Trade war means meat isn't being exported so much, so it should be getting cheaper. However, it'll probably get more expensive as farmers will cut back on their herds and flocks. When the trade war ends, the prices will quickly rise from scarcity (if it ends).

Buy a bigger freezer

Sounds like an ideal time to start your gourmet sausage company.

Over the years I have watched the beef prices fluctuate. No that many years ago the midwest drought was pulling hay bales from the northeast market, driving cost up to $10 a bale, which never really decreased once the middle men got a taste of that money. Also the cattle herds were thinned to half for many to make the now poor grazing land available to the remaining stock. The glut saw a slight decreases to prices, but not much as refrigeration and freezing will spread out the glut. The following years saw the increase in price as herds were built up again. Meaning not only few stock sent to market that were of age because there were fewer of them born but also breeeding stock held back to rebuild the herds.

Chickens have a faster cycle. Easy not to set eggs to meet the change in demand fo rmeat.

If you see a great price, grab it, cause I wonder how long it will last.

I found my chest freezer much cheaper to run than a stand-up refrigerator/freezer combination. For food I use a smaller separate Magic Chef refrigerator (drink cooler) with no ice compartment. No de-frosting required.Funny how prices, once up seldom go back down, when the crisis (real or imagined) ends.

Nice set up Mike. CHest freezers are cheaper to run. Cold air doesnt fall out.