Cattle numbers are at a 70 year low. A lot of small producers have just quit producing. There is a reason for that. Production costs have been at an all time high. Covid shut in production, bidet raised prices, we still burn grain for fuel, the processors (butchers) have a big hand in the price increase. The current market price is part of about $5 a lb for what you buy. Do you think you could maybe make it on $10.50 a lb for meat that cost you $5 for the raw material if you were a processor and grocer?
Trump can’t scold producers into lower prices. His Secretary of Agriculture is ignorant if she has not tried to explain this to him.
There is also nothing wrong with foreign beef. Sorry to have to tell the truth. Some of the very best beef I have eaten is from Brazil and Argentina.
Trump cannot possibly be so breathtakingly stupid as to believe ranchers, or anybody else, decide the cost of beef in the grocery store.
Its annoying that Trump doesn’t understand the dynamics of the beef/cattle market but presumes to lecture ranchers about prices.
He needs to spend less time on foreign policy and more time on domestic issues.
ANOTHER PROBLEM:
LIFE TIME RANCHERS WHO ARE 3-4-5 GENERATIONS ARE DYING OFF & KIDS CANNOT PAY THE INHERITANCE TAXES & PROPERTY TAXES & RUN A SUCCESSFUL CATTLE OPERATION TODAY.
IT IS A CALLING-— NOT A “JOB”.
I WAS RAISED ON A DAIRY FARM: NO ONE ATE BREAKFAST UNTIL COWS WERE MILKED AND ALL OTHER LIVESTOCK & CHICKENS WERE FED & WATERED-—SUMMER & WINTER.
ALL THE ANIMALS CAME FIRST-—AND ALWAYS WILL.