Montana cattle ranchers struggling despite record beef prices
By Russ Riesingerb | KXLH (Helena, Montana)
Beef prices jumped around 20% in 2021, but many Montana ranchers—who raise the cattle that eventually end up on the dinner table—say they’re not reaping the benefits you might expect.
“There are only four big corporations making the money. It’s not the farmers and ranchers–and the consumers they are not getting that benefit of affordable food anymore.”
Those four companies—JBS, Cargill, National Beef Packing, and Tyson now control almost 85% of the industry—up from just 25% a half-century ago in 1970.