(SEPTEMBER 10, 2021) – On Wednesday, the White House hosted a press briefing with Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese to discuss the impacts of a highly concentrated meatpacking sector for American producers and consumers.
In an accompanying article, titled Addressing Concentration in the Meat-Processing Industry to Lower Food Prices for American Families, the White House outlines how the Big Four meatpackers are generating record profits during the pandemic, at the expense of consumers, farmers, and ranchers.
United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) President Brooke Miller issued the following statement regarding the announcement:
“To see the need for increased competition in the U.S. cattle marketplace rise to the White House level is a testament to the many, many agricultural producer and consumer voices who have been advocating for change. COVID-19 highlighted what we already knew to be true – that a lack of transparency and true price discovery hurts independent producers and processors, and inflates prices for beef at the retail counter.
“USCA commends the Biden-Harris Administration on this important first step towards addressing concentration in the meatpacking sector. We look forward to working with USDA leadership, including the newest advisor for Fair and Competitive Markets, to investigate illegal and anticompetitive practices in the cattle marketplace.”