Reproduction of the Farm and Food File, either mechanically or electronically, without permission of Alan Guebert is strictly prohibited. Farm and Food File for the week beginning Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 The smartest person in the room Alan Guebert We all know a few people who think of themselves as the smartest person in the…

‘Once We’re Gone, We’re Not Coming Back’ 11.24.21 The New York Times Alyssa Schukar “There’s enough labor for four people but not enough income for one,” his father, Jeff Uhlir, said. Like most farmers, Jeff Uhlir sells his cattle, corn and soybeans at prices set by a global commodities market, but only large farms can…

Says More Legislation Needed R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard Phone: 406-252-2516; r-calfusa View and share this news release on Facebook here or view the web version here. Cattle Group Supports Legislation Suspending Brazilian Beef Imports; Says More Legislation Needed Billings, Mont. – R-CALF USA today announced its strong support for legislation introduced yesterday by Senator…

Story of the Steer and a Theft of Epic Proportions Posted on November 16, 2021 by Mike Callicrate The following tells the story of a steer, and also a story of the meatpacker/retailer cartel that captured the largest sector of our food system, while touting efficiencies and economies of scale. Since the early 1980’s when…

To Govern the Globe – TomDispatch.com To Govern the Globe Washington’s World Order and Catastrophic Climate Change BY ALFRED MCCOY When the leaders of more than 100 nations gathered in Glasgow for the U.N. climate conference last week, there was much discussion about the disastrous effect of climate change on the global environment. There was,…

The State of Beef: Cattle producers, Nebraska politicians seek solutions to low profits Paul Hammel , Henry J. Cordes Omaha World Herald Oct 17, 2021 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Trey Wasserburger figures he’s got half a decade invested in his cattle before he sells them to a meatpacker. It starts with getting his Angus cows…

October 14, 2021Billings, Mont. – Two days before last week’s Hearing to Review the State of the U.S. Livestock Industry held by the United States House Committee on Agriculture, Texas A&M University released its The U.S. Beef Supply Chain: Issues and Challenges, a 180-page document Texas A&M refers to as its “book.”   In the…

Corrupt pricing by packers putting ranchers out of business By JEANIE ALDERSON Jeanie Alderson As Americans try to feed their families on a budget, many have surely noticed the high price of beef in grocery stores. However, most shoppers probably don’t see the struggles faced by families who have worked hard for generations to raise…

LAWMAKERS SHRUG AT GRASSLEY CALL FOR LIVESTOCK REFORM By Chuck Abbott 10/8/2021 Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley urged reauthorization of mandatory price reporting, telling the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday that it is the ideal vehicle for ensuring cattle producers get a fair price from meatpackers. But few committee members got on board with the idea,…

Editorial: Restore fairness and transparency to the cattle market · Omaha World Herald Editorial staff · 10.3.21 · · Agriculture towers as an economic engine in Nebraska, and cattle production accounts for the largest share of the state’s ag value. Nebraska is home to more than 20,000 breeding and feeding operations, most family-owned. The health…