Lenox Farms

05/16/2026

Speaker Series Ozark Farms Strawberry Festival

05/15/2026

Very good explanation about why BEEF prices are higher at the grocery store these days. It’s mostly about SUPPLY and demand.

The cattle shortage didn’t happen overnight — and it’s not because cattle just “disappeared.” It’s the result of several years of pressure hitting producers from every angle at the same time.

Here’s the short version:

🐄 1. Drought forced herd liquidation

A lot of ranchers simply couldn’t afford to keep cows during severe droughts across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other major cattle states. No grass + expensive hay + high feed costs = cows headed to the sale barn instead of staying in production.

When mama cows leave, future calf crops shrink for YEARS.

💰 2. Input costs exploded

Fuel, fertilizer, feed, minerals, equipment, labor — everything went up. Many smaller or older producers decided it wasn’t worth rebuilding herds after downsizing.

You can’t grow a cow herd overnight. Retaining heifers means sacrificing income today for calves years later.

🏙️ 3. Urban sprawl is eating ranch land

Good cattle country is turning into subdivisions, solar farms, industrial sites, and recreation property. Once pasture ground is paved over, it rarely comes back into production.

A lot of multi-generation families are also aging out with no one coming behind them to ranch full-time.

🏭 4. Packers kept chain speed high while herd numbers dropped

For a while, beef production stayed stronger than expected because producers were selling off cows aggressively. That kept beef flowing temporarily… but it also accelerated herd reduction.

Now we’re feeling the consequences.

📉 5. The U.S. herd is at one of the lowest levels in decades

The national cattle herd has shrunk to numbers we haven’t seen since the 1950s. Fewer cows means fewer calves, fewer feeder cattle, and eventually tighter beef supplies.

🐂 So where did the cattle go?

A lot of them went to harvest.

A lot of them left because ranchers couldn’t financially justify keeping them.

And some disappeared with the ranches themselves.

The wild part? Demand for beef has stayed surprisingly strong through all this.

That’s why you’re seeing:

high calf prices
expensive replacement females
stronger bull demand
consumers paying more at the meat counter

The industry is trying to rebuild — but rebuilding takes TIME. A heifer kept today doesn’t produce a market calf tomorrow. It’s a long cycle.

And honestly, many cattlemen are cautious about expanding too fast with markets, weather, and costs still feeling unpredictable.

That’s the conversation a lot of folks outside agriculture don’t fully see.

04/29/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CXUtENZBu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Today Governor Mike Kehoe joined Director Chinn and beef industry leadership at Missouri's newest beef packing facility, America's Heartland Packing, to declare May as Beef Month in Missouri. Missouri is proud to be #3 nationally in head of beef cattle. We're proud to celebrate the vital role the beef industry plays in our state and economy. Read more: https://bit.ly/3QFpCFo

Governor Mike Kehoe | American Foods Group, America’s Heartland Packing | Missouri Beef Industry Council | Missouri Cattlemen's Association

04/01/2026

It’s a good day to have a good day! Come on out for our Strawberry Festival on May 9th!

🍓 Ozark Farms Strawberry Festival • May 9, 2026 • 10am–3pm 🍓
The sweetest day of the year is coming soon - and we’re counting down! We can't wait to welcome you to the farm for our biggest and best Strawberry Festival yet.

Whether you’re continuing a beloved family tradition or planning your first visit, this day is all about fresh air, sweet strawberries, and memories that last a lifetime.

✨ Here’s what’s in store:
🍓 Farm-fresh strawberries
🛍️ Local shopping vendors
🐴 Mini pony rides + face painting
🍔 Food trucks
🎶 Live music
🎈 Bounce houses
🐣 Baby chicks + mini goats
🎣 Catch-and-release fishing lake

💵 Admission: FREE
📍 Ozark Farms | 11600 Hwy 72, Rolla MO
👩‍🌾 When you’re here, you’re family.

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3EBH20d

04/01/2026

April 1st

01/25/2026

365 days ~ It’s just a day
We love what we do!

01/08/2026

Beef…enough said!

06/11/2025

Good information…https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16db4RVsQR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/11/2025

Getting some water gaps repaired today!
Lenox Farms is thankful for our hard working people and the warm weather! Thank you to Kevin, Glen, Chris & Daniel!

So many fences were removed by the November 2024 flood (about two miles). After long days of repairing some of the damage — we will finally get to put one herd of cattle across the creek again. 🥳

11/06/2024

Not loving the rain anymore…over nine inches on the farm and even more rainfall south that flows to us down the Dry Fork. The flood waters reached a peak late afternoon at a point higher than anyone here has ever seen. If you know the farm — we were thankful the herds all have high ground to go to — we will have a big clean up process for fences and removal of debris.