February 11, 2026
Ag Economy
Livestock Industry Snapshot
- USDA forecasts continued strong pricing for choice steers with 2026 average prices coming in at $235/cwt. This is slightly lower than previous projections, but still high by historical standards. Cattle and beef prices are likely to remain elevated for at least another two to three years due to low herd sizes and limited herd expansion. Retail beef prices are at record highs, but demand remains strong.
- Broiler prices are forecast relatively flat at $1.24 in 2025 and $1.25 in 2026. Despite recent declines, egg prices remain elevated and are forecast to average $3.79 in 2025, declining to $1.95 in 2026, depending on what happens with Avian Influenza. 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.
- As with many other agricultural commodities, trade and tariffs are a concern for this sector.
- Share this post on
You Might Also Like
Meet the Authors
Connect with and discover our Today’s Harvest blog authors and their broad range of financial and Northeast agricultural expertise.