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The Transformation of Ranching: Corporate Domination, Debt, and Declining Independence

This summary explores the challenges faced by ranchers in the modern agricultural landscape, highlighting the impact of large meatpacking firms that dominate the market and control cattle prices. Once thriving on the prairie grass, ranchers now struggle against corporate giants like Tyson Foods, which have transformed the industry, leading to financial instability and dwindling numbers of independent ranchers. With rising debts and competition from affluent newcomers, the ranching profession is at a critical juncture, exacerbating social issues, including increased suicide rates among ranchers.

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The Transformation of Ranching: Corporate Domination, Debt, and Declining Independence

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 6: On the Range Summary By Adam Thies and Joseph Chirstodoulou

  2. New vs. Old • Homes built on top of prairie grass ( very flammable) with shops • Speedway for stock car racing replace natural land with loud noises and asphalt • Cowboy attire rarely worn in modern society

  3. Meatpackers are the Rulers • Meatpacking firms use “captive supplies”—company cattle—to lower market cattle prices • Not much competitive marketplace for ranchers, meatpacking firms slaughter 84% US cattle • Past Beef Trust controlled 55% market 1917, broken up by government with Federal Trade Commission

  4. McNugget frenzy • Invention of McNugget transform chicken farmers into serfs for a big corporation • Appeared healthier than other menu items • Cooked in beef tallow and had twice the fat • Instead selling whole chicken, now sell bits and pieces • Tyson Foods turned into world’s largest chicken processor

  5. Ranchers are the losers • Over last 20 years half million ranchers sold off cattle and quit business due to debt, inheritance taxes, no tax breaks • Ranching has taken over by large corporations

  6. Ranchers are the losers Cont. • Independent ranchers have competition from rich ranchers like doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers • Rich competitors can afford to lose money while independent ranchers can’t

  7. Ranchers are the losers Cont. • Suicide rate among ranchers 3 times national average due to low cattle prices, modern society building through ranches • Ranchers can’t escape debt they build up, like chicken raisers

  8. The End

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