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High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

mattstoller.substack.com

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Re: High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

#21

Post by voakbasda »

MomoXenosaga wrote: post #16
voakbasda wrote: post #10

As a small farmer, I can tell you: independent small-scale farming is not profitable in any meaningful manner. Government is actively killing it, by giving away every possible concession to Big Ag. The food in stores is pretty much all garbage compared to food raised on small farms. It sickens me to see things go this way, but this is the reality that we have created.

The food in stores is cheap. And that matters to consumers more than whatever alleged quality small-time farmers can produce (was food actually better a hundred years ago? Doubt).

Studies repeatedly have shown that micronutrients do not get replenished in monoculture crops, resulting in a measurable decrease in nutrition available in food grown in that soil. So, yes, food was actually better a hundred years ago.

Re: High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

#22

Post by ipaddr »

MomoXenosaga wrote: post #16
voakbasda wrote: post #10

As a small farmer, I can tell you: independent small-scale farming is not profitable in any meaningful manner. Government is actively killing it, by giving away every possible concession to Big Ag. The food in stores is pretty much all garbage compared to food raised on small farms. It sickens me to see things go this way, but this is the reality that we have created.

The food in stores is cheap. And that matters to consumers more than whatever alleged quality small-time farmers can produce (was food actually better a hundred years ago? Doubt).

By not needing to give antibiotics and by allowing animals to move and by providing better food the product was healthier, tastier but costed more.

You know those human growth hormone jumbo chicken beasts that have the woody texture and taste like water? They are cheaper for a reason...

Re: High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

#23

Post by ipaddr »

WanderPanda wrote: post #9
chrisseaton wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is what unions are for They're independent companies. They aren't employed by anyone. They aren't labour they're owners. That's not what a union is for.

Correct, that is what a cartel is for

Association is a better concept or industry group

Re: High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

#24

Post by raincom »

MomoXenosaga wrote: post #16
voakbasda wrote: post #10

As a small farmer, I can tell you: independent small-scale farming is not profitable in any meaningful manner. Government is actively killing it, by giving away every possible concession to Big Ag. The food in stores is pretty much all garbage compared to food raised on small farms. It sickens me to see things go this way, but this is the reality that we have created.

The food in stores is cheap. And that matters to consumers more than whatever alleged quality small-time farmers can produce (was food actually better a hundred years ago? Doubt).

Yes, appearance-wise, food is cheap. Taste-wise, it is bad. Taste any industrially farmed vegetable, you can see the difference.

Re: High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

#25

Post by celestialcheese »

meheleventyone wrote: post #13
WanderPanda wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Correct, that is what a cartel is for

Isn’t a cartel more about illicit collusion (often outright illegal) rather than forming a public organisation to act collectively?

It seems like it depends on the industry. OPEC is the largest, and definitely not illegal, cartel, but there are others. [1]

1 - https://guides.loc.gov/oil-and-gas-industry/organizations

Re: High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

#26

Post by IronWolve »

Lots of small farmers are selling their cows at a profit, selling to local people, and having a butcher cut the meat. You just need to be able to have freezer space for a 1/2 or whole cow.

The problem with 4 major meat packing plants, 2 owned by china, they control the market, pay less to the farmer, and get more from the consumer.

Some States in turn, are allowing producers to pack their own meat, making more money themselves.

Lots of small mom/pop meat packers are popping up due to demand.

The problem is larger producers who have hundreds-thousands of cows, they currently sell to the 4 major packers, and get paid less.

>Miller noted that a rancher might lose $500 on a steer, while a processor might make $2,500 to $3,000 in profit.

https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/editorials/2022/0...

Re: High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

#27

Post by voakbasda »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #17
xu3u32 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am someone who usually gets their beef from costco, small middle eastern markets and sometimes when its on sale at the neighborhood grocery store (Publix). Would you mind sharing in what ways what I'm consuming is trash compared to what comes from small farms?

It's true; it is. This year I bought half of a red angus cow straight from the farm. It turns red when it gets cooked. It's a sight to behold. The stuff you buy at the costco has been frozen and unfrozen at least twice before you buy it. That's already a meaningful difference. They clearly treat it with some sort of coloring agent. In the 30 years I have cooked meat, nothing can prepare you for real beef that comes s…

You are absolutely correct.

It all starts with better nutrition. CAFO cows that end up at the supermarket are fed low-quality grains and feedstocks, rather than grass that they were evolved to eat. The difference between grain and grass fed beef is amazing.

USDA processing is a complete farce. I can only sell locally, because I am not willing to send my animals to such facilities. Instead, I can only sell here in my home state, because that's the only way I can say that my animals were born, raised, and died humanely on my farm. The butcher will drop them where they stand, eating a final meal in the conditions that they were raised.

If I want to go with USDA in order to sell my products out of state, by the cut, or to resellers (e.g. restaurants), then I must load my animals onto a trailer, haul them almost two hours away, and allow them to suffer the trauma of that experience before finally being slaughtered in inhumane conditions. I can tell you right away: that experience severely damages the quality of the meat.

Big ranches can afford their own USDA facilities, but small farms must share the slowly dwindling number of processors that still serve the public. There are less than two dozen in my entire state, so you currently need to book them further out than the entire lifespan of the animals that you plan to raise. Right now, my processor has completely booked 2022; a new farmer cannot get any animals processed there until 2023!

Seriously, fuck the USDA.

Re: High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

#28

Post by graaben »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #17
xu3u32 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am someone who usually gets their beef from costco, small middle eastern markets and sometimes when its on sale at the neighborhood grocery store (Publix). Would you mind sharing in what ways what I'm consuming is trash compared to what comes from small farms?

It's true; it is. This year I bought half of a red angus cow straight from the farm. It turns red when it gets cooked. It's a sight to behold. The stuff you buy at the costco has been frozen and unfrozen at least twice before you buy it. That's already a meaningful difference. They clearly treat it with some sort of coloring agent. In the 30 years I have cooked meat, nothing can prepare you for real beef that comes s…

How did you go about finding a farm to buy from? I'm very interested in doing this.

Re: High beef prices and the destruction of independent cattle ranching

#29

Post by bobthepanda »

ipaddr wrote: post #23
WanderPanda wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Correct, that is what a cartel is for

Association is a better concept or industry group

Farmers already do this, and they're called cooperatives.

Some US big name brands that are cooperatives are Darigold, Land O' Lakes, Organic Valley, and Sunkist.

The largest company in New Zealand is a dairy cooperative: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fonterra

It's interesting that this is not common for meat, when it is for dairy. Wonder why that is.

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