Enjoy that holiday cookout, the meat could cost a lot more soon. Iowa State University Extension Ag Economist John Lawrence says the drought this summer has hit cattle producers hard. From western Iowa westward across the Great Plains, pasture and hay are in terrible shape though it hasn’t yet had much effect on the number of cattle sent to slaughter. A sell off could push prices down now, up later when fewer animals go to market. But Lawrence says shoppers will have some low-priced alternatives. He says this fall we’re seeing record levels of pork production, plus a ban on chicken sales to Russia’s flooded our market with poultry, giving consumers a lot of choice in protein. While you might not notice a big price drop, expect “featuring” where they hold more frequent sales and two-for-one offers.