Make American BEEF AMERICAN Again
The American beef industry, like many other aspects of American society, has slowly been degraded and weakened over the past decades. Its been infiltrated by globalist dollars. Such is the Modus operandi (MO) of the Deep State. Institute a gradual and highly sophisticated infiltration of America and bring it to its knees, not only from within itself, but from a stealth and hidden vantage point - an unseen attack. Overall, force it into a major federal debt and control its economy. Things, however, are changing under Trump 2.0 and I aim to make American Beef Great Again, in that regard.
Eastern Oregon rancher Curtis Martin put it well: "We have been systematically eliminated through past decades by globalist agendas." I was first introduced to Curtis in 2023. I helped Mr. Martin organize a grassroots event in Baker City, OR to educate regional folks about various dangers to their State and Republic. Infiltration of the beef industry being the focal concern. "Take Back Oregon". Since then Curtis, a 7th generation rancher and I have worked off-and-on to bring to light general policy issues that need to be corrected to return power to the local US rancher. In 2024, Curtis introduced me to Fallon, NV based rancher, Jack Payne. I helped Mr. Payne organize an event and fundraiser for then Presidential candidate, Donald Trump. The three of us remain a force to making American Beef first again. Why is it not?
According to Martin the decline of power in the American beef industry was primarily due to: "monopolization of the Meat Packing Industry and its vertically centralized processing integration, that has led to complete market manipulation." To help return power to the local level, Mr. Martin, Mr. Payne and I are asking the Trump Administration, the USDA and the Department of the Interior to address the following issues immediately:
We ask that an outside audit (eg: DOGE) be conducted of the National Beef Checkoff program and the USDA oversight and influence of it. This possibly once American first program has been corrupted today in that it now does not benefit the grassroots local beef producer. The "tax" indeed is paid from the local producer from coast to coast however, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, its major contractor, is now unduly influenced by the corporate Meat Packing international cartel, according to Curtis and I will provide historical date/legislation below.
So, what are Beef checkoffs? According to the Cattlemen's Beef Board a beef checkoff comes from: "...all producers selling cattle or calves, for any reason and regardless of age or sex, are required to pay $1 per head to support beef/veal promotion, research and information." So, a beef checkoff is a tax dollar that comes from the sale of any cow. That tax dollar (or checkoff) can then be turned into funding, for instance, of a commercial.
These checkoff tax dollars are thus being translated into marketing and advertising campaigns for the beef industry. One such campaign is the 1992 Leo Burnett Company (Chicago) advertisement featuring actor Robert Mitchum: "Beef. Its what's for dinner." To the best of my knowledge that campaign is displayed below. Other variations of recent have featured the actor Sam Elliott.
Unfortunately, we, the consumer, do not necessarily know if that beef we are eating is from the USA or from outside the country. Why not? We buy a shirt and it clearly states which country it was manufactured in. Why not the beef we eat and put into our body? Why? Because, Americans, you're being taken for a fool. The following will explain.
Currently there is a case in the United States District Court for the District of Montana: Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund v Sonny Perdue (No. 4:16-VV-00041-BMM). In it, it is challenging the US Supreme Court: Johanns v Livestock Marketing Association, ruling that such campaigns are an example of "government speech" and are not a violation of the First Amendment and "free speech." How is "government speech" different from our speech? We are the government... unless we don't remind them who they represent. Right? This overstep seems to be stemming from USDA related lobbying which impress legislation away from our local ranchers and processors. The Montana court has differed in this US Supreme Court ruling. Montana has called such cases un-Constitutional - thus, a violation of our First Amendmentl. But, there is another underlying issue that needs to be addressed. This gets to the heart of the matter. Whether a violation of free speech or not, the plaintiffs in this Montana court case (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund and United Stockgrowers of Washington): R-CALF v Sonny Perdue, allege that USA checkoff dollars are being used to support Canadian and Mexican beef producers. That's what's important. Checkoff advertising does NOT distinguish between domestic and imported BEEF. Again, beef might be what American's are having for dinner BUT, they don't know if its actually domestic, home-grown beef, or foreign beef. Hey, when I buy "USDA Prime" I want it to be American (USA) beef. According to Mr. Martin, we do not necessarily know if it is US beef or not. This is due to the international Meat Packers meddling in our system.
So, what needs to happen? The USDA needs to immediately begin labeling imported beef as such and these countries, for example (Canada and Mexico) need to, possibly, start paying more into our checkoff tax system - yet labeled foreign. Alternatively, they can hire their own advertising firms to market their OWN beef - and it must be labeled as such. Foreign Beef! There is no reason why American tax (checkoff) dollars should be used to market and promote foreign beef - and it be slapped with a USDA label and not reveled to consumer as foreign... which, it currently is NOT. Right now it seems that the checkoff dollars and the meats are all being clumped together. This is misleading and false advertising. According to Curtis Martin a foreign shipment of beef can arrive at a US port, sit at dock for 24 hrs and then be slapped with a USDA label. Never showing consumer WHERE the beef came from. Thus, you are led to believe you are consuming a US raised and processed beef product.
Key dates to consider:
1985 Farm Bill - National Beef Checkoff Program was established. This happened under the Reagan Administration. I have high praise for Ronald Reagan on many fronts however, he made some deals (ie: with vaccine makers and with Rome (example), that I highly disagree with.
1996 - Commodity, Promotion, Research and Information Act gave USDA authority to oversee checkoff organizations. This power should NOT have been given to USDA in my opinion and according to Mr. Martin, this is where the foreign meat packers' influence began to corrupt American standards and influence. An "infiltration" as he put it.
The controversy stems from the fact that the checkoffs (overseen by the USDA) tend to force local producers to pay a tax on an activity they would not otherwise underwrite voluntarily - or, desire themselves. Meaning, from my understanding, if you feed your family beef for dinner, you should know that it is home-grown US beef. However, current law does not require the label to specify. And those checkoff tax dollars may very well be placing Canadian, Mexican or even Brazilian beef on your plate and you don't even know it.
Important Checkoff Court rulings (repeat from above):
2005 - Supreme Court. Johanns v Livestock Marketing Association and Nebraska Cattlemen v Livestock Marketing Association: ruling stated the checkoff did not violate First Amendment rights (free speech). The court considered them “government speech”. I mentioned this above in my "Beef. It's what's for dinner," example.
2017 - Montana federal court ruled check-offs were unconstitutional
Furthermore, here are some important mergers to consider that have globalized, if you will, the American beef industry:
In 1996 - Beef Industry Council of the Meat Board merged with the National Cattlemen’s Association to make the National Cattlemen’s BEEF Association (NCBA). The focus on the word BEEF. This took power away from our homeland cattlemen’s ranchers. According to Curt, the international meat packers were key to this infiltration and corruption. Either emphasis on what is known TODAY as The Meat Institute. A DC non-profit formed in 2015 from the Merger of the American Meat Institute and the North American Meat Association. The North American Meat Processors were a key predecessor. It is my understand that these like mergers have allowed for international money to move-in via MEAT PACKERS and take power away from our local American ranchers.
Martin, Payne and I are also calling on the Trump Administration to immediately increase Federal financial support to local/regional meat processing facilities. According to Mr. Martin, this will enhance both food security/safety and increase market competition. It will help aid farm-gate value to the American producer/rancher he goes on to explain.
We are hoping these collaborative efforts will help to bolster support for our upcoming events to educate and direct actions locally, regionally and nationally. As I've mentioned Martin and I collaborated on an event in 2023 in Baker City, OR and Martin, Payne and I organized another event in Fallon, NV in 2024. We intend to do more - in our efforts to Make American Beef First Again.
Addressing these priorities are the bench-mark starting point issues to helping make American agriculture economically independent and great again! Tackling these issues and prioritizing them to benefit our local American ranchers, will help bolster our middle class, keep our tax dollars home, where they belong, and put Americans and their families first.