Frontlines Turning Point USA Investigative Reporter Vicky Richter reported on the present state of cattle ranching in the US, recently visiting a cattle auction in Fallon, Nevada, where she spoke with several ranchers who discussed their plights, mainly stemming from the decisions of “big agriculture” within the US and from other countries like Brazil.
Richter also asked people shopping at a nearby grocery store their concerns with the price of beef, some of whom stated they have held back from purchasing it as often as they did before due to budgeting needs, with prices having risen considerably over the past year.
According to Frontlines, four meatpacking companies control 85% of US beef. Two of those companies are foreign-owned and set regular prices.
Auction owner and rancher David Payne spoke with Richter about the current plight of US cattle ranchers.
Ranchers are concerned with the impact of Brazilian meatpacking corporations such as JBS SA, who produce the most beef in the world, according to a Reuters report. These Brazilian imports often contain tainted meat, and are derived from the alleged use of slave and child labor. This has a direct effect on the US cattle market with the amount of foreign beef imported and sold hurting the profits for American ranchers.
Many American ranchers feel that their industry is dilapidating, and far less vigorous than it was decades ago when owning cows was financially easier.
“We don’t do it for money… if we did, we’d be in a different business,” Payne said when asked about the possibility of losing his ranch.
