Americans are once again eating more meat.
Falling prices have brought many back to the table, according to Progressive Farmer, to the tune of a five percent increase per person.
That’s the largest increase in U.S. meat consumption since the 1970s, making 2015 a “momentous” year for the livestock industry, according to the report by the Rabobank Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory Group.
The group projects continued increases in meat consumption by 1.2 percent to 1.5 percent per year.
It also predicts a 14 percent drop in U.S. meat prices by 2018. Beef is expected to take the biggest hit with a 22 percent drop at the grocery store, followed by pork with a projected seven percent reduction and chicken with a five percent drop.
Strong growth is expected to continue for livestock as many cattlemen continue to rebuild their herds following the drought of 2011. Both chicken and poultry production are also growing.