
Steak Prices, Sustainability & the Sprouting Gear Solution: A New Model for American Cattle Feeding

Livestock production uses 80% of global agricultural land but delivers only 17% of total calorie supply.
Sprouting Gear’s low-cost hydroponic feed system helps ranchers fight high beef prices with less water, land, and fuel.
“Everyone’s asking why steak costs so much,” said Paul Pluss, Founder and CEO of Sprouting Gear. “But the real story starts long before the grocery store. It starts at the feedyard—and the costs and constraints ranchers are up against.”
The Hidden Drivers Behind High Meat Prices:
- Feed costs now make up over 70% of cattle production expenses
- U.S. cattle inventory has dropped by 34% since 1975 due to rising costs, water shortages, and land loss
- Climate extremes and aquifer depletion have disrupted traditional feed crop production
- Global grain markets and fuel prices drive volatility that ranchers can’t control
Sprouting Gear’s response is a paradigm shift: a hydroponic feed system that empowers producers to grow fresh, high-quality barley fodder on-site, with 95% less water, land, and fuel.
A New Cost Model for Feedyards
- Grows up to 19 pounds of fresh feed in 9 days
- Reduces feed production costs by 30–60% on average
- No tractors, irrigation, or long-distance trucking needed
- The licensing model allows ranchers to build scalable systems
Better for Cattle, Better for Consumers
Barley fodder produced in Sprouting Gear systems is high in moisture, enzymes, and live nutrients—improving digestibility, feed conversion, and animal health. That translates into faster weight gain, lower medical costs, and more efficient use of resources—ultimately stabilizing supply and improving affordability for consumers.
“You can’t solve a price problem without solving the input problem,” said Pluss. “We’re bringing stability back to a broken system.”
A Solution That Pays for Itself
Sprouting Gear system potential cost savings that exceed their monthly loan or lease payments—even before considering the potential for state and federal conservation grants, water-saving incentives, or carbon offset revenue.
“This is more than a feed innovation,” said Pluss. “It’s an economic lifeline for the ranching industry.”
About Sprouting Gear Inc.
Sprouting Gear is leading the next generation of feed technology with its vertical, climate-controlled hydroponic barley fodder system. Designed to cut environmental impact and operating costs by up to 95%, the system helps ranchers feed cattle more sustainably—without sacrificing performance, scale, or resilience.
Discover how Sprouting Gear can help stabilize your operation at www.sproutinggear.com or contact info@sproutinggear.com
Paul Pluss
Sprouting Gear
+1 760-445-2535
email us here
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Why Steak Prices Are So High | The Hidden Crisis in U.S. Cattle Farming

Distribution channels: Agriculture, Farming & Forestry Industry, Business & Economy, Consumer Goods, Food & Beverage Industry, Retail
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