U.S. Beef Production to Drop and Lab-Grown Beef’s Carbon Footprint

**U.S. beef production in 2024 will drop 8% to 24.7 billion pounds amid tighter cattle supplies.

A USDA report says aggregate domestic beef will fall more than 7% to 52.8 pounds per capita, the lowest since record-keeping began in 1970.

The declining output will push cattle PRICES to new highs in 2024.

A “core portion” of the beef herd is still seeing drought conditions in the Southern Plains, despite improving conditions.

**A new report suggests lab-grown meat may have a larger carbon footprint than retail beef.

Researchers at the University of California-Davis found that the global warming potential of lab-based meat using these purified media is four to 25 times greater than the average for retail beef.

One of the current challenges with lab-grown meat is the use of highly refined or purified growth media, the ingredients needed to help animal cells multiply.

**The USDA announced an effort to help rural communities address some of their immediate needs and foster long-term economic growth.

USDA is providing loans and grants to help people living in rural and Tribal communities in the Rural Partners Network access good-paying jobs, improved infrastructure, affordable housing and quality health care.

The funding will support 52 projects in Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, West Virginia and Puerto Rico.