The Rise of Global Packers in Shaping U.S. Cattle Industry Policies

U.S. cattle producers, aiming to bolster their farms’ economic stability and safeguard their herds' health, typically oppose policies that conflict with their core interests. For instance, they would resist opening the border to beef from countries not free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), especially when forecasts predict such imports could lead to significant financial losses. Despite these concerns, the U.S. has allowed imports of fresh beef from nations like Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Namibia—none of which are FMD-free—and these imports are expected to depress domestic cattle prices. Producers also support labeling policies that distinguish U.S. beef from imported products, which they championed during the 2002 and 2008 farm bills, advocating for mandatory country-of-origin labeling. However, this policy was later repealed, not by cattle producers, but through influence from globalist organizations like the World Trade Organization and large international beef packers. Numerous other policies impact the U.S. cattle industry in ways that conflict with producers' economic interests. These include allowing global packers to dominate over 80% of the fed cattle mar...