LOWVILLE, New York (WWNY) - A cattle auction in the town of Lowville is run by Northern New York Farmers Market Co-op.

And each week, prices keep going up and up.

“Three or four years ago, small calves were running $200 to $300, $400 a piece. Over this summer, they’ve been anywhere from $1,200 to $1,500 on average,” said Wayne Zehr, president of NNY Farmers Market Co-op.

The price spike is because of supply and demand.

The country’s beef herd has seen a dramatic decrease in 2025, reported to be the smallest herd in 75 years, as more people eat burgers and steak.

It’s making beef prices go up 12 percent this year alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That can translate to higher prices at the grocery store - a trend that Zehr doesn’t see changing anytime soon.

“It

See Full Page