{"id":224152,"date":"2021-01-04T08:28:55","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T08:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=224152"},"modified":"2021-01-06T04:57:54","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T04:57:54","slug":"cattle-rancher-warns-about-the-meat-youre-buying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=224152","title":{"rendered":"Cattle Rancher Warns About the Meat You&#8217;re Buying"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Dr Joseph Mercola \u2013 Mercola Jan 2, 2021<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m8ioFjN7viY\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>&#8212;<\/div>\n<h3>Story at-a-glance<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>American cattle rancher Shad Sullivan from North Texas is interviewed by host Patrick Bet-David about the future of the cattle and beef industry<\/li>\n<li>Sullivan received an email from the USDA in April 2020, stating that it would help farmers to find alternative markets for their harvests, as COVID-19 caused meat processing plants to shut down<\/li>\n<li>If alternative markets couldn\u2019t be found, state veterinarians and government officials would assist with culls, or depopulation, of the animals; meanwhile, the U.S. continues to import beef from other countries<\/li>\n<li>Due to the allowance of acquisitions and mergers, four companies \u2014 Tyson, Cargill, JBS and National Beef, which is owned by Marfrig Global Foods \u2014 control 85% of the U.S. beef supply<\/li>\n<li>There are now 727,906 beef farms and ranches in the U.S. In 1979, Sullivan says, there were 1.2 million to 1.3 million; he believes that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one-third of the remaining beef farms and ranches in the U.S. may disappear after 2020 \u2014 maybe more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the video above, American cattle rancher Shad Sullivan from North Texas is interviewed by host Patrick Bet-David about the future of the cattle and meat industry. In April 2020, Sullivan posted a YouTube video<sup>1<\/sup> discussing how U.S. farmers are being forced to dump the food supply \u2014 plowing under vegetable crops, euthanizing millions of chickens, aborting sows and burying feeder pigs, and dumping milk by the hundreds of thousands of gallons.<\/p>\n<p>Sullivan says officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are also preparing farmers to depopulate cattle that are ready to harvest due to a \u201cbottleneck created by the effects of COVID and the logistics therein.\u201d Yet, while preparing U.S. cattle ranchers to cull their herds, the U.S. is actively importing beef from other countries.<\/p>\n<p>The first shipment of beef from Namibia, for instance, arrived in the U.S. in April 2020, prompting Sullivan to ask, \u201cAm I the only one that sees a problem in this? \u2026 We are importing beef from other countries. Beef that is less regulated than our beef, less safe, not as high-quality of product, and yet, it\u2019s happening. At the same time, they\u2019re preparing for us to euthanize our harvests.\u201d<sup>2<\/sup><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">USDA Email Told Farmers It Would Assist in Depopulation<\/h2>\n<p>Sullivan received an email from the USDA in April 2020, stating that it would help farmers to find alternative markets for their harvests, and if that couldn\u2019t be done, state veterinarians and government officials would assist with culls, or depopulation, of the animals.<\/p>\n<p>In May 2020, the USDA announced that its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) had established a National Incident Coordination Center that would support producers who could not move their animals due to the closing of processing plants because of COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoing forward,\u201d the announcement stated, \u201cAPHIS\u2019 Coordination Center, State Veterinarians, and other state officials will be assisting to help identify potential alternative markets if a producer is unable to move animals, and if necessary, advise and assist on depopulation and disposal methods.\u201d<sup>3<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>As processing plants shut down across the U.S. near the beginning of the pandemic, farmers were forced to euthanize hundreds of thousands of animals, a waste of meat during a time when many are struggling to find food, and a sentence that\u2019s caused emotional and economic damage to farmers.<\/p>\n<p>Because the processing is concentrated into a small number of large facilities, a U.S. government statement noted at the time, \u201c[C]losure of any of these plants could disrupt our food supply and detrimentally impact our hardworking farmers and ranchers.\u201d<sup>4<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>The government also cited statistics that closing one large beef processing plant could lead to a loss of more than 10 million servings of beef in a day, and noted that closing one processing plant can eliminate more than 80% of the supply of a given meat product, such as ground beef, to an entire grocery store chain.<sup>5<\/sup> These highlight the glaring problems that come along with a highly concentrated and centralized food system.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Four Companies Control 85% of the Beef Cattle Supply Chain<\/h2>\n<p>Due to the allowance of acquisitions and mergers, four companies \u2014 Tyson, Cargill, JBS and National Beef, which is owned by Marfrig Global Foods \u2014 control the majority of the U.S. beef supply. These companies are multinational corporations that act as processors and distributors of beef. Decades ago, according to Sullivan, there may have been 800 different processors of beef, where now there are only four.<\/p>\n<p>By taking away all competition, they\u2019ve taken control of the entire industry. In April 2019, Tyson, Cargill, JBS and National Beef were accused of violating federal antitrust law by colluding to drive down the price of cattle they bought from ranchers while boosting retail prices, in order to boost profits.<sup>6<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>According to the lawsuit, which was filed by the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF), the companies \u201cengaged in tactics \u2014 including purchasing fewer cattle than a competitive market would otherwise demand and running their processing plants at less than available capacity\u201d \u2014 that had the end result of creating surpluses in the cattle market but shortages in the wholesale beef market.<sup>7<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s an oligarchy of power and control at the top of the chain,\u201d Sullivan said, \u201cand that trickles down to you \u2026 They are able to eliminate competition in the United States while bringing in cheaper, lower quality meat from other countries.\u201d In 2020, the U.S. imported beef from at least 19 countries, including Nicaragua, Japan, Croatia, Lithuania and Chile.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Product of the USA Doesn\u2019t Mean It\u2019s From the US<\/h2>\n<p>The original <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2013\/12\/10\/meat-labeling.aspx\">Country of Origin Labeling<\/a> (COOL) rule, which was approved in 2002 and took effect in 2008, required the country of origin to be listed on meat labels. In 2013, the COOL rule was improved and meat packages were supposed to be required to label where the animal that provided your meat was born, raised and slaughtered.<\/p>\n<p>At the time, industrial meat producers like Tyson, Cargill and the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association were among those who spoke out against the rule, calling it unnecessarily costly and \u201cshort-sighted,\u201d while fearing it would shrink demand for imported meat.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately for U.S. consumers seeking greater transparency in their food sources, the meat giants needn\u2019t have worried because global dictators stepped in and essentially told consumers they don\u2019t have the right to know.<\/p>\n<p>In 2015, the <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2015\/06\/09\/dangers-global-corporate-domination.aspx\">World Trade Organization<\/a> ruled U.S. law requiring COOL labels on meat was illegal, as it discriminated against Canadian and Mexican meat companies and gave an advantage to U.S. meat producers.<sup>8<\/sup> By removing COOL, multinational companies are allowed to pass off imported meat as U.S.-raised, while U.S. farmers suffer.<\/p>\n<p>As long as it\u2019s processed in a U.S. facility, it can be labeled \u201cProduct of USA\u201d<sup>9<\/sup> \u2014 even if that processing involves nothing more than unwrapping and rewrapping the package, or cutting a piece of meat into smaller pieces.<\/p>\n<p>The National Cattleman\u2019s Beef Association, a cattle industry lobbying group, continues to push back against mandatory COOL, as processors don\u2019t want the added expense of having to differentiate and label meats from different origins. R-CALF USA, which represents independent cattle producers, is fighting for mandatory COOL, calling it an individual right and liberty issue.<\/p>\n<p>But \u201cit\u2019s a pay to play system,\u201d Sullivan says. \u201cThe packers pay to sit on the board of directors and then they\u2019re required to play how the packers want.\u201d When asked how much similarity there is with pharmaceutical lobbyists and lobbyists in the meat industry, Sullivan says, \u201cVery similar \u2026 it\u2019s all about money, power and control. Lobbying is power.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">It\u2019s Nearly Impossible for Next Generation to Raise Cattle<\/h2>\n<p>There are now 727,906 beef farms and ranches in the U.S. In 1979, Sullivan says, there were 1.2 million to 1.3 million. The dramatic decline is the result of a gradual disappearance because of the lack of competition throughout the industry. As more acquisitions and mergers occur, small farms disappear. Meanwhile, expenses are on the rise, and, without competition in the marketplace, profits fall.<\/p>\n<p>Bet-David asked Sullivan if he would be able to \u201csell\u201d someone on getting into the industry today, and Sullivan said, \u201cIt\u2019s financially impossible.\u201d An individual looking to get into the cattle industry would be faced with the high cost of land, startup costs and overhead, for slight profits, if any, making it a losing proposition for most, especially without a lot of extra cash to pull from.<\/p>\n<p>Currently, Sullivan says he spends $1,200 per animal for a $900 return. \u201cAnd therefore, across America, we have seen hundreds of thousands of youth not return to the family operation after high school or college.\u201d Sullivan believes that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one-third of the remaining beef farms and ranches in the U.S. may disappear after 2020 \u2014 maybe more.<\/p>\n<p>As more farms and ranches shut down, the industry becomes even more concentrated. One thing that can help U.S. farmers is to support mandatory COOL. According to the American Grassfed Association (AGA), \u201cU.S. cattle producers received higher prices for their cattle when the origins of foreign beef was distinguished in the marketplace.\u201d<sup>10<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>As it stands, Americans may be eating <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2020\/01\/06\/beef-imports-from-brazil.aspx\">imported meat<\/a> that came from a country with lower standards for their meat, but they have no way of knowing it. This is even true for <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2018\/09\/03\/grass-fed-beef-for-mitochondrial-health.aspx\">grass fed beef<\/a>, about 80% of which is imported into the U.S. from other countries that can produce it at a lower cost.<sup>11<\/sup> It\u2019s a food safety issue, according to Sullivan:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe consumer doesn\u2019t know where that food safety issue lies. They need to have the choice to do that. And if I\u2019m gone as an individual producer, who fills my shoes now, in this time and age? Nobody. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Only multinational corporations, the conglomerates, the control \u2026 We have the highest quality beef supply \u2026 we\u2019ve spent the last 150 years improving our herds. We want that to be differentiated from those people who have not worked so hard to be in the U.S. market.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Regenerative Farming Has Saved Farmers<\/h2>\n<p>One way cattle farmers have differentiated themselves in these difficult times is by converting to grass fed, regenerative farming. Allen Williams, Ph.D., a sixth-generation family farmer, has consulted with more than 4,200 farmers and ranchers in the U.S. on soil health, cover-cropping, livestock integration, grazing management and other <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2019\/06\/01\/farmers-footprint-regenerative-farming.aspx\">regenerative agriculture practices<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the farmers and ranchers Allen has worked with over the past 20 years were in deep distress, trying to farm and ranch conventionally, and failing. Many of them were on the brink of losing their farms, which had been in the family for generations. By teaching them <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2016\/10\/29\/regenerative-farming-methods.aspx\">regenerative land<\/a> management techniques, many of them were able to rebuild and prosper financially.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe average age of farmers and ranchers across the U.S. are people in their 60s and early 70s,\u201d Williams said. \u201cSo, we desperately need the younger generation to return to the land, and these regenerative practices allow them to have that opportunity to return and to do it in profitable and viable manner where they can support their young and growing families.&#8221;<\/em><sup>12<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Regenerative farming pioneer <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2016\/07\/10\/animal-impact-regenerative-agriculture.aspx\">Will Harris<\/a>, who runs White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia, is another example of how you can accomplish the conversion from conventional to regenerative agriculture and thrive financially. He produces high-quality grass fed products, including beef and other animal products.<\/p>\n<p>The Grassfed Exchange is one resource for ranchers, who can learn how to produce the highest quality beef using 100% grass-based production models.<sup>13<\/sup> Supporting the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act, introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is also beneficial, as it would allow farmers to sell meat processed at smaller slaughtering facilities and allow states to set their own meat processing standards.<\/p>\n<p>Because small slaughterhouses do not have an inspector on staff, a requirement that only large facilities can easily fulfill, they\u2019re banned from selling their meat. The PRIME Act would lift this regulation without sacrificing safety, as random USDA inspections could still occur.<sup>14<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>On an individual level, the best way to support U.S. farmers is to seek out locally produced food as much as possible, including grass fed beef, and buy it directly from the farm or a farmers market whenever you can.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2021\/01\/02\/coronavirus-meat-industry.aspx\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Independent, family farms are being forced off the land as a handful of giant multi-national corporations take over U.S. food production. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39262,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[61,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-224152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-Commentary","category-Current_Affairs"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/39262"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=224152"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224153,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224152\/revisions\/224153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=224152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=224152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=224152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}