American cattle ranchers are frustrated with Trump's plan to cut beef prices, arguing that the real issue is the monopolistic power of large meat packers in the industry.
Cattle ranchers in the United States are voicing concerns over President Trump's beef import plan, which they believe fails to address a more pressing problem: the dominance of major meat packers in the market. Will Harris, a seasoned cattleman from Georgia, highlights that these large corporations, referred to as the 'Big Four'—Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef—process up to 85% of grain-fattened cattle, thereby controlling significant aspects of the beef supply chain.
Harris, who manages his farm through all stages of beef production, emphasizes that the pricing structure is skewed due to the concentration of power among these meat packers. According to him, the meat packers have developed a system in which their interests prevail regardless of the impact on ranchers and consumers. The limited number of companies controlling processing and distribution leads to a disparity in price-setting, which essentially puts ranchers at a disadvantage.
The implications of this control extend beyond just ranchers; consumers also face higher prices and fewer choices as a result of the monopoly. Ranchers argue for more equitable practices and regulations that would allow them to compete fairly in the marketplace, indicating that without addressing the underlying issue of meat packer power, any price-cutting initiatives would be insufficient to alleviate their economic struggles.
