I would take the rancher anecdata lightly, cattle prices have increased hugely over 2021. There were a couple of big dips (where meatpackers probably shut down

I would take the rancher anecdata lightly, cattle prices have increased hugely over 2021. There were a couple of big dips (where meatpackers probably shut down or had worker problems), but it doesn't look like raising cattle was worse in 2021 than 2020 or 2019. https://futures.tradingcharts.com/historical/GF/2021/0/continuous.html https://futures.tradingcharts.com/historical/GF/2021/0/conti... (Unless of course, they sell at contracted prices that didn't account for... across the board inflation) And again, none of this explains why my local butcher who doesn't buy from midwest feed lots raised their prices.