PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. —

The ebbs and flows of the cattle industry are weighing heavily on the pockets of consumers and the livelihoods of generational farmers.

Fluctuations in herd supply, production costs, prices, the threat of invasive pests and disease and environmental challenges have created a consistent challenge for producers, packers and consumers of beef.

Cattle futures dropped 8% in October in the span of a single week, according to a report from the American Farm Bureau Federation . The same report claims January cattle supplies were at the lowest level in 74 years, at 86.7 million.

Matt Fischer, who works within Clemson University's Cooperative Extension Service, said 2025 presented new challenges for the industry, including the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border, which is

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