@p @TeaTootler the midwest ongoing drought wasn't caused by cow slaughters. It was lower from 2016 to 2020. Long before the COVID year start. Herd lots can't thrive in drought conditions, let alone rebuild lost stock, now at it's lowest levels in 60 plus years. 2023 to 2024 alone saw record drops. Fast forward a year and it's dire levels. You can't rebuild stock fast enough to replenish the fact the US imports the same percentage of beef it exports. So it's reliant on beef imports to supply the local/domestic market. A consumption tax will raise the cost of burgers that don't use domestic product.