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Beef Update - Friday April 10th, 2026 Beef Live Cattle Futures hit an ALL TIME HIGH! A farmer friend in AL told me 4-6 weeks ago that the farmer where he buys his raw milk sold Fourteen 1-month-old dairy calves at his local stockyard for $1200 each.
A farmer friend in MS delivered me a new Red Angus bull Friday afternoon and commented that cow/calf pairs at the Forest, MS stockyard were selling for $7000. Nothing special about these cows - not registered. Just commercial cross-bred cows.
Our pasture-raised and grass-finished beef typically sells at a premium above the conventional CAFO raised beef. However, with current beef prices, our beef is running neck and neck along with CAFO grain-fed beef. I was discussing this with our butcher while cutting and packing beef this past week (he works as meat manager for a grocery chain) and based on what he said they were selling steaks for prices similar or higher than our steaks.
We are seeing increased interest in folks buying custom half & whole beef. Yep, it is expensive. Something to consider is as long as prices stay, high farmers will sell vs. keep replacements to grow their herd numbers. And IF we do not grow the herd size and folks want to continue to eat beef, the beef will have to come from imports - unless you have a strong local farmer relationship.
Common Sense Option - This week I read an article by Molli Engelhart for the Epoch Times titled "The Line We Refuse To Draw on Glyphosate." She opens by stating, "Glyphosate does not have to be an all-or-nothing fight." One side says American ag would halt if glyphosate was banned - President Trump elevated it to a matter of national security. The opposing side - many Americans are more and more uncomfortable with the amount of chemical exposure in their food and want it banned. Additionally, chemical companies are seeking (and in some cases granted) liability protection.
Mollie says, "but there is a middle line this administration could walk, and it could walk it right now." Of course this would not satisfy everyone, but it would make a real and immediate difference for human health without risking American agriculture.
Farmers use glyphosate for two very different purposes. The first is spraying to kill weeds before planting, afterwards in fields with GMO tolerant seeds, in orchard allyways, fence lines, etc. This is the traditional use for glyphosate and what most people think of when the subject is mentioned.
However, the second use is much more disturbing. This is when farmers spray glyphosate on cereal crops like wheat, oats, barley, and rye as a pre-harvest desiccant. The rationale is to spray glyphosate directly onto the crop just before harvest time to dry the plants down evenly and allow farmers to harvest on a predictable schedule.
This means the seed, located at the top of the plant, receives a FULL dose of glyphosate. Wheat and oats are common ingredients in your grocery cereal and bread aisles. Years ago I read a report that whole wheat bread, oatmeal, and bagels are among the most contaminated foods available - probably because of this second use as a desiccant.
Mollie states, "That Distinction matters (between the two different uses)" and is where she believes a meaningful policy line could be drawn.
Mollie's common sense option, which takes a serious step towards improving public health while not destabilizing the entire food system, is to end the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant on food crops. She advocates to test food products for residue of glyphosate. If it is above that limit then the food product should not be used and not allowed on store shelves. That would eliminate the question as to when it should be used.
Did you know that the allowable residue levels of glyphosate are significantly higher for cereal grains than for many fruits and vegetables? Does that make sense to you? Why should it be more acceptable in one food category than another?
Ending pre-harvest desiccation would not end modern agriculture. it would not remove every use of glyphosate overnight.
But, it would remove one of the most direct exposure pathways in our food system.
Mollie ends by stating, "It would not be everything but it would be real. And right now, real progress matters more that an all-or-nothing argument." AMEN!
Half-Beef Custom Processed Orders - May harvest order window opened April 4th and will close April 27th. Harvest will be May 5th. Thanks 😉
Please note that beef prices are again moving up after being steady for the past 4 to 5 months and hit a new all time high April 10th. Follow this link
to check out our Custom Processing Ordering Tips, to place an order, and complete your individualized cut sheet. Please reply to this email with any questions.
And, when you buy a half or whole beef receive a Jarrard Meat Maximizer tenderizer at no extra charge. Jarrard is the choice of professional chefs and cooking enthusiast for more than 40 years! The Meat Maximizer improves meat tenderness and texture, reduces marinating & cooking time, and is easy to clean and maintain.
Nature's Gourmet Farm product value proposition is to create a community that evolves around one of the most intrinsically important and critical needs of the ages, and that’s the provision of sustenance. That's our passion - to raise healthy animals to provide nutrient dense protein and saturated fat that nourish families and strengthens immune systems.
Our Beef is always grass finished with NO grains. Additionally, our animals are free of mRNA, GMO's (chemicals), Antibiotics, and Hormones. We ethically raise them on diverse forage pastures that regenerates our soils and protects our ecosystem.
Let me encourage you to "Be The Change" our food system needs by "Voting With Your Fork" at every meal.
** Product Availability Update **
NOTE: Restocks are made about 6 PM on the dates indicated below!
Chicken - Next restock will be Wednesday, April 22nd
Turkey - Next restock will be Wednesday, April 22nd
Eggs - Restock each Tuesday prior to your delivery date.
Beef - Next restock will be April 19th.
Pork – Next restock will be Wednesday, April 8th for FRESH items. Smoked Bacon/Hams restock about April 19th
Lamb - Restocked September 29, 2025
Custom Half or Whole Beef- Next Order Window for custom half & whole beef is April 11th. Harvest will be May 6th with availability May 25th . Yes, I want to Order Custom Beef & Pork
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