Nebraska Farmer Bureau Errors

Information Flaws

The sad thing with organizations is change in leaders can mess things up as personal is policy in actual practice. The Nebraska Farmers Bureau just sent out an action notice making demands of elected officials, but these demands are mostly faulty and some amount at efforts to controlled markets.

Their worry about beef coming from Argentina is grossly exaggerated. At the same time, the Bureau ignores the fact Trump put a high tariff on Brazilian beef, a chief exporter to the USA, contributing to rising prices in beef.

There are practical actions to take, such as breaking up the oligarchies in the meat processing businesses (https://thetransfarmationproject.org/blog/oligarchy/), but the Bureau is so myopic, it does not even mention this.

Also, USDA unveiled a “Plan for American Ranchers and Consumers which called for country of origin labeling (https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA%20Beef%20Industry%20Plan%20White%20Paper.pdf) and many other reforms which are great. Yet somehow this is not enough.

Also, organizations like the US Cattlemen’s Association add to the fear by making absurd claims. From their website (https://uscattlemen.org/u-s-cattlemens-association-responds-to-president-trumps-comments-on-beef-prices/), “Relative to earnings, beef prices haven’t changed since the 1980s. The average American can still purchase a pound of ground beef for about 12 minutes of work—unchanged after four decades. “ In other words, about $4 a pound if you make at least $20 an hour after taxes. Of course, hamburger prices remain stable but this is because it is mixed with foreign beef and will vary based on the cost of imported beef. Yet, people are told to buy leaner meat and avoid fats. This has given a competitive edge to leaner meats such as chicken, pork, and fish, but leaner ground beef is offered. The organization can cite $4 all they want but consumers are seeing items such as this:

This is not to trash these organizations but with so much which turmoil in politics, it helps not to act hastily or make rash statements. Nebraska Farm Bureau really needed to do more research before responding but panic and anxiety lead them to jump to a conclusion.