Two stories that broke this week are integral to American beef. First, President Donald Trump announced a 90-day tariff reduction, with subsidies, for imported ground beef to lower prices for American families. Second, the federal government announced it would massively reduce allocations to states of Colorado River water over the next decade to try to stem the water supply crisis in that basin.

Four years ago, I could go to Stacey’s Old Faithful Bar just outside Bozeman and order a juicy ribeye steak for $24 or a half-pound burger and fries for $12. Today, the same items will set you back $46 and $24, respectively. Hamburger in grocery stores now sells for around $8 a pound — more than steaks per pound just a few years ago.