David Anderson and Josh Maples
The amount of beef grading Prime has been increasing for a number of years. As Prime and Choice graded beef have increased, the amount grading Select has declined. Over the last two months the percent of beef grading Prime has been more than double the percent grading Select. More than 17 percent of beef graded, has graded Prime in 5 of the last 6 weeks. Select grade beef has averaged 8.2 percent of all beef graded over that same period. Over the same 6 week period last year, 13 percent of beef graded was Prime and 12 percent graded Select. The amount of beef grading Choice has experienced little change, 71.67 percent in 2026 compared to 71.64 percent in 2025.
Why more Prime? Because markets and incentives work! Value-based marketing has rewarded quality with premium prices. Important factors at work are more days on feed and heavier finished weights. Demand for higher USDA quality grade beef has fueled premiums and increased the percent grading Prime.
It’s worth remembering that there is a supply and demand for each beef grade. As the amount of Prime beef has increased, premiums as measured by Prime-Choice and Prime-Select price spreads have decreased. The Prime-Choice boxed beef cutout price spread averaged $13.16 over the last 6 weeks. Over the same period in 2025 it averaged $21.97. The Prime-Select cutout price spread has declined almost $20 per cwt, from $35.66 last year to $15.86 this year. The cutout value for Prime compared to branded beef, primarily certified angus beef, indicates a similar decline in the price spread, from $15.77 per cwt last year to $6.31 this year. The decline in the amount of beef grading Select has likely helped lead to a negative Choice-Select spread in recent weeks.Going forward it will be interesting to follow the percent grading in each category. Even though overall beef production is declining, the amount of beef available in a specific grade can exceed a year ago if enough of it grades in that category. For example, in March 2026 there was 20.5 percent more Prime beef available than in March 2025. Pounds of Choice and Select were down 8.7 and 35.5 percent, respectively. Changes in pounds available in each grade will impact premiums between grades that can dampen or exacerbate normal price seasonality.
Anderson, David, and Josh Maples. “Prime Doubles Up Select.” Southern Ag Today 6(24.2). June 9, 2026. Permalink
