Why are prices so high when there are millions of pounds od beef in storage??? ...

[marble falls]

https://www.profarmer.com/news/agriculture-news/cold-storage-report-beef-stocks-drop-much-more-average-during-february

USDA’s Cold Storage Report showed 428.1 million lbs. of beef in frozen storage at the end of February, down 27.0 million lbs. from January versus the five-year average decline of 10.6 million pounds. Beef inventories declined 9.9 million lbs. (2.3%) from February 2024 and 69.2 million lbs. (13.9%) from the five-year average.

Pork stocks totaled 423.1 million lbs., up 15.9 million lbs. from January, slightly less than the five-year average increase of 17.9 million lbs. for the month. Pork stocks declined 35.5 million lbs. (7.7%) from year-ago and 94.8 million lbs. (18.3%) from the five-year average.

Total poultry inventories stood at 1.087 billion lbs., including a February record 254.6 million lbs. of chicken breast meat. Chicken breast stocks climbed 5.8 million lbs. from January and 20.9 million lbs. from year-ago.



https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/usda-cold-storage-survey-s-importance-to-livestock-producers

Cold storage, particularly for red meat and poultry, is an important part of the protein supply chain. Meat in cold storage comes from a variety of sources and is used in both domestic and global markets. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) releases the Cold Storage survey near the 22nd of each month. As of May 31, USDA’s June survey estimates red meat in storage was 1.087 billion lbs., down only slightly from April, but 20% greater than this time last year. This Market Intel will address common questions surrounding the USDA Cold Storage survey and what the USDA Cold Storage survey means to livestock farmers and ranchers.