Droughts are hitting cattle ranchers hard – and that could make beef more expensive

https://www.npr.org/2022/09/01/ [login to see] /drought-climate-change-ranchers-cattle-beef-steaks-inflation-food-prices
Supermarket shoppers are seeing something unusual these days: discounts in the meat department.

Steak prices have fallen in each of the last three months even as the cost of chicken, pork and most other groceries has gone up. But bargains in the butcher case are likely to be temporary.

Severe drought is forcing some cattle ranchers to slaughter livestock early. That's producing a glut of beef in the short term, but it's also likely to lead to higher prices in the future.