Beef prices are near record levels. The DOJ wants to know if something shady is afoot.

The summer grilling season, smaller cattle herds, droughts, wildfires, processing-plant closures and other supply disruptions have helped push meat prices to record highs this year. Now, the U.S. government is investigating whether corporate consolidation is also at play.

​The summer grilling season, smaller cattle herds, droughts, wildfires, processing-plant closures and other supply disruptions have helped push meat prices to record highs this year. Now, the U.S. government is investigating whether corporate consolidation is also at play.