That's according to Jim Robb, Director of the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver. Robb told Brownfield there are some short-term reasons wholesale pork and beef prices have jumped, mainly related to poor livestock movement due to wintry weather and preparation for next month's retail features by grocery chains.

"We've got this much stronger meat market due to buying for early month featuring," Robb said. "Also, overall in the bigger marketplace, we've had enough winter weather impacting especially the cattle business to cause supplies on the animal side to be rather tight."

But longer term, Robb said wholesale and retail meat prices are headed higher. And he said ethanol is at the root of the matter.

Source: Brownfield Network