Livestock Industry Snapshot

• USDA forecasts continued strong pricing for choice steers with 2025 average prices coming in at $221.51/cwt. and 2026 average prices forecast to average $229.00. Cattle and beef prices are likely to remain elevated for at least another 18-24 months due to low herd sizes. 
• Broiler prices are forecast relatively flat at $1.34 in 2025 and $1.36 in 2026. Despite recent declines, egg prices remain elevated and are forecast to average $4.05 in 2025, declining to $2.16 in 2026, depending on what happens with Avian Influenza.¹  Egg production is expanding with decentralized contract barns in New York. 
• Non-feed input costs, such as labor, have significantly increased, but the falling cost of feed has provided some inflation relief for producers. Corn prices have fallen 27% over the last year, hay prices were down 21%, and soybeans have declined 21%. 
• As with many other agricultural commodities, trade uncertainty is a concern for this sector. 

¹ USDA WASDE