Support Local Farmers

The US cattle industry is facing some intriguing and worrisome developments lately.

Did you know that foreign meat is being shipped to the US and sold as a product of the USA?

Due to factors such as extreme drought, rising feed costs and inflation, many farmers have been forced to sell their farms or reduce their cattle herd in the last few years. As a result, the US cattle inventory has reached a record low. Cattle prices have also soared, which leads to higher beef prices - but this does not benefit the farmers and ranchers much. Instead, the "big four" corporations that dominate 85% of the US beef market (two of which are owned by Brazil) will import cheaper meat from other countries.

Our laws require that any meat that is re-packaged, such as by cutting into portions or mixing into ground beef, is labeled as a product of the USA. This prevents consumers from knowing the true origin of the meat they buy, which harms American farmers and ranchers.

A single pound of ground beef on the grocery store shelves can contain a mix of hundreds of different DNA samples from various sources. It can come from cattle of different countries, ages, and breeds, fed with unknown diets, slaughtered in foreign facilities, and frozen for indefinite periods. The imported trim can be thawed and blended in a large vat in a processing plant. This is especially disturbing for consumers who care about the quality and safety of their meat.

There is nothing wrong with importing and exporting - Americans enjoy their hamburgers, but they have the right to know the origin and the quality of their meat. Customers should trust the products they buy from the grocery store and have the option to select organic, grass fed, or grain finished, as well as American raised beef and be assured of its authenticity.

There is an answer - buy directly from a farmer. Look for a farm that sells directly to you or that can deliver to your home. Get to know and trust the source of the meat you feed your family.

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