Beefed up; How local restaurants and meat companies are dealing with the rise of beef prices

Krdo · May 19, 2026 · 458 words · By Michael Logerwell

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What to know about Beefed up; How local restaurants and meat companies are dealing with the rise of beef prices

Beefed up; How local restaurants and meat companies are dealing with the rise of beef prices COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.

Claims checked 9

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Beefed up; How local restaurants and meat companies are dealing with the rise of beef prices COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.

Why it matters

While out at the grocery store to get some ground beef to throw on the grill, you might've noticed prices are high.

Common ground

According to the Bureau of Labor, the average price of ground chuck, 100% beef, is up to $6.92 a pound.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Beefed up; How local restaurants and meat companies are dealing with the rise of beef prices?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that In 2025, that number was 435,578?
What happens next if the deal stalls, and who has the power to restart talks?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://krdo.com/news/2026/05/19/beefed-up-how-local-resturants-and-meat-compani…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 5

check_circle Corroborated 3

help Insufficient Evidence 1

info

Claim 1: “In 2025, that number was 435,578”

SINGLE SOURCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the specific number of 435,578 slaughtered cows for week 19 of 2025.

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web search NEUTRAL — USDA provides leadership, technical expertise and cooperation for developing of the Dietary Guidelines and Federal nutrition and economic initiatives.The USDA has a wealth of organic data for producer…
https://www.usda.gov/

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web search NEUTRAL — WEEK 19 2026. This free service allows you to calculate the week number. Below you find the dates of week 19 of 2026 along with the previous week and the next week.
https://week-number-calendar.com/week19/

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web search NEUTRAL — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Definition and Purpose.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/usda.asp

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Claim 2: “We've lost almost 10 million cows out of the national herd”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm a significant decrease in the cattle herd. One source explicitly states the herd is 'nearly 10 million fewer head than in 2020', while another notes an 8% decrease to 86.7 million.

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web search NEUTRAL — As of January 1, 2025, the herd has decreased by 8 percent since the peak to 86.7 million cattle head. The USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) provides information on cattle inventor…
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/animal-products/cattle-beef/…

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web search NEUTRAL — Beef cattle at a farm near Clinton, Missouri, on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.Clayton Steward/Bloomberg via Getty Images. While US inflation has cooled from its pandemic-era peak, prices at grocery store m…
https://fortune.com/2026/02/14/why-are-beef-prices-so-high-a…

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web search NEUTRAL — The US cattle herd has fallen to its smallest level in 75 years, driving input costs sharply higher and leaving processors losing money on each animal processed.This report showed the weighted average…
https://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/weekly-protein-report-p…

info

Claim 3: “When we first started this skirted heifer, we were paying just over $4 a pound in 2014.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results for this claim returned irrelevant information about Microsoft software and drivers, providing no evidence regarding the Skirted Heifer's 2014 beef prices.

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web search NEUTRAL — The official Microsoft Download Center. Featuring the latest software updates and drivers for Windows, Office, Xbox and more. Operating systems include Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download

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web search NEUTRAL — Explore the Microsoft Store for apps and games on Windows. Enjoy exclusive deals, new releases, and your favorite content all in one place.
https://apps.microsoft.com/home

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web search NEUTRAL — Download free Microsoft Outlook email and calendar, plus Office Online apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sign in to access your Outlook email account.
https://www.outlook.com/

info

Claim 4: “In week 19 of this year, the USDA graded, or processed, 390,206 slaughtered cows.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided contains general information about the USDA and date calculations for week 19, but does not provide the specific slaughter/processing number of 390,206.

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web search NEUTRAL — USDA conducts and funds food safety research to generate real-world results for both government and the private sector.
https://www.usda.gov/

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web search NEUTRAL — In 2026, US week numbers match ISO week numbers for most dates (except on Sundays and around the turn of the year). The current US week number is week 20. This page was generated on Monday, May 11, 20…
https://www.epochconverter.com/weeknumbers

info

Claim 5: “In 2026, that number was 473,563”

SINGLE SOURCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the specific number of 473,563 slaughtered cows for week 19 of 2026.

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web search NEUTRAL — USDA provides leadership, technical expertise and cooperation for developing of the Dietary Guidelines and Federal nutrition and economic initiatives.
https://www.usda.gov/

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web search NEUTRAL — The USDA loan approval process is much like other loan types. Learn about the step-by-step process and timeline for getting USDA loans.
https://themortgagereports.com/29136/usda-loan-series-part-1…

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Claim 6: “Callicrate says grass fires in Nebraska and Texas in recent years have decimated open fields used to feed cattle.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that massive wildfires/grass fires in Nebraska have destroyed grazing lands and threatened cattle production.

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web search NEUTRAL — HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - The largest wildfire in Nebraska history is leaving a mark long after the flames die down. The grass fires that are still burning across the state are expected to cause a major…
https://www.ktiv.com/2026/03/19/nebraska-grassfires-threaten…

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web search NEUTRAL — By Tom Polansek Massive wildfires have burned vast swaths of grazing lands in Nebraska, endangering cattle producers' plans for production increases that could help ease record-high U.S. beef prices.T…
https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2026:newsml_L1N…

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web search NEUTRAL — The state’s cattle industry is scrambling to deliver relief to ranchers facing catastrophic losses of grazing land, livestock resources and infrastructure as historic wildfires burn across Nebraska.
https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/morrill-fire-destroys-grazi…

help

Claim 7: “Even in 2024, I was paying $6 per pound, and now I'm officially paying $8 a pound”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for the specific pricing claims made by the Skirted Heifer restaurant for 2024 and the present.

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Claim 8: “Callicrate says we haven't had a lower number of cows in the country since 1951.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources explicitly state that the U.S. cattle population has fallen to its lowest level since 1951.

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web search NEUTRAL — The U.S. cattle population has now fallen to its lowest level since 1951, as cattle farmers face headwinds from drought, wildfires, and government policies that continue to deplete the herd.
https://ktrh.iheart.com/featured/houston-texas-news/content/…

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web search NEUTRAL — The U.S. cattle population is at its lowest level in 75 years, keeping beef protein prices high.The total number of cattle in the U.S. is at its lowest level since 1951.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eric-jelena-49a6b8a7_the-beef…

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web search NEUTRAL — U.S. cattle and calves inventory has fallen to roughly 85 million head — the lowest level since 1951, according to USDA data. That's down approximately 45 million from the 1975 peak of around 130 mill…
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/26/02/50737739/…

info

Claim 9: “According to the Bureau of Labor, the average price of ground chuck, 100% beef, is up to $6.92 a pound.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Web search results confirm that the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks the price of ground chuck, but the provided snippets do not list the specific current price of $6.92.

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web search NEUTRAL — Ground chuck, 100% beef, per lb.Historical monthly price spread data for beef, pork, broilers. Once you download this file, go to the “composite” tab for broiler composite data. The retail composite s…
https://www.ers.usda.gov/media/5021/retail-prices-for-beef-p…

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web search NEUTRAL — Graphics for Economic News Releases. Average price data (in U.S. dollars), selected items.Eggs, grade A, large, per doz. Gasoline, unleaded regular, per gallon. Ground chuck, 100% beef, per lb. Utilit…
https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-pri…

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web search NEUTRAL — Whole Beef Chuck Roll, Case, priced per pound. Add.93% lean, this ground beef is very low in fat. Case Sale Orders. Order requires 24 hour advance notice, although the item may be available for pick-u…
https://www.samsclub.com/ip/members-mark-ground-beef-wholesa…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.