Texas Farm Bureau supports Trump executive order to investigate meat packing companies

The following statement may be attributed to Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening following President Trump’s announcement that he has asked the Department of Justice to investigate meat packing companies:

“Texas Farm Bureau appreciates President Trump bringing attention to this important issue. Consolidation in the beef industry is a serious concern for Texas beef producers.

“Texas Farm Bureau supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Justice aggressively enforcing antitrust laws and opposing further packer concentration.

“Beef producers, like all commodity producers, have no control over the price that consumers pay when their product reaches the retail level.

“Producers are price-takers, not price-makers. They cannot pass on higher production costs to the consumer like most other businesses. 

“Beef producers took a substantial hit on the price of their commodity in recent weeks, but the price consumers paid for beef did not decrease at the supermarket.

“Texas beef producers are not to blame for higher beef prices at the retail level. There are many influences on today’s consumer beef prices, one of which is supply and demand.”