By Jamie Martin
R CALF USA, representing America’s independent cattle farmers and ranchers, is urging national leaders to tackle the root causes of the U.S. beef market crisis instead of focusing solely on lowering consumer prices.
The group explained that while beef prices have reached record highs, domestic cattle numbers have fallen sharply. This shortage, they said, results from decades of trade policies that flooded the market with cheaper imported beef. These imports have displaced U.S. cattle production and forced many family ranches out of business.
R CALF noted that market concentration among large packers and retailers has further distorted pricing. A generation ago, cattle producers earned over 60% of every consumer beef dollar, but today their share has dropped below 40%, while packers and retailers take the rest.
“The combination of monopoly control and import dependence has crippled fair competition,” said R CALF. “Encouraging more imports will only deepen this crisis.”
The group called on the government to limit imports, break up monopolistic practices, and support rebuilding the domestic beef herd. Such measures, it argued, would enhance national food security and ensure consumers benefit from fair, market-driven prices.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-erdinhasdemir
Categories: National