By Blake Jackson
Many farmers and ranchers across Missouri are expressing frustration over a federal proposal aimed at lowering beef prices.
Administration has suggested purchasing 80,000 metric tons of beef from Argentina as a short-term strategy to reduce grocery costs. The plan arrives at a time when producers in Missouri and across the country were preparing to rebuild their herds after years of drought and market conditions they say have been distorted by limited competition and poor transparency. These pressures have already forced some family operations to shut down.
Jamie Blair, rural organizer for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, said this moment calls for strong national support for producers.
"For them to be finally in a position where they were getting a decent price for their cattle," Blair said. "Looking at being able to rebuild - which is necessary on a market level - for our nation to be undercut in this way at such a critical time in the rebuilding process is really harmful."
Blair said a key step would be for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to strengthen enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, which addresses antitrust concerns among the country’s biggest beef companies: Cargill, JBS USA, the National Beef Packing Company, and Tyson Foods. The Department of Justice has also announced an investigation into possible price manipulation and collusion among the four firms.
Blair remains uncertain about what progress can be made, noting what she describes as inconsistent positions from the administration.
Blair also supports restoring mandatory Country of Origin Labeling, which Congress repealed in 2015 after World Trade Organization rulings. “Country-of-origin labeling is overwhelmingly favored by consumers, because they would, if given the choice, choose U.S. beef pretty much every time,” Blair said.
Some states, including Illinois, are adopting measures to support their beef sectors, but Blair believes Missouri and recent USDA plans fall short of what ranchers need.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sstajic
Categories: Missouri, Government & Policy, Livestock, Beef Cattle