Dear Editor:
I have been a beef producer in Missouri for over 20 years. If you have been raising beef as a mainstay of your farming operation then you have suffered through some tough times to keep your family on the farm and your herd intact. It has only been the last three to four years that the beef we produce has generated a reasonable return on our 20-year investment. The old farmer's joke - "How to do you end up with a little money raising cattle?" Start with a lot! Unfortunate, but true!
It's disturbing recent activity in Washington, D.C., hasn't created an outcry from the Missouri beef producer to stop the madness! Our beef farms are coming under attack from Republicans, Democrats and USDA. I believe these events will have irreparable damage on the Missouri beef producer if the tone and direction that lawmakers are taking does not stop. If you have not been watching, recent events are:
• USDA's proposed new nutrition guidelines. The guidelines recommend people eat less beef due to the impact cattle have on "Climate Change."
• U.S. lifted the ban on Argentine beef. Influence buying from the U.S. Meat Packing Cartel owned by foreign interest (Brazil and China).
• Country of Origin Labeling rescinded - Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer recently voted to rescind the COOL legislation. More influence buying from the foreign-owned U.S. Meat Packing Cartel.
While we have the perfect storm brewing for beef producers and ultimately consumers, no one is taking our lawmakers to task and holding them accountable for the onslaught of bad public policy. As these new policies erode beef producer profits I believe it will trigger another round of herd slaughter in Missouri and the gains of rebuilding the Missouri cattle herd will be lost.
All politics is local; lawmakers must be held accountable.
Next time you buy fruit, fish, fresh vegetables, chicken or beef, and can't find the country of origin, blame Blaine
Sadly, Blaine Luetkemeyer believes he's in touch with his constituents Please visit his Facebook Page and let him know that we demand to know the origin of our food.