Jerome County is home to several thousand head of beef cattle. A few producers in the county raise large herds and utilize public land for summer and winter grazing.

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Many of the beef cows in the county make up smaller farm herds. The beef industry has been reasonably profitable the past few of years with droughts in the Midwest and a shrinking national herd driving up prices. A major hurdle for beef producers has been finding affordable forages. Alfalfa producers strive to grow superior quality hay to go into the dairy market and beef producers cannot compete with the diary producers for high-priced forages. Locating low-priced winter feed sources can be a challenge for beef producers.