 

• Farmers have decided to harvest, rather than wait for the mussels to grow to larger. 

Vannmei White Shrimp (India) – 

• Supply is stable. 

• Prices are starting to increase due to demand and economic conditions. 

• Indonesia, Ecuador and other countries brace for the increased orders from the US as the new tariffs were recently announced in India.