10/30/2025
The Oct. 7 Daily Dairy Report made an interesting correlation stating, “High prices may be hurting dairy sales and not necessarily from dairy’s higher prices.” The Daily Dairy Report says “Coffee and beef prices stand near all-time highs, raising costs for two of dairy’s most common pairings. A steep tariff on US imports from Brazil, the weaker dollar, and weather issues there and in Vietnam boosted coffee prices up 53% from the prior year, when prices were already lofty. Those same tariffs also stymied US beef imports from Brazil, and the US recently closed the border to imports of Mexican feeder cattle due to New World screwworm. The interruption in trade has exacerbated the US cattle shortage and pushed the price of live cattle ready for slaughter to $232 per cwt., up an astounding 35% from the high set in 2014, the last time US cattle supplies were comparably tight.”
Coffee and beef prices stand near all-time highs, raising costs for two of dairy’s most common pairings. Steep tariffs and weaker dollar boosted coffee prices 53%. Tariffs stymied US beef imports, exacerbated US cattle shortage and pushed price of cattle to an astounding 35% from high set in 2014.
