Beef Prices Spike as Cattle Inventory Hits All-Time Low

Local rancher says challenge is keeping enough beef available as production takes time

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:18am

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Beef prices have spiked again, and a local rancher in Olathe, Kansas says the challenge is keeping enough beef available because producing it takes time. Harp Barbecue has had to limit daily sales of brisket and beef burnt ends due to the price increases, while Shannon Kearney, who owns KC Meats & Eats, says demand for direct-from-the-farm meat took off during the pandemic but now keeping up with inventory is difficult as the nationwide cattle herd is at an all-time low.

Why it matters

The drop in cattle inventory nationwide, combined with high land costs in the local Olathe area, is making it challenging for ranchers to quickly rebuild beef supply. This is leading to price spikes that are forcing some restaurants to limit offerings or shift to other proteins.

The details

Harp Barbecue announced it will only offer brisket and beef burnt ends on Saturdays, rather than daily, in order to avoid charging customers much higher prices. Shannon Kearney, who raises and butchers her own grass-fed beef at KC Meats & Eats, says demand for direct-from-the-farm meat surged during the pandemic as people couldn't find what they needed in grocery stores. But now Kearney says the challenge is maintaining enough beef inventory because producing it takes time, and the nationwide cattle herd is at an all-time low, while land costs are extremely high in the Olathe area.

  • Beef prices have spiked again in recent months.
  • Demand for direct-from-the-farm meat took off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The players

Harp Barbecue

A local barbecue restaurant that has had to limit daily sales of brisket and beef burnt ends due to rising beef prices.

Shannon Kearney

The owner of KC Meats & Eats, a local business that raises and butchers its own grass-fed beef, pork, and chicken.

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What they’re saying

“Whenever COVID hit, I had several people reaching out to see if I would sell sides of beef. I hadn't done it before so I decided to start small.”

— Shannon Kearney, Owner, KC Meats & Eats

“That took off because people couldn't find meat in the stores.”

— Shannon Kearney, Owner, KC Meats & Eats

“People are limiting just because they're having a hard time getting it. If you don't have that inventory, of animals, then you don't have the inventory of beef for the final product.”

— Shannon Kearney, Owner, KC Meats & Eats

“We're at an all time low of the cattle in the United States. And then especially in Johnson County, land costs are extremely high.”

— Shannon Kearney, Owner, KC Meats & Eats

What’s next

Kearney says she doesn't expect beef prices to go down anytime soon, as the nationwide cattle herd remains at an all-time low and land costs in the local Olathe area continue to be high, limiting how quickly ranchers can rebuild supply.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges facing the beef industry, with a nationwide drop in cattle inventory and high local land costs making it difficult for ranchers to quickly increase production to meet rising demand. The price spikes are forcing some businesses to limit offerings, underscoring the ripple effects of these supply chain issues on consumers.