The cost of beef is rising because of the low amount of cattle in the country.

The cost of beef is rising because of the low amount of cattle in the country, which is the lowest in nearly 60 years.

The decrease in those cattle could end up costing shoppers more. Chad Davis with Catullo Prime Meats in Boardman said beef prices are up as much as 25 percent, which can mean more than $1 or $2 per pound for consumers.

“What’s happening is everything is going through the roof,” Davis said. “Your higher-end products, New York strip steaks, filet mignon, will really shoot up, even all the way down to your hamburgers. Anything beef related is high.”

The price increase is being blamed on a national drought that is affecting major cattle producing states in the West, and very few local farms and ranches are raising cattle.

Bryan Snyder with Snyder Farms in New Springfield said the cost of corn is also on the rise.

“With corn prices so high, not as many people are feeding cattle like they used to,” said Snyder. “We’ve seen corn almost $8, and it’s been staying around $6.50 and $7.50 right in that range.”

With prices so high, ranchers are finding it difficult to run a profitable business, and the costs end up getting passed on to consumers.

“I know we didn’t want to raise prices too much,” said Davis. “We just take the hit of it.”

The price of meat usually increases this time of year, but people should expect to pay even more the next few months.