The United States is the world’s largest beef producer. With an annual processing of about 34 million head of cattle, the United States produces about 12 million tons of beef. Brazil is second with 9 million tons, followed by Europe at 8 million tons and China at 6 million tons. These numbers are important to put into context when we consider that in just the next eight years, beef consumption around the world will increase by about 8.5 million tons, or about three-fourths of the entire U.S. beef herd. Beef exports over the next eight years are expected to grow by 2.8 million tons, equivalent to 20 percent of U.S. beef production today.