Beef prices soar in Alabama as U.S. faces lowest cattle numbers in 80 years

Beef prices have surged due to a cattle shortage, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture reporting an 8% increase since the start of the year and ground beef rising over a dollar per pound since June.

Shoppers are feeling the impact as they face higher prices in the meat department, a situation attributed to the cattle cycle, which takes nearly three years for a calf's offspring to contribute to the beef supply. Drought conditions have also played a role in the decreased cattle supply.

"There's what's known as the cattle cycle. So, there are always ups and downs. And it's usually around a three-to-five-year time frame, but this year is something completely different. Prices have been higher longer this time than they've ever been in our history," Jim Miller, a cattle farmer, said.

Cattle numbers are reportedly the lowest they have been in 80 years, and farmers are not expanding their inventory, meaning shoppers may continue to pay higher prices for beef for some time.