As people prepared for their Memorial Weekend cook outs shopping for steaks, ground beef and ribs to BBQ, they found out beef was either in short supply or had almost doubled in price. Some shoppers found the meat shelves almost empty and asked the same question that an 81-year-old woman asked in 1984, in a television ad, “Where’s the beef?”

Thanks to the COVID-19 virus that forced some packing plants to close and because of consolidation and centralization in the meat processing industry, the meat supply system has been stressed. Not only are consumers feeling the bite but also the cattle producers. According to an ag report on March 23, live cattle (finished cattle) were selling for around $105 per hundredweight where boxed beef was worth $154 per hundredweight. Fat cattle were worth $140 to $300 less than they were in January. Beef production is down nearly 25 percent compared to last year and pork production is down 15 percent.

The consolidation of the packing industry has gotten to the point where four giant packers control 85 percent of the United States beef and pork processing system. It has been an issue for producers for years, especially since two of the four giant packers are foreign-owned. Currently steps are being taken to find ways to challenge meat packer consolidation.

Some local residents posted on social media their problems last week in shopping for meat. They said that two weeks ago they had purchased a rib eye steak at $7.99 a pound. Last week they noted the price was almost $17 a pound.

When COVID-19 first appeared and many were asked to become “shut-ins,” some rushed to the grocery stores to stock up. In a short time the shelves that once held bundles and bundles of toilet paper were empty. People are still trying to figure that shortage problem out. Today, we are noting the high meat prices and some empty cases at the grocery stores. Shoppers are warned that “stocking up” in panic buying will only speed up shortages.

Some are seeking out other options for acquiring meat. Meat lockers report a booming demand for custom butchering these days. Some people are purchasing their meat directly from ranchers and farmers. An Iowa farmer is checking into constructing his own place for processing his animals and selling the meat himself.

Hopefully we all can enjoy and appreciate those juicy BBQ or smoked steaks and burgers this summer.