Sixth generation cattle rancher Mark Kirkpatrick feeds his yearly heifers on his ranch, named the Stoker-Kirkpatrick Ranch, in Post, Texas. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
At the center of that pricing power sit the "Big Four" — Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef — anchoring the U.S. beef supply chain from pasture to plate.
Together, the packing titans process about 85% of the grain-fattened cattle that become steaks, roasts and other supermarket cuts.
"The U.S. beef market is so highly concentrated that a small number of dominant packers control processing, distribution and pricing. This allows them to pay ranchers less for cattle while charging consumers more at the store. When cheap imported beef enters the system, it allows packers to increase their margins," Harris told Fox News Digital.
It’s a concern echoed deep into cattle country.
Texas cattle rancher Cole Bolton said he sees the same problem in the Lone Star State.
IN TEXAS CATTLE COUNTRY, ONE RANCHER WELCOMES TRUMP’S FOCUS ON DECADES OF THIN MARGINS
Cattle rancher Brad Randel rounds up some of his black angus cattle to sell at auction on September 12, 2022 in McCook, Nebraska. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
Years of drought, high feed costs and an aging ranching population have thinned herds, leaving the U.S. cattle supply at its lowest level in more than 70 years.
"I think it's going to take a while to fix this crisis that we're in with the cattle shortage. My message to consumers is simple: Folks, be patient. We've got to build back our herds," Bolton told Fox News Digital.
He noted that the cattle industry has weathered one setback after another, from market turmoil to extreme weather conditions, over the past five years.
Amanda covers the intersection of business and politics for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/single-crushing-problem-american-cattle-ranchers-wish-trump-would-fix-instead