Prices surge in 2024 summer cookout survey

Jun 27, 2024

Farm bureau survey - Sharp rise in cookout meal costs

By Farms.com

The annual Summer Cookout Cost Survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation has revealed a sharp increase in the cost of a typical summer meal, now averaging $71.22 for ten people.

This record-setting figure represents a 5% increase from last year and a 30% rise from five years ago, underscoring a significant trend in rising food prices.

Data collected nationally from volunteer shoppers highlights that nearly all cookout items have seen price increases, notably ground beef and lemonade.

On a positive note, prices for chicken breasts and potato salad ingredients have seen decreases due to a decline in avian influenza impacts and somewhat stable egg prices.

The escalating costs are causing widespread concern among consumers, who are increasingly faced with difficult financial decisions regarding their dietary choices.

Despite these rising costs, it is important to consider that the proportion of income Americans spend on food remains relatively low globally, offering a broader perspective on domestic food affordability challenges.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.