{"id":2646015,"date":"2026-08-17T12:24:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-policies-meat-the-moment-national-beef-herd-size-stabilizes-after-years-of-decline\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T12:29:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:29:41","slug":"trumps-policies-meat-the-moment-national-beef-herd-size-stabilizes-after-years-of-decline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-policies-meat-the-moment-national-beef-herd-size-stabilizes-after-years-of-decline\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump&#8217;s policies meat the moment: National beef herd size stabilizes after years of decline"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrumps-policies-meat-the-moment-national-beef-herd-size-stabilizes-after-years-of-decline%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2646015&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the recent stabilization adn slight recovery of the U.S. beef herd after years of decline, attributed to policies implemented during the Trump administration. The American beef herd is currently the smallest in 75 years, driving up supermarket prices, with the average ground beef now costing $6.89 per pound compared to $3.88 pre-pandemic. Though, herd numbers have begun to increase, with total cattle and calves reaching 94.2 million &#8211; a modest rise fueled by policy reforms on grazing and processing, and also efforts to prevent price collusion in the industry.<\/p>\n<p>The decline in herd size over the past decade was worsened by droughts and high feed costs, leading ranchers to sell breeding cows. Recently, ranchers have stopped selling their breeding cows, which could signal future herd growth, though it will take time for prices to revert to earlier levels. Experts suggest that increased retention of heifers and policy changes could help rebuild the herd and stabilize prices, which are now under scrutiny ahead of upcoming elections.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, the article touches on political news, including clues about potential new White House press secretaries, with speculation about Alina Habba being a candidate.It also highlights a humorous quote comparing the role of a congressional aide to Gary from &#8220;Veep&#8221; for its demanding and supportive nature. Additionally, there are suggestions for further reading on Iran&#8217;s YouTube show and British wartime propaganda, reflecting broader themes of dialogue, politics, and national resilience.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Welcome to Monday\u2019s edition of Washington Secrets. Can you cope with good news? It may be that the national beef herd is on the road to recovery after five years of shrinkage. It is too early to see the price of supermarket ground beef getting back to 2020 levels, but at least things may have stopped getting worse. Plus, we have the latest on who\u2019s up and who\u2019s down in the race to be Donald Trump\u2019s next press secretary.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The American beef herd is the smallest it has been for 75 years, driving up prices at the supermarket.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4689402\/national-beef-herd-size-stabilizes-after-years-of-decline\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump\u2019s policies meat the moment: National beef herd size stabilizes after years of decline<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4687415\/white-house-report-card-trump-midterm-message-crime-rates-plunge\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House report card: Trump finds his midterm message as crime rates plunge<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4685939\/trump-karoline-leavitt-replacement-lined-up-white-house-press-operation\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump has his Karoline Leavitt replacement lined up as he retools White House press operation<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But is relief in sight?<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The latest <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-agriculture\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-agriculture\/\">U.S. Department of Agriculture<\/a> figures show herd numbers stabilized this year and have begun to tick up. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The total number of cattle and calves totaled 94.2 million on July 1, an increase of 200,000 from last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may sound modest, but experts at the America First Policy Institute say it reflects policy reforms introduced by the Trump administration that are already easing supermarket prices and strengthening an industry under attack from the left.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAre we going to have the beef hamburger, are we going to have the opportunity to have a farm \u2026 to pursue our American dream, whatever that may look like, or do you have communist grocery stores and artificial meat that Bill Gates is producing,\u201d said AFPI executive vice president Ashley Hayek, referencing ideas about lab-grown meat and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s plan for government-run grocery stores.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s really what this question comes down to,\u201d Hayek added. \u201cOne side of these policies is to demonize this industry. The other side is freedom, opportunity, and pursuit of the American dream.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the mid-1990s, the number of beef cows numbered 35.3 million. Today, the number is 27.6 million.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It collapsed rapidly from 2021, when drought and high feed prices led ranchers to sell their breeding cows, setting off a doom spiral.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSelling a breeding cow would give the market beef today,\u201d said Hayek, \u201cbut it eliminates the calves she would produce in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result is an additional squeeze on consumers. The average price of a pound of ground beef today is $6.89, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared with $3.88 at the start of the pandemic.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The latest numbers will be seized on by a Trump administration, which is desperate for evidence that prices are easing ahead of midterm elections that could be dominated by $4 gas and the impact of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"100\">Iran<\/a> war.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">T.J. Wilson, deputy director of rural policy at AFPI, said: \u201cI think there are signs that costs at large are coming down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last month, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4637915\/trump-walmart-lower-beef-prices\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4637915\/trump-walmart-lower-beef-prices\/\">Walmart knocked almost $1 <\/a>off some lines of ground beef.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americafirstpolicy.com\/issues\/americas-cattle-herd-is-stabilizing-and-america-first-policies-are-helping\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.americafirstpolicy.com\/issues\/americas-cattle-herd-is-stabilizing-and-america-first-policies-are-helping\">In a new report<\/a>, AFPI said herd size improvements were the result of policies affecting everything from grazing to processing in the beef industry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Changes to rules on ranching on public lands will increase the number of cattle grazing on more than 100 million acres in the West. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, the Department of Justice has turned its attention to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3879781\/trump-doj-investigation-meatpacking-industry-price-gouging-affordability-agenda\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3879781\/trump-doj-investigation-meatpacking-industry-price-gouging-affordability-agenda\/\">allegations of price collusion<\/a> among meatpackers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the USDA pre-empted the spread of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4534289\/new-world-screwworm-southern-border\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4534289\/new-world-screwworm-southern-border\/\">New World screwworm<\/a>, taking action before it could reach American herds from Mexico.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">None of this is a quick fix for herd size. Growth is limited by the speed of reproduction in cattle, with heifers generally having their first calf when they reach two years of age.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But ranchers have stopped selling their breeding cows, according to the latest data. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re seeing heifer retention for the first time in nine years, which is humongous,\u201d said Wilson. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That might not bring down prices to their 2020 levels just yet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut it\u2019s kind of hay in the barn for down the road, being able to have a greater beef supply in the country and to rebuild that herd back,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-press-secretary-latest\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Press secretary latest<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were clues to who might be the next White House press secretary on social media over the weekend, if you knew where to look.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Who was that<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/michaelsolakie\/status\/2089039226918601125\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/michaelsolakie\/status\/2089039226918601125\"> filmed clapping along<\/a> to the Village People\u2019s \u201cY.M.C.A.\u201d at a table near Trump at his Bedminster golf club? Why, it was Alina Habba, one-time New Jersey prosecutor and former counselor to the president. Could it mean she was being lined up for the gig?<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gamblers certainly think so. Her odds on the prediction market site Kalshi shot up to 38% as the images circulated. She overtook Karoline Leavitt\u2019s top deputy, Anna Kelly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Secrets <\/em>suggests caution. Habba has been talked up for every big job going in the administration for the past year. Usually by herself. And if there is one sure way to knock yourself out of the running, it is by lobbying for the job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the meantime, my colleagues <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4688641\/trumpworld-karoline-leavitt-replacement-woman\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4688641\/trumpworld-karoline-leavitt-replacement-woman\/\">explain why men need not apply for the gig<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-quote-of-the-day\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quote of the day<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cIt is literally Gary from \u2018Veep.\u2019 \u2026 It is the most accurate description of the job that we do,<\/strong>\u201d said one former body person, citing the most put-upon of characters from the TV show to describe a role that means sticking by the side of a senator, navigating them from meeting to meeting, while fielding requests to collect dry cleaning or walk the dog.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It comes from this <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/senate\/body-people-caucus\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/senate\/body-people-caucus\">fun piece about the job.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/08\/15\/world\/middleeast\/iran-youtube-show.html\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/08\/15\/world\/middleeast\/iran-youtube-show.html\"><strong>The Iranian YouTube show posing questions few dare ask<\/strong><\/a>: Azad helped broker Tucker Carlson\u2019s interview with the Iranian president last year. So how does it survive when it airs critical views of the regime?<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/gift\/f11e6884b77d550b\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/gift\/f11e6884b77d550b\"><strong>How Churchill\u2019s propaganda helped Britain win the war<\/strong><\/a>: Trust in government may have eroded after the First World War and American commentators did much to challenge official accounts of the conflict, but Britons knew the value of freedom and would endure much to ensure its survival. Plenty of lessons for today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#b8cbdddbcaddcccbf8cfd9cbd0d1d6dfccd7d6ddc0d9d5d1d6ddca96dbd7d5\"> <span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"9ae9fff9e8ffeee9daedfbe9f2f3f4fdeef5f4ffe2fbf7f3f4ffe8b4f9f5f7\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a> with your comments, story tips, and suggestions. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beef herd stabilizes; prices may soon ease<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2646016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26103652514295-e1786979617331.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[15721,80123,84281,84280],"class_list":["post-2646015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-agriculture","tag-beef-industry","tag-national-herd","tag-trumps-policies"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26103652514295-e1786979617331.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2646015"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2646019,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646015\/revisions\/2646019"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2646016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2646015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2646015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2646015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}