MALVERN, Iowa (KMTV) — Southwest Iowa neighbors are changing their shopping habits as beef prices soar. Sen. Grassley points to market concentration — four companies control 85% of beef processing — and industry experts cite additional factors ranging from small herd size, to aging farmers and tariffs on South American beef.

“Well, there's people standing at the meat counter shaking their heads, ” Lizzie Garrison said at The Salty Heifer Cafe.

“The average beef producer is getting older,” explains Dan Rohrberg, a cattle producer and beef industry executive.

“Things like chuck and other things should be cheaper because people aren’t buying roasts, and the prices are way higher than what I had seen before,” said Malvern grocer, Tom Mullholland.

WATCH KATRINA'S STORY BELOW Rising beef

See Full Page