HAMBURG, N.Y. (WKBW) — The price of beef continues to climb nationwide, and that impact is felt across Western New York.
According to the USDA, the price has increased more than 8% since the start of the year. Kyle Fleener of B&K Cattle Company said everything from cows and calves to bulls has increased.
"Even a hamburger has gone up," Fleener said. "It's beneficial for people to seek out local farmers, to try to buy quarters, halves and wholes. That way you can help the local people, and you know what you're getting."
WATCH: 'Help the local people': Western New York farmers navigate rising beef prices
At the Erie County Fair, 4-H member Paige Loomis from Collins, New York, said the spike is changing participation in programs. She said fewer people are raising steers because selling a calf can be just as profitable as selling a full-grown animal without the added cost of raising it.
Former 4-H member Alyssa Williams, of Little Valley, New York, said steer prices at the Cattaraugus County Fair were significantly higher than last year.
Fleener said beef prices vary by region but expects them to peak eventually. Until then, many in the industry are adapting their operations while encouraging consumers to buy local and support agriculture closer to home.
